Creamer’s monster putt helps US take early control in Cup

Sugar Grove: Holders the United States rode a surge of late momentum to lead Europe by 2-1/2 points to 1-1/2 after Friday’s opening fourball matches at the Solheim Cup.

Watched by crowds of about 30,000 on a breezy, overcast day at Rich Harvest Farms, the Americans had trailed in three of the four encounters before fighting back to snatch the morning honours. Paula Creamer rolled in a curling 45-foot birdie putt on the 16th green to put the US ahead for the first time in the top encounter before she and Cristie Kerr beat Suzann Pettersen and Sophie Gustafson one up. World number four Creamer and third-ranked Kerr had been sent out first by U.S. captain Beth Daniel to set the tone for the home team but they dropped behind early in a tight battle.Norwegian Pettersen and Swede Gustafson edged one ahead on three occasions but each time their opponents fought back to level before Creamer’s dagger blow at the par-three 16th. “That was really nice and good timing for us,” a beaming Creamer told reporters of her pivotal putt which broke 25 feet from the left. “It was a huge putt. I saw Kerr’s read. I kind of went for it, and it went in. We finished strong, and a win is a win.” Moments after Creamer’s monster putt dropped into the cup, compatriot Morgan Pressel knocked in a three-footer at the 14th to give the U.S. their first lead in the bottom match. Edged Ahead Pressel and big-hitting Solheim rookie Michelle Wie had trailed by two after 11 holes before edging one up against Briton Catriona Matthew and Swede Maria Hjorth, which is how they stood going down the par-five last. However, the Europeans squared the match when the in-form Matthew, winner of the women’s British Open earlier this month, knocked in a seven-foot birdie putt on the 18th green. The Americans drew first blood on the longest layout to stage a Solheim Cup when Brittany Lang and Brittany Lincicome crushed British duo Laura Davies and Becky Brewerton 5&4. The US duo took early control when Lincicome birdied the third and sixth, where she holed a 60-footer, to put them two up before they clinched victory on the 14th green. Europe’s first point came from Swede Helen Alfredsson and Spanish rookie Tania Elosegui, who came from one down after seven holes to beat Angela Stanford and Juli Inkster one up. Stanford made a tap-in birdie at the last after nearly holing out from a greenside bunker but Alfredsson coolly sank a 15-footer from the fringe for a matching birdie to seal the win. “I feel great that we walked away with a win,” said the 44-year-old Alfredsson, a veteran of seven previous Solheim Cups as a player. “It was very crucial that we got some blue on the board.” Europe, who have lost the last two Solheim Cup matches, are bidding to win for the first time on American soil. The US lead the series 7-3. Bureau Report