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Europe lead in Solheim Cup

Pettersen putted superbly in the morning’s foursomes at Colorado Golf Club as Europe opened up a surprise 3-1 advantage, then virtually single-handedly paved the way to a second victory in the afternoon fourballs, which were split 2-2 overall. In tandem with Cup rookie Beatriz Recari of Spain, Pettersen won a tight foursomes match 2&1 against Americans Brittany Lang and Angela Stanford before linking up with another Spaniard, Carlota Ciganda, to beat Stacy Lewis and Lexi Thompson one up.

“This competition never gets old,” smiled the 32-year-old Pettersen, who is competing in her seventh Solheim Cup along with six rookies on the European team. “It just brings out the best of you.

“I am really enjoying playing with these youngsters. I am so proud of them. And Carlota, she was a super star. She hung in there tough. This was a fantastic point.” Pettersen and Ciganda earned Europe’s fifth and final point of the day as they recovered from two down at the turn to beat Women’s British Open champion Lewis and Thompson in the first fourball match out.

The Americans had claimed the first point of the afternoon when Brittany Lincicome and Brittany Lang came back from one down after five holes to beat Anna Nordqvist and Giulia Sergas 4&3. “We always play well together,” said Lang, who sank a four-foot putt at the par-five 15th to seal victory. “We have similar personalities, we have fun out there and we feed off each other.

“We did a really good job today when one person wasn’t doing too well to pick up the slack. That’s clutch.” Caroline Hedwall and Caroline Masson never trailed before winning a close contest against Americans Angela Stanford and Gerina Piller 2&1 and the US levelled the fourballs when Cristie Kerr and Michelle Wie beat Catriona Matthew and Charley Hull 2&1.