Friday, August 16, 2013

Solheim Cup Friday Afternoon: Fourballs Predictions

Here are the fourballs (best ball) matches in the Solheim Cup.  Team USA is down to Team Euro 3-1 after the morning foursomes.

Stacy Lewis/Lexi Thompson vs. Suzann Pettersen/Carlota Ciganda:  Can Lewis bounce back from a tough morning?  Can Ciganda outplay Thompson?  This one will either be a barnburner or a blowout by Team Euro.

Angela Stanford/Gerina Piller vs. Caroline Hedwall/Caroline Masson:  This is a toss-up.  It all comes down to Piller, I think.  If she can pick Stanford up, they can overcome!

Brittany Lincicome/Brittany Lang vs. Anna Nordqvist/Giulia Sergas:  I'd say advantage Team Euro, but it all depends on which Lincicome shows up.

Cristie Kerr/Michelle Wie vs. Catriona Matthew/Charley Hull:  I'd say advantage Team Euro again.  Matthew is definitely playing better golf than Kerr and Hull than Wie.

It could be Team Euro 7, Team USA 1 at the end of the day if things go badly for the Americans in the afternoon.  By benching some of her best performers from the morning (Korda, Salas, Pressel, Creamer), Captain Mallon is asking a lot of the players she put out on the course.  It's pretty clear Captain Neumann trusts her Swedes.  Maybe we'll see more of a Spanish Armada-style attack tomorrow.

[Update 1 (3:03 pm):  Captain Mallon is asking a lot of her bombers this afternoon.  There's not a short hitter out there on the course for Team USA.  Would have loved to see the Carolines face off against the Brittanys!]


No comments: