There’s a reason the United States is a heavy favorite at the Solheim Cup.
The European team is simply not very strong.
That was painfully evident Friday afternoon in the four-ball (best ball) format.
After getting off to a very slow morning start, the U.S. team cranked up the heat in the afternoon and made some Solheim Cup history. For the first time in 15 years, the U.S. swept a format, winning all the matches and that sent the home team to a 5 1/2 – 2 1/2 lead at the Des Moines Country Club.
In the morning alternate-shot competition, only rookie Danielle Kang and teammate Lizette Salas were able to win a match for the U.S. They beat Carlota Ciganda and Caroline Masson, 1-up.
The afternoon was a different story as all four U.S. teams got ahead early then wiped out the competition.
Stacy Lewis holed a seven-foot birdie putt at the 17th hole to compete the four-ball sweep, giving her and teammate Gerina Piller a 2-and-1 win over Charley Hull and Georgia Hall.
