Europe in Control Heading to Singles

LODDEKOPINGE, Sweden -- Annika Sorenstam holed a 20-foot birdie putt at the 17th to halve the hole, then watched as partner Suzann Pettersen drained a 15-footer at 18 to defeat Laura Diaz and Kelly Robbins and give the European team a split in the Saturday fourball matches at the Solheim Cup.
 
The European squad will take a 9 1/2 - 6 1/2 lead into Sunday's singles matches. No team has ever gone on to capture the Solheim Cup after trailing by more than two heading into the final day, so if the United States is to defend its title, the team will have to make history to do it.
 
There are 12 singles matches on Sunday each worth a point and the U.S. has traditionally dominated the singles. They dropped three of four points in the morning foursomes Saturday and will need all of their depth if they are to bring the Cup back to America.
 
In Saturday's other fourball contests, Juli Inkster and Beth Daniel trounced Mhairi McKay and Ana Belen Sanchez, each playing for the first time in the 2003 Solheim Cup, 5 and 4. Americans Kelli Kuehne and Cristie Kerr beat Laura Davies and Sophie Gustafson, 2 and 1, and Catriona Matthew and Janice Moodie handled the U.S. team of Rosie Jones and Wendy Ward, 4 and 3.
 
The anchor match between Sorenstam and Pettersen and Diaz and Robbins was a Solheim Cup classic as the Americans tied the match with a seven-foot birdie by Diaz at the 13th.
 
Robbins chipped close with her third shot at the par-5 16th and seemed poised to take the lead. Pettersen drained a five-footer for birdie then Robbins holed her's to keep the match all-square.
 
At the 17th, Diaz nearly holed her approach but the ball settled four feet from the cup. Sorenstam landed her second on the left fringe, 20 feet from the hole while both Robbins and Pettersen were in trouble on the hole.
 
Since Robbins was away, the Americans had the honor and elected to let Diaz putt right away. She converted the birdie putt but Sorenstam, the hometown favorite and No. 1 player in the world, ran home her birdie putt to match Diaz and take the match to 18 all-square.
 
At the 18th at Barsebäck Golf & Country Club, Robbins tried to cut her drive over the trees but her ball hit one and kicked right. Diaz went through the fairway, as did Pettersen but Sorenstam split the short grass with her drive.
 
Robbins hit a remarkable shot that nicked a tree but still landed on the putting surface 50 feet from the hole. Diaz landed her approach on the rough in front of the green but bounced up to three feet. Pettersen played her second to 15 feet at the 18th and Sorenstam left herself with seven feet.