What A Day!

Whew!  I'm worn out and I didn't have to walk 36 holes.  It looks like my prediction of 18-10 might not happen but Team U.S.A. goes to Sunday in great shape.  They dodged a major bullet in the last two matches, and holding on to win them both had to be a great lift after a rather disheartening afternoon.

Not too much strategy left for the captains to play, aside from the playing order where you might want to stack up the front or save firepower for the end.  But everybody has to bring their game and play, and nobody gets to rest.  For Suzann Pettersen and Maria Hjorth, you have to wonder what they have left to give Team Europe.  Hjorth has played great but her putting really hurt over those last few holes today and Pettersen was fighting consistency even before we knew about her physical troubles.  Anna Nordqvist rose to the occasion, Gwladys Nocera and Becky Brewerton won in a rout and Sophie Gustafson and Janice Moodie came off the deck to dominate a formidable pairing.  Before the event I didn't expect Europe to do much in singles and I still don't, but the fact that their "no-names" carried the day sets up the possibility that they could shock me.

As for the Americans, they are rested - with the possible exception of Kerr and McPherson (who each played 36 holes today).  With the exception of Michelle Wie, no one played lights-out today.  Brittany Lang and Angela Stanford did fine - until the last hole of their four-ball match which cost them a half-point.  Morgan Pressel and McPherson won but got some help from Pettersen and Alfredsson's struggles.  I'll have to chalk up today's overall spotty performance to chance and hope the Yanks return to form tomorrow.

Although I still expect a U.S. victory, I'll be very happy even if The Constructivist's modest prediction of 15-13 comes to pass.  The lesser-known Euros have impressed the heck out of me.