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Nicole Castrale gives her verdict on day one at the Solheim Cup

Friday 18 September 2015 20:32, UK

Anna Nordqvist of the European Team holes a birdie putt on the 8th green in her match with Caroline Hedwall
Image: Anna Nordqvist looked unstoppable in her fourballs match

Nicole Castrale gives us her verdict on an entertaining first day of the 14th Solheim Cup in Germany.

Castrale, who played on two winning Solheim Cup teams for the USA, is a new addition to the Sky Sports commentary team this week and here she reflects on a good first day for Europe.

Star of the day

"I'll have to pick two out. For the Americans, Paula Creamer came out with Morgan Pressel made a clutch par putt on the very first hole. Paula played well and made another huge putt on 16, and she did enough to silence the critics who felt she was fortunate to get a captain's pick.

Paula Creamer of the United States plays her second shot at the 8th hole during the Friday afternoon fourball match of the Solheim Cup
Image: Paula Creamer justified her captain's pick on day one

"But the star of the afternoon for me was Anna Nordqvist. She really put the hammer down on Morgan and Paula - she was five or six under on her own and looked unstoppable."

Any big surprises?

"I suppose the only real surprise was the Americans not putting a point on the board in the fourballs, although there are still two matches to complete. The USA are often so dominant in fourballs, but we did not see that today."

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Carlota Ciganda holed her second shot on the 17th to put the third match back to all-square with one hole to play.
Image: Carlota Ciganda was an easy choice for shot of the day

Shot of the day

"That's an easy one ... it was the last shot of the day! Carlota Ciganda's incredible eagle at 17, in the dark, holing a 140-yard nine-iron to get her and Mel Reid back to all-square against Lexi Thompson and Cristie Kerr. I was trying to figure out the stand-out shot of the day before that one arrived!"

Pivotal moment

"I'm not so sure there was one particular moment, but it was tough to watch the afternoon matches. Lexi and Cristie were in full control of their match, but the Europeans rallied near the end. It remains to be seen how pivotal Ciganda's eagle will be, we'll find out in the morning.

fans of the United States Team are seen during the morning foursomes on day one of the Solheim Cup 2015
Image: The Americans need to give their fans something to cheer when the action resumes on Saturday

"There are two matches still on the course, and the Americans really need to get some red on the board or they will have a real uphill battle ahead of them."

Overall day one verdict

"It was a day of mixed emotions as far as the Americans were concerned. Splitting the morning foursomes would have felt like a winning session for them as they are usually not as strong in that format.

"But in the afternoon, they were outplayed and outputted by the Americans. Anna Nordqvist, in particular, was lights out."

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