FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, August 18th, 2017

NOTABLE QUOTES: THE SOLHEIM CUP, FRIDAY MORNING FOURSOMES MATCHES – EUROPE LEADS U.S. 2.5 – 1.5

Golf Channel Notable Quotes
The Solheim Cup, Day 1
Morning Foursomes Matches
Friday, Aug. 18, 2017
Des Moines Golf & Country Club
West Des Moines, Iowa

** Europe leads the United States 2.5 to 1.5 after the morning foursomes matches. Live coverage of the afternoon four-ball matches continues on Golf Channel Digital and the Golf Channel Mobile App until 4 p.m. ET, continuing live on Golf Channel from 4 p.m. until the conclusion of the afternoon matches this evening.

Friday Morning Foursomes Match Results
Match #1: Mel Reid/Charley Hull (Europe) vs. Cristie Kerr/Lexi Thompson (U.S.) Halved
Match #2: Danielle Kang/Lizette Salas defeated Carlota Ciganda and Caroline Masson 1UP
Match #3: Georgia Hall/Anna Nordqvist defeated Paula Creamer/Austin Ernst 3&1
Match #4: Karine Icher/Catriona Matthew defeated Stacy Lewis/Gerina Piller 1UP

On the morning foursomes matches
Judy Rankin – “Even though a lot of people talked about the U.S. being favored, this is so close and so emotional.”
Kay Cockerill – “Team Europe has stayed so patient and so calm no matter what has happened to them today.”
Karen Stupples – “The emotional roller coaster that these players face – the highs of winning a hole vs. losing it – are very extreme.”
Terry Gannon – “It is the underdog that got the better end of it this morning.”
Rankin – “If I’m the American team, I never did like hearing, “What big favorites we are.” The European team clearly used that to their advantage emotionally they went about their business.”

On Cristie Kerr/Lexi Thompson halving their match with Mel Reid/Charley Hull (Kerr made a birdie putt on 18 to finish the match all square)
Jerry Foltz – “Is there anybody on the American side you want to have this putt more than her [Cristie Kerr]?”
Rankin – “Nope, this is the player.”
Gannon – “It is the way the day started for them, and it is the way it ended, with a big putt from Cristie Kerr.”
Rankin – “Each player [Kerr and Thompson] was able to play to their strengths in this match today.”
Rankin – “They [Kerr and Thompson] are a very special duo.”
Foltz – “She [Charley Hull] plays quickly and she plays without fear.”

Cristie Kerr and Lexi Thompson speaking with Golf Channel’s Jerry Foltz following their match
Cristie Kerr – “Lexi made a huge putt on 17 to keep us in it. It was pretty much a, “You know what” sandwich out there from 1-18. The greens are tough. You’ve got to get the right speed and we were both struggling a little bit. I’m just glad it ended up the way it did.”
Lexi Thompson – “It definitely was a big putt just to keep it going into 18 here and I hit a great shot. But I was very happy that she was putting that last one, that’s for sure.”

On Danielle Kang/Lizette Salas defeating Carlota Ciganda/Caroline Masson 1UP
Stupples – “She [Kang] looks like she is thoroughly enjoying this whole experience. There isn’t anything she doesn’t want to take on. Inside she is feeling like she wants to play every single match, and do everything she can possibly do. She is just loving this moment.”
Stupples – “She [Kang] is loving every single moment.”
Foltz – “So much fire in this young lady.”
Rankin – “She [Kang] has been money with the putter.”

Danielle Kang and Lizette Salas speaking with Golf Channel’s Jerry Foltz following the match
Danielle Kang – “I just loved it. I absolutely love this. It is the most exciting tournament I have ever played in. Everyone kept telling me how amazing it is going to be, and I kept waiting for that moment. And then on the 1st tee shot, I wanted to hear this roar and then everyone kept chanting. I love it. The feeling I get, it is like an adrenaline rush. We had so much fun, we played really great. We have really good chemistry.”
Lizette Salas – “I have been waiting six years for this. We knew right off the bat we’d be great at this. She picked me up when I was down and she had all of the faith in the world in me and that is what a partner has to be. I am so grateful and so proud of her. She kept her composure and she didn’t play it like a rookie. She played like a major champion. I kept us in play most of the day and hopefully did my part and we’re just glad we got that point.”

On Georgia Hall/Anna Nordqvist defeating Paula Creamer/Austin Ernst 3&1
Rankin – “Anna has been great with the putter today.”

On Karine Icher and Catriona Matthew defeating Stacy Lewis and Gerina Piller 1UP
Stupples – “They [Matthew and Icher] are a pair that is not going to make many mistakes.”
Cockerill – “They [Matthew and Icher] are quiet the way they go about their business, but they are very good from tee to green. Not flashy, but solid, great golf.”
Gannon – “Lewis couldn’t bear to watch, waiting for the crowd to erupt and it never happened, and the Europeans close out the final match.”
Gannon – “Heartbreaking end to this final match for the captain, Juli Inkster.”

-NBC Sports Group-