FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Saturday, August 19th, 2017

NOTABLE QUOTES: THE SOLHEIM CUP, SATURDAY MORNING FOURSOMES MATCHES – U.S. LEADS EUROPE 7.5 – 4.5

Golf Channel Notable Quotes
The Solheim Cup, Day 2
Morning foursomes matches
Saturday, Aug. 19, 2017
Des Moines Golf & Country Club
West Des Moines, Iowa

** United States leads Europe 7.5 – 4.5 after the morning foursomes matches on Saturday at the Solheim Cup.
** The United States and Europe each won two matches in the Saturday morning foursomes session.
** Live coverage of the Saturday afternoon four-ball matches is airing on Golf Channel until 4 p.m. ET and continuing on NBC from 4-6 p.m. ET.

Saturday Morning Foursomes Match Results
Match #1: Cristie Kerr/Lexi Thompson (U.S.) defeated Jodi Ewart Shadoff/Caroline Masson (Europe) 5&3
Match #2: Austin Ernst/Paula Creamer (U.S.) defeated Emily Pedersen/Mel Reid (Europe) 5&3
Match #3: Georgia Hall/Anna Nordqvist (Europe) defeated Stacy Lewis/Gerina Piller (U.S.) 2&1
Match #4: Karine Icher/Catriona Matthew (Europe) defeated Danielle Kang and Michelle Wie (U.S.) 2&1

On Saturday’s morning foursomes matches
Jerry Foltz – “The last time it was perfectly silent on this golf course was the first tee shot yesterday morning. There’s always noise out here.”
Karen Stupples – “You really do see players that will become future stars in this format because under these kind of pressures, if your game holds up, you know that it is going to hold up in any other event you go to.”
Stupples – “For Europe, this is what you wanted to have happen. Claw your way back into this match.”
Stupples – “For the Americans, their confidence are going to be high going into this afternoon with splitting the morning session. They are going to be tough to beat.” 

On Cristie Kerr/Lexi Thompson defeating Caroline Masson/Jodi Ewart Shadoff 5&3
Karen Stupples – “I can’t see this being her last Solheim Cup. There will be more in her future.”
Tom Abbott – “She finished it off in style. Fine performance by Cristie Kerr and Lexi Thompson. Just builds on the legacy they have created here at the Solheim Cup.”
Grant Boone – “With a spring in her step, the veteran Cristie Kerr is leading the U.S.’s charge this morning.”

Cristie Kerr and Lexi Thompson speaking with Golf Channel’s Jim Gallagher, Jr following their match
Lexi Thompson – “Every putt is a huge momentum base. She putted amazing today. Walked in so many putts. I just gave her the opportunities and she was rolling the ball amazing.”
Cristie Kerr – “I think the most important putt for the day was they hit it in the hazard on one and made a putt for par and Lexi topped it for birdie. So, we got the momentum right at the beginning. We can’t discount the fact that her putt on one was huge.”

 On Paula Creamer/Austin Ernst defeating Emily Pedersen/Mel Reid 5&3
Stupples – “I like them as a pairing. They really gel well together. That have been saving themselves with their putters, and they haven’t made too many mistakes, which is what you want in foursomes.”
Abbott – “With that win, Paula Creamer becomes the all-time leading points-earner for the U.S. foursomes play with 8.5 points.”
Boone – “Inkster keeps getting passed in the record books and I think she couldn’t be happier.”

Paula Creamer and Austin Ernst speaking with Golf Channel’s Jim Gallagher, Jr following their match
Paula Creamer – “I just wanted to get this rookie and wanted to be with her for her first point. There is nothing quite like it. Yesterday we played really well, we just went up against a strong team. We were pretty motivated last night. Sitting out in the afternoon yesterday – we’ve got to do what the Captain says – we were itching to get out here. Austin played awesome, gave me some good luck, so we are a good team.”
Austin Ernst – “It has been awesome. Nobody can explain it, and I know why now. It’s awesome, there is nothing like playing in front of the crowds and hearing U.S.A., U.S.A., so it’s great.”
Ernst – “I think we make a great team. I knew basically yesterday if I can get it on the greens, she was going to make the putt. So that loosens me up a little bit. If I ever had any nerves, I can just go talk to her about it. I think having a veteran is huge, being a rookie, just having someone to lean on that has been there before.”
Creamer – “I think obviously playing for your country, but when you have a partner, there is obviously something so different about that. It is not just about you. You want to do so well for her and you want to do so well for your team. It is not about the individual sport. Being out here with these crowds, they are just awesome. Everywhere you go, you see the red, white and blue and U.S.A. There is nothing better than that.”

On Georgia Hall/Anna Nordqvist defeating Stacy Lewis/Gerina Piller 2&1
Cockerill – “Georgia Hall has impressed us all with her composure under pressure.”
Cockerill – “To have someone who is this good a putter as a rookie is amazing. It has got to be a lot of fun for Anna.”
Stupples – “Their personalities have really meshed really well for these two.”
Abbott – “Georgia Hall continues to impress.”

Georgia Hall and Anna Nordqvist speaking with Golf Channel’s Kay Cockerill following their match
Georgia Hall – “It think it is very important after a bad afternoon for us yesterday. Anna and I both played really well both matches and it was a tight match against Stacy and Gerina. We are happy to get a point.”
Anna Nordqvist – “She certainly has played like a superstar the last few days. She is very fearless and is a fun character. Didn’t know her coming into this week but she has a bright future ahead of her.”
Nordqvist – “I’m feeling better. Rested yesterday afternoon. It has been a little bit of a rocky road the past couple of weeks. If Annika plays me I’m ready to go.”

 On Karine Icher/Catriona Matthew defeating Danielle Kang/Michelle Wie 2&1
Foltz – “Karine Icher has been so incredibly solid over every putt on what we consider makeable length all day long.”
Foltz – “Danielle Kang is taking it all in and enjoying every moment of it.”

U.S. Captain Juli Inkster speaking with Golf Channel’s Kay Cockerill following the morning foursomes session
Inkster – “I’m ecstatic, we lost yesterday morning and I think anytime we can split in foursomes I think that is a win for us. I was very happy with this morning and I’m looking forward to this afternoon.”
Inkster – “It’s great for women’s golf and I think when you hit a good shot you should applaud them. I know all of the Europeans so it is all about golf. It isn’t about me, I’m just out there as a bystander, but I do like to stay by myself. It helps me.”
Inkster – “I think I learned a lot about myself and about my leadership roles in Germany. Everybody seemed to like the low key approach. I guess it is the sarcasm approach. We’ve had Paul Azinger, Davis Love, Curtis Strange and Corey Pavin text us. So it is great they are all watching us. We always watch them and I like the reciprocation.”

-NBC Sports Group-