There’s something about preserving the moment on the first tee of the Solheim Cup, especially as the first match off. Team Europe, represented by Anna Nordqvist and Matilda Castren, and Team USA, represented by Austin Ernst and Danielle Kang, approached the anticipation in different ways on Saturday morning at Inverness Club in Toledo, Ohio.

Nordqvist, the last major champion of 2021 at the AIG Women’s Open, set up after the introductions and a hush fell over the crowd. A faint whisper could be heard from the grandstand: “The silence is deafening.” All was quiet for the strike and Nordqvist, naught but stoic. Kang embraced the noise, motioning for the fans to cheer louder. She couldn’t hit without the chaos. And away they went into competition.

“I was nervous on the first tee even though I didn’t have to hit the first shot,” Castren said. “I’m glad Anna had me covered there. She was a huge help today and is an awesome player. I really trust her.”

That was the cue for her playing partner to chime in.

“It was an honor for me and Matilda to get the team started. I loved hitting the first tee shot,” Nordqvist said after helping secure her 14th career point for Team Europe. “It’s moments like that I live for.”

On the par-5 second, Castren dropped in a right-to-left 30-foot bomb that, for an instant, seemed like it would put Team Europe on the board first. Instead, Team USA answered with a 20-foot bender from Kang. The script was flipped on the par-3 third as Kang missed a par opportunity, handing Europe a 1-up advantage. Nordqvist and Castren carried that momentum to the very next hole to go 2 up, but gave it right back at No. 5 with a three-putt performance.

The tide turned on No. 7. Kang left her chip shot short, but Ernst swooped in like Captain America to pick her partner up. She buried the 20-foot par putt and flashed a fierce fist pump as the gallery erupted. Another par on No. 8 put the Stars and Stripes 1 up, and they made the turn with the same margin.

“I felt like we were doing great. Things happen,” said Nordqvist. “She made that putt to give them a little bit of momentum, but Matilda putted really well all day, had great speed. She made a couple really good ones that took the momentum back for us, especially the good par putt on 9 followed by a great birdie on 10.”

Team Europe and Team USA exchanged birdies at Nos. 10 and 12, respectively. Castren found the bottom of the cup at No. 10 from 23 feet, while Ernst left it inside 5 feet off the tee at the par-3 12th and Kang capitalized. From there, Nordqvist and Castren strung together three straight birdies from Nos. 13-15 to open a 2-up lead. Despite a par from Team USA to take No. 17, the European duo shut the door on No. 18 for a 1-up victory.

“We’re very happy to get off to a good start, and Matilda played fantastic,” said Nordqvist. “For her to go out there as a rookie and just be fearless, it’s not easy.”

The rookie added, “I couldn’t ask for a better way to start my Solheim Cup career winning the first point with Anna. She’s a legend and such a nice person.”

As Team Europe celebrates the point and turns their attention to fourball, Kang and Ernst will sit the afternoon session. And Kang will head back to the drawing board. Her misses during the match were sprayed both ways. Mark Ernst, Austin’s father, captured a swing video on hole 14 and texted it to Kang’s swing coach, Butch Harmon, for feedback. As the players made their way to the green on the same hole, Team USA Captain Pat Hurst and Assistant Angela Stanford could be seen huddled in the fairway with Mark, watching the video. The assessment: Kang was a little slow on her rotation.

“I think maybe people were just kind of thrown off just because I hit it everywhere today,” said Kang. “I think I was just really off sync, but I tried to overcorrect all day, which was a problem. The last three holes, I hit the ball really well because I liked the strike on the hits that I hit. I think maybe it's not really that technical for me. I just spoke to Butch, as well. I think people can just overanalyze.”

Castren, Nordqvist Take Down Ernst, Kang

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