Slowheim Cup

The players in the afternoon fourballs are on the back nine. The target time for the matches is four and half hours and they are on five hours and forty-five-minute pace. It seems that the men’s game is not the only one plagued by slow play problems.

Pettersen and Van Dam slowing easing to victory

The lead out match is Europe’s Suzanne Pettersen and Anne Van Dam versus Meghan Kang and Lizette Salas. According to the commentators Salas is on the clock and one more transgression and team USA will receive a one hole penalty. As a result of the slow play at one point there are three groups on the 13th hole.

It is clear that the top match is causing the problem but when it was Europe’s turn, in match two, to play in to the green at the 13th Anna Nordquist takes an age to play her shot. She has been standing waiting for a good few minutes as match one putted out so why was she not ready?

If the powers in the game want to do something about slow play, then this is the type of event at which they should make a stand. The world is watching and in particular young aspiring golfers. Officials from both sides of the pond should agree that regardless of the furore that will undoubtedly follow any penalties the guilty party's team should be penalised for slow play.

It’s approaching 6:30pm, the teams are still out on the course and its getting a wee bit gloomy. It also does not make for great viewing when it goes on so long.

In the match itself, Europe took the morning foursomes by 2½ matches to 1½. In the opening match Bronte Law and Carlota Ciganda halved with Morgan Pressel and Marina Alex. In match three the Korda sisters crushed Caroline Masson and Jodi Ewart Shadoff by 6&4. However, Europe took matches two and four, both by a score of 2&1. Georgia Hall and Celine Boutier beat Lexi Thompson and Brittany Altomare while Charley Hull and Azahara Munoz beat Megan Khang and Annie Park.