{"id":41549,"date":"2017-08-19T05:32:58","date_gmt":"2017-08-19T05:32:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.biphoo.com\/bipnews\/?p=41549"},"modified":"2017-08-19T05:32:58","modified_gmt":"2017-08-19T05:32:58","slug":"driven-lizette-salas-sensational-play-spurs-team-usa-afternoon-sweep-four-ball","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.biphoo.com\/bipnews\/sports\/golf\/driven-lizette-salas-sensational-play-spurs-team-usa-afternoon-sweep-four-ball.html","title":{"rendered":"Driven Lizette Salas\u2019 sensational play spurs Team USA to afternoon sweep in four-ball"},"content":{"rendered":"

Driven Lizette Salas\u2019 sensational play spurs Team USA to afternoon sweep in four-ball<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

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Perhaps no one on Team USA was more motivated to succeed than Lizette Salas.<\/span><\/p>\n

Salas, who worked her way from near the bottom of the American Solheim Cup qualifying list into the lineup with three top-15 finishes in this year\u2019s majors, wasted no time showing she belonged Friday at Des Moines Golf and Country Club.<\/span><\/p>\n

Salas matched the sweltering 90-degree temperatures with her blazing play, rattling off birdies on the first three holes as she and rookie teammate Angel Yin ran out to a 3-0 lead over Team Europe\u2019s Carlota Ciganda and Emily Pedersen in the afternoon four-ball matches.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Americans went on to win 6 and 5 amid raucous support from the high-spirited Midwestern gallery. The dominating effort tied for the second-largest margin of victory in Solheim Cup four-ball history. Pat Hurst and Rosie Jones hold the mark with their 7-and-5 win over Lisa Hackney and Sophie Gustafson at Muirfield Village in 1998.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt all came down to just the basics, just hitting fairways and greens,\u201d Salas said. \u201cI didn\u2019t putt the way I wanted to this morning and I felt like this afternoon was my redemption round. Just everything kind of fell together.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Salas nearly drained an eagle at the par-5 fifth, settling for her fourth birdie, restoring the USA\u2019s commanding edge. She canned another huge birdie putt at the ninth for a 4-up advantage.<\/span><\/p>\n

After Yin\u2019s birdie at the 12th hole \u2014 where she smashed her drive some 340 yards \u2014 put the team 6 up, Salas gestured to the crowd to get loud. Salas\u2019 par putt at the 13th hole sealed the deal.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cShe finished,\u201d Yin said of Salas. \u201cShe made every putt she came across.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Putting. Partnering. Cheerleading. Salas did it all better than anyone. Her big day helped boost the U.S. to a 5 \u00bd-2\u00bd lead as the red, white and blue swept the afternoon session for the first time in Solheim Cup annals. She was a calming influence on the effervescent, long-hitting Lin, who struggled at times and was flustered after a three-putt.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cShe just told me to calm down,\u201d Yin said.<\/span><\/p>\n

The 28-year-old Salas, playing in her third Solheim Cup, teamed with first-year Danielle Kang in the morning foursomes collecting a 1-up victory over Ciganda and Caroline Masson. Close friends with Kang, the win was a milestone for Salas, an Azusa, Calif. native and USC product.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s my first full point in alternate shot and I couldn\u2019t have asked for a better partner \u2014 for alternate shot or just Solheim Cup in general,\u201d Salas said. \u201cSo I\u2019m really proud of us. And really proud of her for stepping it up and carrying me, inspiring me and pushing me through it. It was tough coming down the stretch \u2026 but we did it.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Overall a great day for Team USA and especially for Salas, currently ranked 45th in the Rolex Rankings. Salas\u2019 mother Martha and father Ramon were on hand to savor. Behind the 13th green, Salas reconnected with her family.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI glanced at my dad on the last hole and he was smiling from here to here,\u201d Salas said, indicating ear to ear. \u201cDays like today make me cherish what I\u2019ve been through to get here.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

This journey was major. Salas finished T-14 at the Ricoh Women\u2019s British Open, T-15 at the U.S. Women\u2019s Open and T-11 at the KPMG Women\u2019s PGA Championship. The run punched her ticket to Iowa.<\/span><\/p>\n

It remains to be seen where Salas\u2019 sizzling opening day at the Solheim Cup takes her next.<\/span><\/p>\n

Source-\u00a0http:\/\/golfweek.com\/2017\/08\/18\/driven-lizette-salas-sensational-play-spurs-team-usa-to-afternoon-sweep-in-four-ball\/<\/span><\/p>\n

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