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ACE RECOVERY
Watch Europe’s Emily Pedersen hit sensational HOLE-IN-ONE at Solheim Cup as fightback begins after USA’s best ever start
EMILY PEDERSEN'S historic hole-in-one led Europe's response to the USA's best ever start in the Solheim Cup.
And after the Great Dane notched only the second ace in the history of the tournament, super Swede Linn Grant almost repeated the feat.
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Yet the Americans had earlier mocked their status as underdogs by winning all the foursomes to lead 4-0 at Finca Cortes in southern Spain.
Pedersen stirred up the fightback by holing her first shot at the 178-yard par-three 12th hole in the afternoon fourballs.
She was partnering Maja Stark against Jennifer Kupucho and Allisen Corpus - and in fact the Euro duo still trailed in that tight contest.
Grant then came up just inches short at the same hole as Europe competed keenly.
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After getting the better of the afternoon fourballs 3-1, Europe heads into the second day 5-3 down.
Carlota Ciganda and Linn Grant won handily 4&2 over Angel Yin and Ally Ewing in the final match but the other three were left on a knife-edge.
After a half in the first match, Europe's Leona Maguire sensationally chipped in from off the green for birdie at the 18th to win it.
And in the third group, Maja Stark held her nerve to hole a birdie putt after Allisen Corpuz had piled on the pressure to halve the match.
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The USA are desperate to avoid three straight Solheim Cup defeats for the first time ever.
And that hunger helped spark their domination of the morning foursomes.
Ewing and Cheyenne Knight thrashed Charley Hull and Pedersen 5&4 before tighter finishes in all three other pairings.
Lexi Thompson and Megan Khang beat Swedish rookies Stark and Linn Grant 2&1.
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Andrea Lee and Danielle Kang fought back to win 1 up against Celine Boutier and Georgia Hall.
And US Women´s Open champion Corpuz short-putted on the last hole to nick a 1-Up triumph with Nelly Korda over Maguire and Anna Nordqvist.
But Pedersen's ace in the fourballs lifted the spirit amongst her team and fans - who raved about her action.
"The most beautiful swing," said one viewer, with others labelling her shot "crazy" and "incredible".
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A fourth posted: "Nice ace, but wow what a swing. Absolute butter."
A fifth added: "Sweet strike that, effortless swing."
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