Americans lead after foursomes at Solheim Cup

Golf Betting Lines

09/14/2007 - Halmstad, Sweden (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The American team took a 2 1/2 - 1 1/2 lead after Friday morning's foursomes matches at the Solheim Cup at Halmstad Golf Club.

The first match was the only one that went the distance. The European tandem of Suzann Pettersen and Sophie Gustafson did not draw even until the 17th hole, but hung on to halve Pat Hurst and Cristie Kerr.

Americans Laura Diaz and Sherri Steinhauer built an early lead on the front nine, but got caught around the turn by Annika Sorenstam and Catriona Matthew. The U.S. team hit some spectacular shots on the back nine and walked away with a 4 & 2 win.

Paula Creamer and Juli Inkster took advantage of some loose shots late by their European counterparts Laura Davies and Becky Brewerton. Europe lost the 16th and 17th holes to give the U.S. a 2 & 1 victory.

Europe won the last match with relative ease as Maria Hjorth and Gwladys Nocera handled Morgan Pressel and Natalie Gulbis, 3 & 2.

"It was pretty close," said American captain Betsy King. "Most of the matches were fairly tight. I think it's going to be that way the whole way. Normally we haven't done that well in the alternate-shot, so this is a very good start for us."

Kerr and Hurst never trailed in their match and won the first two holes. They conceded the 11th hole to the European team and halved the next five holes.

Hurst missed a seven-footer to lose the 17th. The sides were even with one to play and Europe seemed to have the advantage despite missing the fairway at the closing hole.

Pettersen was able to get the team's second to 15 feet, while Kerr knocked her ball into a bunker. Hurst blasted out to six feet, while Gustafson ran her birdie effort for the win three feet by the hole.

Kerr made her gutsy par save, then Pettersen converted her knee-knocker to give each team a half point.

"Hard-fought battle," said Kerr. "That last putt made everything right."

Diaz converted a three-foot birdie putt to win the second hole and the American pair seemed in control. Steinhauer had a chance to pick up another hole at six, but her putt lipped out hard on the right. Unfortunately for the Europeans, Matthew lipped out from two feet closer and lost the hole to fall 2-down.

Europe clawed back thanks to the former world No. 1. Sorenstam holed out from close to a bunker to win the ninth, then took No. 10 when Steinhauer missed a four-footer for par.

The match was all-square but Diaz sank a four-footer for birdie to win the 11th. The U.S. won the par-three 13th when Steinhauer knocked her tee ball to five feet.

Steinhauer made another birdie at the 15th to get 3-up with three to play. When Matthew landed her tee ball in water at the 16th and the Americans stayed dry, Europe conceded the match.

"We kept talking to each other and I think that was really important," said Steinhauer, who won the LPGA State Farm Classic two weeks ago.

Creamer and Inkster lost the 10th and 12th holes to bring the European team back to all-square. It stayed that way until the par-three 16th when Davies knocked her tee ball into the water. The European pair conceded the hole and lost the 17th thanks to more errant shots.

"I was hitting my irons good and she's been putting the ball fantastically," said Creamer. "When you have that combination, you're pretty deadly out there."

In Friday morning's anchor match, Europe looked to be in trouble at one thanks to a horrible drive from Hjorth. The team scrambled to a par, won that hole and lost only one hole through the entire match.

Friday afternoon will feature four fourball matches and King is emptying her bench. All four golfers that sat out in the morning are in action in the afternoon, while European captain Helen Alfredsson kept Linda Wessberg and Bettina Hauert out of action.

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Big Ten Conference odds

Teams that should be in: Michigan State, Indiana
Work left to do: Illinois, Purdue, Michigan, Iowa

Behind the big two, the pecking order might be in a bit of flux. Has Michigan State passed Indiana after handling the Hoosiers in East Lansing? Where is Illinois in that mix? What looked like a four-big league last week could be morphing into five -- and even six is not unthinkable at this point if everything breaks right.

Should be in:

Michigan State [21-8 (8-6), RPI: 20, SOS: 15] The Spartans made it four-for-four on the homestand, a gigantic accomplishment that leaves them in extremely good shape. MSU is only 1-6 on the road and is at Michigan and at Wisconsin to close things out, meaning the date with the Wolverines on Tuesday looms very, very large. Beating Texas early will hold up well, as will the rout of Bradley and the win over BYU, but will 8-8 be enough? It very well could be, as the computer numbers are good, but why chance it?

Indiana [18-9 (8-6), RPI: 24, SOS: 32] Hmm ... good thing the last two are at Northwestern and home to Penn State, because IU might want to get both to feel completely safe after dropping its third in the last four, fading after halftime at Michigan State. Who knew the best nonconference win would be over Southern Illinois, which is a gift that keeps on giving for the Hoosiers. The win over Wisconsin also looks good on the mantel.

Work left to do:

Illinois [21-9 (9-6), RPI: 31, SOS: 25] A good performance at Penn State leaves the Illini in pretty good shape. Can they go to Iowa and take care of business to really look on their way? That's a huge game, as there is a possible cluster of teams that will end at 9-7. Illinois beat Bradley, but has lost to Xavier. A 9-7 mark and a semifinals trip in Chicago could be enough with the computer profile hanging in there, but it would be better not to mess around, clinching at least a tie for third.

Purdue [18-10 (7-7), RPI: 47, SOS: 28] Couldn't get it done at Iowa, but did win at Northwestern to put 9-7 squarely in sight. Where does that leave the Boilermakers, though? Even if they beat Minnesota and Northwestern at home, that won't help the computer numbers. Nonconference wins over Virginia, DePaul and Oklahoma are solid, but not spectacular. The Boilers very well might need an upset in the B10 quarters to have a legit claim.

Michigan [19-10 (7-7), RPI: 55, SOS: 53] Well, Michigan did what it needed to do, winning at Minnesota to take control of its fate. The Wolverines have Michigan State and an already-wrapped-up-the-league Ohio State at home to close, so the chances are there. Win both and we can talk. There is no marquee win yet in the profile, and the Wolverines were splattered in several games against name opponents. A mediocre computer profile fueled by a lack of road wins isn't helping, either.

Iowa [16-12 (8-6), RPI: 80, SOS: 64] For the sake of being complete, we'll add Iowa, this season's Stanford. It's plausible that the Hawkeyes could get to 10-6 (at Penn State, vs. Illinois left), but where does that leave them after a gruesome nonconference performance where the best win was over ... Toledo? Iowa State? Cornell?? If they get to 10-6, we can start to look at what they need to do in the B10 tourney, although my gut sense is that they would need to make the final and have knocked off Ohio State or Wisconsin on the way to have any real claim.

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Football Betting: Defensive Rookie of the Year Awards

Oddsmakers have released the odds for the 2009 AP NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Award and Seattle Seahawks linebacker Aaron Curry has been made the opening favorite.

Bet on NFL Football

Seattle took Curry with the fourth overall pick in April's NFL draft and plan on inserting him into its starting lineup right away. The Hawks traded linebacker Julian Peterson in the offseason, so Curry is expected to have a significant role in Seattle's defense next year and that's one of the primary reasons he is the favorite to win the NFL ROY Award.

Oddsmakers from online sportsbook MySportsbook.com have made Curry a 5/1 favorite to win this year's NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Award. Given that he was the best defensive prospect in this year's draft and how he'll have plenty of opportunities to make plays in '09, Curry offers a ton of value at 5/1.

Another thing working for Curry is the position he plays. A linebacker has won the defensive ROY award six straight times and eight of the last nine years. Jerod Mayo, Patrick Willis, DeMeco Ryans, Shawne Merriman, Jonathan Vilma, Terrell Suggs, Kendrell Bell and Brian Urlacher were the most recent linebackers to take home the award.

Following Curry at 5/1 are Tyson Jackson (Chiefs) at 7/1, James Laurinaitas (Rams) at 8/1, Brian Orakpo (Redskins) at 10/1, Rey Maualuga (Bengals) at 10/1 and Jerry Peria (Falcons) at 10/1.

All the players mentioned above are expected to start for their respective teams, but Jackson and Peria are going to have a tough time being recognized on a national level given they're both defensive linemen. D-linemen rarely put up the numbers that it takes to win an individual award like the ROY.

A couple of players with some value are Clay Matthews (Packers) at 12/1 and Larry English (Chargers) at 15/1. Matthews is expected to start at outside linebacker in Green Bay's new 3-4 defense and could rack up a ton of tackles. English, who was an impressive player at Northern Illinois, is expected to be a situational pass rusher for the Chargers and could rack up a ton of sacks.

For complete odds on the 2009 AP NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Award, see below. And for complete odds for the 2009 AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Award, click the link provided.

2009 AP NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Award

Robert Ayers (DEN) 12/1

Ron Brace (NE) 25/1

Everette Brown (CAR) 16/1

Darius Butler (NE) 40/1

Patrick Chung (NE) 30/1

Aaron Curry (SEA) 5/1

Brian Cushing (HOU) 12/1

Vontae Davis (MIA) 30/1

Louis Delmas (DET) 30/1

Larry English (SD) 15/1

Evander Hood (PIT) 25/1

Tyson Jackson (KC) 7/1

Malcolm Jenkins (NO) 25/1

Paul Kruger (BAL) 50/1

James Laurinaitas (STL) 8/1

Sen'Derrick Marks (TEN) 20/1

Clay Matthews (GB) 12/1

Aaron Maybin (BUF) 15/1

Rey Maualuga (CIN) 10/1

Roy Miller (TB) 20/1

Michael Mitchell (OAK) 45/1

Fili Moala (IND) 30/1

Brian Orakpo (WAS) 10/1

Jerry Peria (ATL) 10/1

B J Raji (GB) 7/1

Clint Sintim (NYG) 35/1

Alphonso Smith (DEN) 40/1

David Verkune (CLE) 20/1

Jason Williams (DAL) 30/1

Field (Any Other Player) 6/1

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