The US in contrast had their best-ever start as they won all four foursome matches to take a commanding 4-0 lead at the Finca Cortesin.

Lexi Thompson and Megan Khang began with victory against Swedish pair Maja Stark and Linn Grant when they led by two holes with only one remaining,

Danielle Kang and Andrea Lee claimed a one-up victory over France's Evian Championship winner Céline Boutier and former Women's Open champion Georgia Hall of England in a match that went the full 18 holes, a feat repeated by Olympic champion Nelly Korda and US Women's Open winner Allisen Corpuz against Ireland's Leona Maguire and three-time major winner Anna Nordqvist of Sweden.

A US clean sweep of the foursomes was secured by Ally Ewing and Cheyenne Knight, who recorded a comfortable five-hole victory with four remaining against England's Charley Hull and Denmark's Emily Kristine Pedersen.

After a difficult morning, Europe recovered with two wins and two halved matches in the fourball matches.

Scotland's Gemma Dryburgh and Madelene Sagström of Sweden earned their first half-point against Rose Zhang and Khang, and Maguire and Hall then claimed Europe's first victory with a one-up triumph over Thompson and Lilia Vu, a winner of two majors this year.

Playing with Stark, Pedersen then produced only the second hole-in-one in Solheim Cup history on the 12^th to contribute to a tie against Jennifer Kupcho and Corpuz, and Europe finished on a high with a comfortable four-hole win with two remaining for Spain's Carlota Ciganda and Grant against Angel Yin and Ewing.

Tomorrow is also set to feature four foursome and four fourball matches before the Solheim Cup concludes with 12 singles ties on Sunday (September 24).

As defending champions, hosts Europe need 14 points to retain the Solheim Cup, while the US need 14.5 to win.