There were a few eyebrows raised when Europe's Swedish captain Anna Nordqvist announced the pairings ahead of this afternoon's best-ball matches at Bernardus Golf in the Netherlands.
The blue-and-yellow duo of Maja Stark and Linn Grant had started the day by winning their foursomes match, but were left out.
Esther Henseleit and Leona Maguire scored Europe's second point of the morning, but were also left out.
Instead, Nordqvist renewed her confidence in the two losing pairs, Charley Hull/Lottie Woad and Céline Boutier/Nanna Koerstz Madsen.
It feels like the USA played really well in the two matches, which Europe lost, and foursomes is also a difficult format. You have to trust the process, Nordqvist says of her choice.
Half a point for the stars
That both Hull and Woad - top 10 in the world and key players in Europe - were allowed to continue playing was expected, although one could question the wisdom of letting the English stars play together again. After leading for almost the entire match, Hull and Woad lost, settling for half a point against Yealimi Noh/Angel Yin.
However, letting Boutier and Koerstz Madsen play again in the afternoon was a clear mistake. The Frenchwoman did what she could, but the Dane was completely under the ice as the duo suffered their second loss of the day without coming close to threatening Megan Khang/Alison Lee.
Successful debutants
Anna Nordqvist also surprised by sending two rookies out together. But the Anglo-French pairing of Mimi Rhodes, 24, and Nastasia Nadaud, 21, celebrated a victory in their Solheim Cup debut against Allisen Corpuz/Auston Kim. After it was decided on the 17th hole, the successful debutants received a teddy bear hug from Nordqvist, who could see that she had made both good, fairly good and bad decisions during her first day as Solheim Cup captain in a tight situation.
Afterwards, Nordqvist justified her decision to pair two rookies:
They are so young and fearless. Many people might think why - but I think why not? It felt like they had good chemistry and sometimes you just have to trust your instincts.
The shadows were starting to grow long in the evening sun as the fourth and final best-ball match was decided on the 18th hole. Spanish pair Carlota Ciganda/Julia López Ramírez were under pressure against Lauren Coughlin and world number one Nelly Korda, but veteran Ciganda managed to save par after being in a lot of trouble.
That earned half a point, which was celebrated as a victory.
I love playing for the team, for my teammates and for Anna, who is a good friend of mine, says Ciganda.
The score is completely even, 4-4, heading into this weekend's game.
Foursome:
Charley Hull/Lottie Woad - Allisen Corpuz/Nelly Korda - USA won 4/3.
Nanna Koerstz Madsen/Céline Boutier - Alison Lee/Lauren Coughlin - USA won 3/2.
Esther Henseleit/Leona Maguire - Andrea Lee/Lindy Duncan - Europe won 2/0.
Maja Stark/Linn Grant - Rose Zhang/Jennifer Kupcho - Europe won 3/2.
Best ball:
Hull/Woad - Yealimi Noh/Angel Yin - the match was tied.
Boutier/Koerstz Madsen - Megan Khang/Alison Lee - USA won 5/3.
Mimi Rhodes/Nastasia Nadaud - Corpuz/Auston Kim - Europe won 2/1.
Carlota Ciganda/Julia López Ramírez - Korda/Coughlin - match tied.
