Korda sisters paired on opening morning at Solheim Cup

(Reuters) – Americans Jessica and Nelly Korda will become the first sisters paired at a Solheim Cup when they team up in foursomes on the opening day against Europe at Gleneagles on Friday.

The Kordas will face Caroline Masson and Jodi Ewart Shadoff in the third match of the morning in the alternate-shot format at the Scottish course which hosted the 2014 Ryder Cup.

U.S. captain Juli Inksker was initially dubious whether pairing the sisters would be a good idea, but was talked around in the end after Jessica and Nelly teamed up at an LPGA event recently and did not “kill each other”.

“We kind of know what ticks one another off and we know how to calm each other down as well,” said Nelly, who at 21 is more than five years younger than Jessica.

Their father is former Australian Open tennis champion Petr Korda, while brother Sebastian won the 2018 Australian Open junior title.

Swedish sisters Annika and Charlotta Sorenstam previously played for Europe in the 1998 Solheim Cup but were not paired at all.

Five of the six American rookies will play in the Friday foursomes, with only Ally McDonald, a late replacement for injured Stacy Lewis, sitting out.

Danielle Kang, Angel Yin and Lizette Salas will also not participate in the foursomes.

European captain Catriona Matthew paired each of her four English players with a continental team mate in all four matches.

Anne van Dam, Caroline Hedwall, Anna Nordqvist and Suzann Pettersen will sit out the foursomes, which will be followed in the afternoon by four matches of four ball (better ball).

FOURSOMES MATCHES (all times GMT):

7:10 a.m. – Carlota Ciganda/Bronte Law (EUR) v Morgan Pressel/Marina Alex (USA)

7:22 a.m. – Georgia Hall/Celine Boutier (EUR) v Lexi Thompson/Brittany Altomare (USA)

7:34 a.m. – Caroline Masson/Jodi Ewart Shadoff (EUR) v Jessica Korda/Nelly Korda (USA)

8:46 a.m. – Charley Hull/Azahara Munoz (EUR) vs. Megan Khang/Annie Park (USA)