Team USA fought back in a thrilling final session to trail Europe by one point at the end of the opening day of the Solheim Cup.

After Suzann Pettersen and Anne Van Dam won their match in the fourballs, Europe were leading 3.5-1.5, but the Korda sisters played their part in bringing the USA back to trail 3-4.

Brittanny Altomare made four birdies in the final six holes of the last match of the day to star for the USA in a day of exceptional twists and turns at  Gleneagles.

A huge, vociferous crowd gathered on the first tee and buoyed by this backin Carlota Ciganda and Bronte Law gained a valuable half point against Morgan Pressel and Marina Alex with some brilliant putting on the final two holes.

2018 British Open winner Georgia Hall partnered Celine Boutier to win 2&1 over Lexi Thompson and Altomare to continue Europe’s imperious record of performing well on the first morning of the Solheim Cup.

Jessica and Nelly Korda won USA’s first point of the event with a convincing 6&5 win but Charley Hull and Azahara Munoz won their match 2&1 to give Europe a lead of 2.5-1.5 going into the afternoon.

The fourballs began with Pettersen and Van Dam winning relatively comfortably against Danielle Kang and Lizette Salas 4&2 as they went on a streak of winning four out of six holes.

Americans Ally McDonald and Angel Yin took just 13 holes to thoroughly dominate their encounter 7&5 with Anna Nordqvist and Caroline Hedwall but that was when the drama began.

Ciganda and Law were down by two with just four holes to play but three consecutive holes of sensational play from the Europeans looked to give them a vital point. But Law missed her putt on the final hole and Thompson nailed a 10-footer to halve the point.

The final match was also halved between Europe’s Hull and Munoz and USA’s Nelly Korda and Brittany Altomare to leave the honours even in the fourballs.