Solheim Cup matches begin Friday

SUGAR GROVE, Ill., Aug. 20 (UPI) -- Michelle Wie will represent the United States for the first time as a professional player Friday in the opening set of matches at the Solheim Cup.

Wie, in her rookie season on the LPGA Tour, was one of the two wild-card choices for American captain Beth Daniel and was inserted in the lineup for the fourball matches that will kick off the most significant team competition in women's golf.

The United States will be trying for a third straight triumph over a European squad that will have to play without the retired Annika Sorenstam.

This year's matches will be played over the Rich Harvest Farms course in suburban Chicago. Eight team matches, four in the morning and four in the afternoon, will be played on Friday and Saturday. There will be 12 singles matches on Sunday.

Friday's opening match will send Americans Paula Creamer and Cristie Kerr against Europe's Suzann Pettersen and Sophie Gustafson.

Veterans Juli Inkster and Angela Stanford will then represent the American side against Helen Alfredsson and Tania Elosegui, after which Brittany Lang and Brittany Lincicome of the United States will face Laura Davies and Beck Brewerton.

The final match of the morning will send Wie and Morgan Pressel against Catriona Matthew and Maria Hjorth.