9-2 Europe can make trademark fast start.

WHAT happens in suburban Chicago this weekend may well decide the future of the Solheim Cup and what format it takes in future years.

Europe's girls trail the USA 7-3 in this biennial match which is modelled on the Ryder Cup and another away defeat at Rich Harvest Farms, Sugar Grove, Illinois - we have never won in the States - could signal a further loss of interest as the Americans are keen to introduce a USA v Rest of the World replacement if big Laura Davies and company can no longer cut the mustard.

Two firms make Europe massive 9-2 rags which seems excessive because Anna Nordquist's victory in the McDonald's LPGA and Catriona Matthew's British Open triumph mean we currently hold two Majors to America's one.

However, when you add up the respective world rankings of the two sides, it becomes easier to understand why the layers make this such a one-sideaffair: led by Cristie Kerr and Paula Creamer, worldranked three and four, the Americans tally 330; Europe, with Norway's strapping Suzann Pettersson as their top filly at world No. 6, mount up to a whopping 853 thanks to four of their players ranking outside the world's top 100.

The Solheim was dreamed up in 1990 long before the Koreans began their takeover of the women's game and it may well be time for a change, but practically all the past meetings have been extremely closely contested until the singles.

The big difference this year is that Europe have to manage without their now-retired inspiration, Annika Sorenstam, and it is hard to see how a win can be achieved.

Yet there is a case for taking the 5-1 Europe and laying it back some time during the second day. Europe regularly lead after the foursomes and fourballs but collapse in Sunday's 12 singles.

In fact, Europe were on top after two days in 1992, 2000, 2002, 2003 and 2007 and, overall, lead the USA 30-28 in foursomes (11 halved) and 2927 in fourballs (11 halved).

And it is not as if this is an extraordinary American team even if does give a Solheim debut to the well-hyped Michelle Wie, who has still to record her first victory as a pro.

Matthew's Lytham triumph was a timely boost and the little Scot is a bonny matchplayer. She will probably team up with her Scottish chum Janice Moodie for some of the pairs events - they have a fine record together - and will squeeze out some points, while big-hitting Swede Maria Hjorth, back in the game after the birth of her first child at the start of the year, is likely to partner one of the other star Scandinavians, maybe Pettersson, Nordquist or the mercurial Sophie Gustafson.

Moodie, who lives in the States and is married to pro Tim Carnevale, has done very little this year but has the best Solheim Cup record around with six wins and a half from eight attempts. If she gets the partner she is most comfortable with, she could be big value at 16-1 to be top European scorer. Matthew at 15-2 and Hjorth at 9-1 will also get among the points.

Any of those combinations would be a match for anyone but there is no doubt which team has the strength in depth. However, Europe's weak rookies can be hidden away until the singles because only eight of the 12 players have to play in each of the first four series which commence with this morning's fourballs. That should keep things tight until Sunday morning, at which time you may be able to lay back that 5-1 at half those odds and take an easy profit.

Being at home is an advantage in many ways to the Americans but it puts them under more pressure to perform and not all of them are at the top of their games. Besides, Europeans prefer the matchplay format and are more comfortable with team golf.

Pink Panther Creamer was top US scorer last time with 3.5 points in Halmstad, Sweden, and although she is still Major-less, she and Angela Stanford have been models of excellence all year.

There used to be no love lost between Creamer and Wie when they were amateurs because the Hawaiian six-footegot all the publicity while Creamer did all the winning. So crowd-pleaser Paula will be trying extra-hard to outshine Wie and looks a worthy 11-2 favourite to be US points-topper.

An each-way saver on experienced Stanford at 9-1 should not lose either.

Thanks entirely to their singles superiority, the Americans have won by three in the past two home matches and it should be a similar story now.

But it always makes good television and Sky have a big whack of it from start of play today.

Recommendations Europe 1pt 9-2 Betfred, Blue Square C Matthew top European points scorer 2pts 15-2 Coral J Moodie top European points scorer 0.5pt e-w 16-1 Coral P Creamer top US points scorer 2pts 5-1 Boylesports A Stanford top US points scorer 1pt e-w 9-1 Boylesports Jeremy Chapman THE LOWDOWN 

Solheim Cup The course Rich Harvest Farms, Sugar Grove, Illinois Length 6,670 yards Par 73 Designed by billionaire owner Jerry Rich in 1989, his first attempt and much influenced by Augusta, Rich Harvest Farms is being used for a major event for the first time. Hole No. 3, a dogleg where a draw is needed at 230 yards, is called Snead's Crotch, the 14th, Amen - Holy Stone, is based on Augusta's 12th over a pond where a windcheck is advisable before selecting a club, and No 9, Devils' Elbow, claims to have the most demanding tee-shot in golf, not unlike the test from the back tee at Valderrama. There are 105 bunkers and plenty of water Format 28 points at stake, eight in fourballs, eight in foursomes, 12 in singles. Today and Saturday Four morning fourballs, four afternoon foursomes. Sunday 12 singles The story so far USA lead 7-3 Results - 1990 Lake Nona, Florida) USA 11.5, Europe 4.5 1992 (Dalmahoy, Edinburgh) Europe 11.5, USA 6.5 1994 (The Greenbrier, West Virginia) USA 13, Europe 7 1996 (St Pierre, Wales) Europe 11 USA 17 1998 (Muirfield Village, Ohio) USA 16, Europe 12 2000 (Loch Lomond) Europe 14.5, USA 11.5 2002 (Interlachen, Minnesota) USA 15.5, Europe 12.5 2003 (Barseback, Sweden) Europe 17.5, USA 10.5 2005 (Crooked Stick, Indiana) USA 15.5, Europe 12.5 2007 (Halmstad, Sweden) Europe 12, USA 16 Teams, rankings, Solheim records - USA Cristie Kerr, world No 3, W7, L9, H1, Paula Creamer, No 4, W5, L1 H4, Angela Stanford, No. 9, W2, L2, H2, Kristy McPherson, No. 18, Solheim debut, Brittany Lincicome, No. 21, W0, L2, H1, Michelle Wie, No. 24, Solheim debut, Morgan Pressel, No. 26, W1, L2, H1, Brittany Lang, No. 33, Solheim debut, Juli Inkster, No. 47, W14, L8, H5, Nicole Castrale, No. 48, W2, L2, H0, Natalie Gulbis, No 51, W4, L3, H0, EUROPE Suzann Pettersen (Norway), No. 6, W8, L3, H5, Helen Alfredsson (Sweden), No. 10, W10, L12, H2, Catriona Matthew (Scotland), No. 14, W9, L6, H2, Anna Nordquist (Sweden), No. 19, Solheim debut, Maria Hjorth (Sweden), No. 36, W3, L6, H3, Sophie Gustafson (Sweden), No. 37, W8, L9, H6, Janice Moodie (Scotland), No. 89, W6, L1, H1, Laura Davies (England), No. 93, W21, L16, H4, Gwladys Nocera (France), No. 125, W2, L3, H1, Becky Brewerton (Wales), No. 139, W1, L1, H1, Tania Elosegui (Spain), No. 189, Solheim debut, Diana Luna (Italy), No. 196, Solheim debut When to bet By 2pm today Where to watch Live on Sky Sports all three days, starting at 1.30pm today Weather forecast Chance of showers and thunderstorms today, but probably dry for the weekend Time difference Illinois is six hours ahead of UK time

SOLHEIM CUP BET365 BETFRED BLUE SQ BOYLE CORAL HILLS LADS POWER S JMS TOTE VC USA 2-9 2-9 1-5 1-4 1-5 1-4 2-9 2-7 3-10 1-4 2-9 Europe 4 9-2 9-2 7-2 4 7-2 4 10-3 10-3 4 4 Tie 11 9 10 10 11 10 11 10 10 9 10

CAPTION(S):

The European ladies line up for a team photograph as they prepare to do battle with their American counterparts