Daily Dose: Aug. 20 - Pairings announced....

The Solheim Cup kicks off Friday, and the morning's four-ball pairings were announced today. So, let's give you all you could possibly need on the four-ball matches.

Cristie Kerr/Paula Creamer vs. Suzann Petersen/Sophie Gustafson

Angela Stanford/Juli Inkster vs. Helen Alfredsson/Tania Elosegui
Daniel: "It's a good pairing for Angela to be with Julie and vice versa. Angela was third in our points, she was one of the top people and Juli is very steady and a very calming influence. Angela is very fiery, but so is Juli. They'll both be fired up."

Brittany Lang/Brittany Lincicome vs. Laura Davies/Becky Brewerton
Daniel: "The two Brittany's have played a lot of practice rounds together and they've known each other, played amateur golf and stuff like that together. They actually played really well together in practice rounds - and they both make a ton of birdies - so we thought they would be great for best ball."

Morgan Pressel/Michelle Wie vs. Catriona Matthew/Maria Hjorth
Daniel: "Morgan and Michelle are very good friends and they have been sharing one of the lodges together this week. I think Morgan is very fiery and she knows match play really well and I just felt like she would be a great first pairing for Michelle."

Soft conditions have made driving distance a priority and both captains decided to play some of their longer hitters in the morning.

Or, they paired a solid ball-striker and putter with a hitter a big hitter, like Pressel/Wie and Matthew/Hjorth and Creamer/Kerr.

Lincicome is the longest of the morning, averaging 269.7 yards
Here are the rest of the morning's big hitters:
Wie - 267.2
Petersen - 266.9
Gustafson - 265.7
Alfredsson - 264.5
Lang - 263.6
Stanford - 262.8
Kerr - 261.4
Brewerton - 260.58
Hjorth - 260.2
Elosegui - 260.13

Not only was length a major consideration of the captains, but so was the ability to score. Kerr leads the LPGA Tour in birdies made while Brewerton is first on the Ladies European Tour.
All of the Americans rank in the top 32 on the LPGA Tour in total birdies. The European women aren't as prolific, but Petersen is 7th on the LPGA Tour and Elosegui is 8th on the LET.

Notable players not playing in the morning are American's Natalie Gulbis, Christina Kim and Kristy McPherson and Europeans Anna Nordqvist and Gwladys Nocera.