Europe rookie Leona Maguire is not phased by the prospect of playing what she called the US team's "golden pairing" of Nelly and Jessica Korda.

She says she and playing partner Mel Reid are under "no pressure" given the Kordas romped to 6&4 and 6&5 foursomes wins at Gleneagles.

How's the opening tee shot then? Maguire to hit first...a smattering of applause as she strides on to the tee. A swish and a pleasing thwack, followed by generous cheers. Straight down the middle.

World number one Nelly Korda follows suit and cheers of USA, USA send the quartet on their way.

The USA pair had almost exactly the same putt as their team-mates in the opening match - and it's almost an identical result as Ewing rolls it right up to the side of the hole.

It's enough though as Europe can't get home and the USA take the lead in the second match.

Image source, Getty Images

Returned to the Solheim Cup at Gleneagles for the first time since her debut in 2013, having missed out in Des Moines in 2017 because of injury. Won three and a half points from four matches, including a singles victory over Caroline Masson. Won a sixth LPGA Tour title in January.

Solheim Cup appearances: 2013, 2017 (injured, did not play), 2019

Solheim Cup record (W-L-H): 4-2-2

Image source, Getty Images

Became world number one after winning her first major title, the Women's PGA Championship, in Atlanta in June and went on to claim Olympic gold in Tokyo. Won three and a half points from four matches on her debut at Gleneagles, partnering sister Jessica to two crushing foursomes wins.

Solheim Cup appearances: 2019

Solhein Cup record (W-L-H): 3-0-1

As the Kordas are just about to tee off, let's meet the Team USA dream pairing...

Leona Maguire is the first Irish player to make the Solheim Cup - and she's not feeling any oressure at all by the looks of it.

Castren can't convert the par putt to win the hole with a rather tentative effort. A few nerves in that hole from both of them, understandably!

Celine Boutier and Georgia Hall won three out of three at Gleneagles last time out, and Hall gets them off to a great start with a drilled tee shot to the right edge of the fairway.

Ally Ewing tees off for the USA and launches her effort right down the middle. Game two heads off.

A spot of trouble for both teams on the first, Nordqvist escapes the greenside bunker nicely while Kang plays the third shot to the back of the green.

Advantage Europe as they get the putters out.

Speaking of Bubba Watson - he's is a confirmed Team USA cheerleader this week, either that or he's the guy behind a free-kick wall on a football pitch....

Just quite how Anna Nordqvist managed to get her ball on the tee is beyond me, let alone how the Women's Open champion managed to smoke the opening tee shot of the Solheim Cup right down the middle of the fairway.

There's ice in those Swedish veins.

Danielle Kang tees off for the USA, and she gives it the Bubba Watson's by revving the crowd up and keeping them going as she fires her driver off the tee - but her shot is tugged left and possibly into the bunker.

The 2021 Solheim Cup is under way!

Here we go....

It's a strong lead-off for Europe with Women's Open champion Anna Nordqvist playing alongside Finland's Matilda Castren against Danielle Kang and Austin Ernst in the opening match of the Solheim Cup.

Ireland's history-making Leona Maguire partners the experienced Mel Reid against the "golden pairing" of Jessica and Nelly Korda.

That's a nice easy introduction into the Solheim Cup...

Image source, BBC Sport

Image source, Getty Images

European captain Catriona Matthew reckons her team can overcome a lack of support to retain the Solheim Cup in Toeldo despite having won just once on US soil, in 2013.

With Covid-19 restricting travel the US start as favourites to win back the trophy they lost at Gleneagles in 2019, when wild card Suzann Pettersen birdied the 18th hole of the final singles contest to give Europe a one-point win.

"I think the fact we have only won once in Colorado shows how difficult it is to win away from home," Matthew said.

"Obviously this year it is going to be more difficult and be more of a challenge for us, but I think in a way we can nearly rise to that. Rather than just thinking we're going to have a few fans, we're kind of really expecting basically about zero fans.

"Obviously a few Europeans who perhaps are living in the States can make it here, but it certainly won't be the same presence that we normally have at an away match.

"The players are going to be mentally prepared, so I think it just gives them another challenge and another thing to try and overcome and get that victory.

"To actually be here and see all the stands up and the crowds beginning to come in, the excitement is starting to build. I can't wait."

One thing about big golf events is the gala dinners.

But what do you reckon to wearing baseball jerseys with high heels to one? Thankfully quite a few flats (shoes) on show as well.

Talking of skippers...Thomas Bjorn knows how to mastermind a Team Europe victory after his Ryder Cup success in Paris in 2018 - he'll be glued to the Solheim Cup this weekend.

Catriona Matthew doing her bit with the crowd early on - the tension is building now...

Hold on a second Nelly, while we trawl through the world rankings.....

Nope. On paper you've definitely got the stronger team. Oh and you're at home.

Image source, BBC Sport

More from American world number one Nelly Korda: "There's honestly nothing like a Solheim Cup, the crowds, the energy, I mean the hype that we all have.

So I don't know if there's more pressure just because they're defending, so we're, in a sense, I feel like we're underdogs, because they're the ones defending. I think all of us are just embracing this moment and we're ready."

Image source, Getty Images

Women's PGA Championship winner, Olympic champion and world number one. Nelly Korda is some player isn't she?

But the 23-year-old American reckons she's going to try and "fly under the radar" at the Solheim Cup.

Is that even possible?

"I try not to think about it (any pressure)," Korda said.

"I'm pretty easy-going. I just kind of try to fly under the radar and do my thing, be prepared as best as possible, have fun starting Saturday and hopefully put up some points and just have fun with my pod and my team-mates."

"We are on home soil, so obviously the crowds are rooting for you, there's more eyes on Team USA, but I think as Megan (Khang) said, we're all embracing this, it's a lot of fun."

It's a 12:35 BST start today as we kick off with the hardest format in the Solheim Cup, and that's the alternate shot of the foursomes.

Accuracy needed here and a good trust and bond between playing partners. One mistake could cost you a hole.

Here's the pairing for the first session of the Solheim Cup.