Before the first shot was struck in the 2009 Solheim Cup at sugar Grove, Ill., members of the U.S. team already had grown tired of the rhetoric.

They were fine with the patriotic jingoism that goes hand in hand with the international match play event. It was their designation as the heavy favorite to beat Europe that had them plugging their ears.

"To be very blunt, I'm sick of hearing that we're the favorites," said Angela Stanford, playing in her third Solheim Cup. "We need to go out and play like we're the underdogs because I think they're going to be ready to play and they're going to be ready to fight."

The 11th Solheim Cup, a biennial team competition fashioned after the men's Ryder Cup, begins today with morning four-ball matches at Rich Harvest Farms, a sprawling course surrounded by farm fields about 40 minutes southwest of O'Hare International Airport.

The pairings are Paula Creamer and Christie Kerr (U.S.) vs. Suzann Pettersen and Sophie Gustafson; Stanford and Juli Inkster (U.S.) vs. Helen Alfredsson and Tania Elosegui; Brittany Lang and Brittany Lincicome (U.S.) vs. Laura Davies and Becky Brewerton; and Morgan Pressel and Michelle Wie (U.S.) vs. Catriona Matthew and Maria Hjorth.

The United States has a 7-3 lead in the competition and never has lost at home.

• Jeld-Wen Tradition: Brad Bryant matched a tournament record with a 10-under 62 in the first round at Crosswater Golf Club in Sunriver, Ore. Bryant had 11 birdies and one bogey for a three-shot lead in the fourth of five majors this year on the Champions Tour. Loren Roberts shot a 65, while Tom Watson and Tom Lehman each had 67s.

• Wyndham Championship: Chez Reavie, Ryan Moore and former winner Brandt Snedeker each shot a 64 at the PGA Tour's final event before the playoffs. Heavy rains and lightning at Greensboro, N.C., forced a mid-afternoon delay of about four hours, and play was suspended shortly before 8 p.m. because of darkness. Justin Rose, Kevin Streelman and Colt Knost were one stroke back at 65.

• KLM Open: Ireland's Paul McGinley and Scotland's Gary Orr shot opening-round 6-under 64s to tie for the lead in the European Tour event at Zandvoort, Netherlands. Defending champion Darren Clarke of Northern Ireland was a stroke back as were Ireland's Peter Lawrie, Australian Matthew Millar and Spain's Jorge Campillo.