Ole, indeed. The Solheim Cup in Spain is heading for a deliciously enthralling finale. From four nowt down to level-pegging. The whitewash by the USA on Friday morning had left Team Europe facing the kind of mighty reeling in job that Captain Ahab embarked on in Moby Dick. Heading into the final session of 12 singles, however, the hosts have an historic treble in their sights.

A second day full of pride, passion, purpose and polish at Finca Cortesin saw Suzann Pettersen’s determined, defiant side restore parity amid boisterous chants of ‘Yoo-rup, Yoo-rup’ that would have had ardent Brexiteers breaking out in cold sweats.

At 8-8, this captivating transatlantic tussle could not be tighter. Europe’s bid for an unprecedented third successive triumph in the biennial bout was almost dead and buried after that deflating first session. Going into the final one, though, it is alive and kicking. It has been a tremendous salvage operation.

But there is plenty of work to do. The calm, canny Pettersen, who has seen it, done and acquired every t-shirt imaginable in the Solheim Cup arena, is well aware of that. “There are still 12 points up for grabs,” said the celebrated, decorated Norwegian who called time on her playing career by holing the winning putt in that unforgettable 2019 match at Gleneagles.

“But we have made quite a comeback. And now we go into fifth gear and we keep going. I couldn’t be more proud.”

The morale-sapping reversal Europe suffered on that first morning was, by and large, forgotten about  in the afternoon as the home side rallied valiantly to get themselves to within two-points of the US heading into the second day. By the end of Saturday’s foursomes, that gap remained as the two teams shared the session 2-2.

The Swedish pairing of Linn Grant, who comes from good Scottish stock, and Maja Stark played a key role in that share of the spoils as they conjured a stirring finish to edge out the US double act of Danielle Kang and Andrea Lee on the final green in the anchor match.

As the nip-and-tuck intensified, Stark trundled in a 25-footer on the 17th to inch Europe into a one-hole lead before Grant knocked in a 10-footer on the last to seal a vital win. “The last two holes gives us so much momentum,” said Grant at the time as the Europeans moved into the fourballs with considerable zeal.

They would continue to ride that wave in the afternoon as another captivating session went on long into the day. Even the lengthening shadows of an Andalucian evening were on tenterhooks as Europe eventually took three of the four ties to level things up.

The efforts of Grant and host nation favourite Carlota Ciganda in the fourballs had the fans in a flag-waving fever. Grant, whose grandfather James came from Inverness, and Ciganda were eight-under-par for the front nine against Kang and two-time major winner Lilia Vu, with Grant a wonderful six-under on her own ball. The 2&1 win was well earned.

Before that, Leona Maguire and Charley Hull had set the standard for Europe in the opening fourballs with a commanding, uplifting 4&3 win over Nelly Korda and Ally Ewing in the top match. The European duo were four-up through eight and never looked like surrendering their advantage.

Maguire, a brilliant, record-breaking rookie on her Solheim Cup debut in 2021, had underlined her value to Team Europe with another point. She will be one of only three European players to contest all five sessions this week. Over a demanding, exhausting course that is no mean feat. Maguire is in fine fettle, though. Hull, after a neck niggle compromised her performance on the opening day, is back in decent shape too.

“One more day to give it our best shot and I think that’s the great thing about this team, there’s so much fight, we’ve never given up,” said Maguire as she hailed the spirit in the ranks.

Madelene Sagstrom and Emily Pedersen claimed a notable 2&1 victory over Lee and Rose Zhang to bolster the European tally while the only win for the US came courtesy of Cheyenne Knight and Angel Yin, who defeated Anna Nordqvist and Caroline Hedwall on the 18th.

Scotland’s Gemma Dryburgh sat out Saturday’s action. She will be back for the final day assault, though, as Europe go for glory with all guns blazing. It should be a cracker.