The United States have extended their lead at the Solheim Cup to 10½-5½ ©Getty Images

The United States have extended their lead at the Solheim Cup to 10½-5½ and require just 3½ points from tomorrow’s 12 singles matches to retain the title.

It comes after they won this afternoon’s fourballs 3-1 at the Des Moines Golf and Country Club in Iowa.

European pair Jodi Ewart Shadoff of England and Anna Nordqvist of Sweden won their fourball against Angel Win and Lizette Salas 4&2, but the US triumphed in the remaining three matches.

Americans Brittany Lang and Brittany Lincicome narrowly beat Melissa Reid of England and Carlota Ciganda of Spain, finishing two up.

Also claiming wins for the US were Paula Creamer and Austin Ernst and Cristie Kerr and Lexi Thompson.

Creamer and Ernst defeated Karine Icher of France and Madelene Sagstrom of Sweden 2&1, while Kerr and Thompson overcame Catriona Matthew of Scotland and Georgia Hall of England 4&2.

Sweden's Anna Nordqvist, pictured, and England's Jodi Ewart Shadoff secured Europe's lone fourballs success of the day ©Getty Images
Sweden's Anna Nordqvist, pictured, and England's Jodi Ewart Shadoff secured Europe's lone fourballs success of the day ©Getty Images

Earlier the teams shared the morning foursomes, with two points each.

The US’ points came courtesy of 5&3 wins for Kerr and Thompson over Ewart Shadoff and Carolina Masson, and Creamer and Ernst over Reid and Denmark’s Emily Pedersen.

Nordqvist and Hall got Europe on the board, winning 2&1 against Stacy Lewis and Gerina Piller.

Icher and Matthew then edged their match 2&1 against Michelle Wie and Danielle Kang.

The US need 14 points to retain the trophy, while Europe need 14½ points to regain it.

"There have been a lot of comebacks in sports in general," Europe captain Annika Sörenstam of Sweden was reported as saying by BBC Sport.

"Let's not just focus on just golf."