Europe retains the Solheim Cup after an exciting victory over America | Solheim Cup

[ad_1]

“Happy times have never been so good,” raved European players rave. You bet they didn’t. Only a second Solheim Cup win for those in blue and yellow on US soil. This arrived minus travel support. Take the bow, Catriona Matthew, who has led her team to consecutive victories.

The mere statistics belie the story of an exceptional day under the Toledo sun. This should be a watershed moment for women’s golf. What a pity that Solheim’s transition to even-numbered years didn’t begin until 2024. The level of play at Inverness Club was really impressive.

At one point, Matthew’s players – who only needed four points to hold on Monday – were ahead in eight games. This was followed by a fierce response from the house. Europe kept its cool. Even rubbing salt into American wounds took an outright win, 15-13.

Matthew will never match the professional feats of winning a major championship just 11 weeks after giving birth, but the captain’s efforts against great American teams are highly commendable. “That’s sweet,” said the Scotsman, at a typical loss.

It had to be Matilda Castrin. Most recently, last October, the Finn didn’t finish in the top 15 on any professional tour. She won the Symetra Tour which elevated her to the LPGA Tour. Further success there led, in June, to the realization that Castrine was not a member of the Women’s European Tour and therefore qualified for the Solheim Cup. She returned to her home continent, won in Finland in July, and the rest is sports history. Matthew and the European team jumped here with glee as Castrin hid in a knockout that assured that Europe would not return the trophy to the United States.

Leona Maguire – Who else? He led the early European shipment. The Irish debutant ensured she earned four and a half out of five potential points by hitting Jennifer Kupshaw aside, 5 and 4. Maguire’s modified Eagle five seconds and never looked back; Her performance here painted her pictures from all over golf. She was phenomenal in every session.

“I gave him everything I had,” Maguire said. “I couldn’t have asked for a better week.” Maguire is the first silent killer to carry nine firewood.

The second point for Europe came from Madeleine Sagstrom, who defeated Ally Ewing 3 and 2. Céline Poitier added more blue to the plate, thanks to a 5 and 4 smash by Mina Harrigay. Europe now needs only two points to hold; Three of Matthew’s team were ahead, but two by one.

The last epic battle between Lexi Thompson and Anna Nordqvist ended, fittingly, in a halftime match. Nordqvist was one ahead after seven, with Thompson moving ahead in ninth. Nordqvist again advanced with the third jumper on the 15th but Thompson later rematched.

With the United States in dire need of inspiration, pay attention to Nelly Korda. The world number one endured a fraught Solheim Cup, in part due to the reaction to her benefiting from a major rule controversy on day one. Korda has been widely portrayed as upset about feeling that she was unsportsmanlike or unfair during the Four Ball episode. When Georgia Hall moved two divisions within only four holes, the intimidating Korda Solheim looked like they were going to continue. Instead, Korda stabbed him in the back; She was ahead a second on the corner and finished off her first singles point for the United States with one win. “Getting into number one this week is not easy,” Korda admitted.

With Megan Kang on the brink of a win over Sofia Popov – the final margin was 3 and 2 – and Jessica Korda getting Charlie Hull back in twos to every square, the U.S. had a pulse. Carlotta Seganda looked ready to deliver a European point but went from two points after 12 to a tie with Brittany Altomari in 15th. Emily Pedersen was leading Danielle Kang in the final duel. Europe didn’t really want it all to boil down to that, especially in such a party atmosphere. Jessica Korda increased the pressure with her 14th place win, bringing the lead for the first time in her clash with Hull. They couldn’t… Could they?

Soon, two key moments arrived. Austin Ernst was tamed with his No. 18 putting green as he would have taken the win over Nana Korsz Madsen. Lizette Salas missed an opportunity to balance her match with Castrine on the 17th. Europe was a point from home, with Castren securing 50% of that. Pedersen has shown resilience to climb three times after 14. She later handed over the last act of the day, taking one win.

From 140 yards and center of the fairway at the end, Castrin pulled her ball in a dead-end lie in a green bunker. Salas feature, which left itself a chance for a bird. Salas’ attempt to get past the pit was painfully undone, which left Castrin 12 feet high to hold the Solheim Cup for Europe. The 26-year-old has lengthened her fairy tale.

[ad_2]