Europe leads 9-7 United States over the final day of the exciting Solheim Cup | Solheim Cup

The most occasional Sunday show was suitably the last. Mel Reids ’136-yard approach to 18 for all purposes looked like half a racket. Reid and Leona Maguire, the undoubted star of this event, had to win the hole and grab a half against Jennifer Kupcho and Lizette Salas. The Reids ball somehow avoided the green bunker, bounced semi-rough and flowed 15 inches from the cup. Reid touched on three; gives Europe a 9-7 lead on last day singles. I knew I had to pull something out, Reid said. The crowd was going after them and tricked us a little.

Catriona Matthew would have gladly accepted this position before the ball hit the Inverness Club angrily. Europe only needs five points out of a possible 12 to maintain the Solheim Cup. I am very confident, Matthew said. I am happy to lead.

Yesterday’s Fourball session was a great drama that embodies the best of women’s golf. It seemed unlikely that Europe would win this stage for so long. The United States led in three matches; in the end they scored just one, Celine Boutier and Sophia Popov dropped to a 3 & 1 loss against Yealimi Noh and Mina Harigae.

Carlota Cigandas ’load pipe from 20 feet in 16th place was crucial when she and Nanna Koerstz Madsen won one set by Megan Khang and Jessica Korda. Charley Hull and Emily Pedersens ’3 & 2 victory over Austin Ernst and Danielle Kang looked straightforward in such a tough competition. The finest four-ball match left Maguire and Reid, who have combined brilliantly and considered a draw as a victory.

Matthew later admitted he feared that Reids’ iron strike on the 18th was tied to the sand. It got a pretty lucky bounce, the captain added. I have learned over the years that every semicolon is absolutely important. This semicolon has encouraged us.

It was easy to forget that the United States had seemed to be accelerating the victory with a 3-1 quad session. Kang and Ernst defeated Madelene Sagstrm and Georgia Hall in the hole. Lexi Thompson and Brittany Altomare saw Hull and Pedersen. Salas and Kupcho beat Anna Nordqvist and Matilda Castren as 3 and 1 winners.

Since this is typically the weakest form of aggregation in the United States, crowd noise was completely understandable. Yet this European team and their captain is made of tough stuff. Maguire, the only player on both teams to appear in each session, has claimed three and a half points out of a possible four. I couldn’t have asked for a better start to my Solheim career, said 26-year-old County Cavan.

The lasting impact on Nelly Korda after Saturday’s high-profile rule dispute came a day later. World No. 1 had fiercely benefited from the controversial call during a narrow win over two four-ball games. The feeling that Korda was unsure of what had happened only intensified as he produced a rough game alongside Ally Ewing in the midst of a 5 & 4 loss to Maguire and Reid.

Hurst duly left Korda out of the four-ball session, and the U.S. captain just said he wanted to give his tent player a little more time to rest.

Stacy Lewis, one of Hursts’ deputy commanders, had revealed to broadcasters that the U.S. backroom team had to keep up the pressure on Korda that he hadn’t done anything wrong. If the United States restores the trophy by a point and this scenario is perfectly plausible, it can be said that this case is still a source of debate. Hopefully we will be spared it; the level of the game deserves a sunnier benchmark.

Monday singles (US Eastern Time, European players first) 12:05: Anna Nordqvist vs. Lexi Thompson; 12:15: Madelene Sagstrom in the movie Ally Ewing; 12:25: Leona Maguire Jennifer Kupchossa; 12:35: Georgia Hall Nelly Kordassa; 12:45: Celine Boutier Mina Harigaessa; 12:55: Nanna Koerstz Madsen at Austin Ernst; 13:05: Matilda Carsten Lizette in Salas; 13:15: Carlota Ciganda in Brittany Altomare; 13:25: Sophia Popov in Megan Khang; 13:35: Mel Reid Yealimi in Noh; 13:45: Charley Hull Jessica Kordassa; 13:55: Emily Pedersen in Danielle Kang