America hold nerve to win first Solheim Cup since 2017

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After three fantastic days of action it was Team USA who were left to celebrate as they won their first Solheim Cup since 2017, beating the Europeans 15.5 - 12.5.

As has been the way in recent times, the drama would go to the last, as Europe threatened a comeback and almost overturned the 10-6 deficit that they faced at the start of the singles. 

On a day full of drama, here is a recap of the best of the action.

Hull gets Europe rolling by defeating Nelly Korda

The opening match of the singles is always seen as symbolic. The opportunity to get either early red or blue on the board, the players that are sent out in the first match are often seen as the Captain’s most important player.

For American Captain Stacey Lewis, the decision on who to send out first was easy and it would be the world number one, Nelly Korda who would lead the American’s out. For Europe, Captain Suzanne Pettersen sent out Charley Hull. Ranked twelve in the world, Hull possesses power and a natural ability that few can match and she seemed the perfect pick to try and get Europe rolling.

Up against the best player in the world and a partisan home crowd, Hull showed exactly why many believe she is capable of winning multiple majors. Even through five holes, Hull stepped on the gas in the back half of the front nine and she made the turn three up.

Showing awesome power and no signs of nerves, Hull wouldn’t let up and after finding more birdies on the 11th, 13th and 14th holes the match was over and Hull had managed to get the Europeans off to the perfect start. Winning 6&4, Hull was able to breathe life into the European charge and with their best player having experienced a bruising defeat, a few doubts were starting to creep around the course.

Hull gets Europe


Megan Kang and Allisen Corpuz help keep America on course

With Nelly Korda experiencing a surprise defeat, the pressure was on the other American’s to get their Solheim Cup charge back on track. With Georgia Hall proving far too strong for Alison Lee and securing another point for the Europeans much of the spotlight fell on Megan Khang and Allisen Corpuz to get American points on the board.

Having played some brilliant golf throughout the weekend, Megan Khang was sent out second by Captain Lewis and repaid the faith shown in her in abundance. Getting off to a hot start by winning the first two holes, Khang wouldn’t let up and she would make the turn against Emily Pedersen four up. 

Proving to be the lightning rod for the American crowd, Khang’s energy and high action golf would get the crowd energised and riding the positivity from the American crowd, she would go onto complete a convincing victory 6&5. 

With the American’s starting to roll, the next point would come via the 2023 U.S Open Champion Allisen Corpuz. Tasked with the difficult challenge of having to overcome the vastly experienced Swede, Anna Nordqvist, Corpuz’s unerring accuracy and brilliant short game would produce one of the best performances of the day. 

In a match that ebbed and flowed, the American made the turn leading by one hole but like so many of her teammates she would turn the screw at the start of the back nine. With the Europeans starting to fight back, a birdie on the eleventh and then an eagle on the par 5 twelfth would put the game beyond Nordqvist. 

Notching another birdie on the 14th hole and leading by four, the match would end on the 15th. Taking America onto twelve points, America’s long wait for Solheim Cup glory was almost over. 

Zhang wins another point as Lilia Vu holes winning putt

Sensing that a dramatic comeback was on the cards, America’s hopes of their next point fell on the shoulders of Rose Zhang. Playing in her second Solheim Cup, Zhang looked incredibly comfortable on one of female golf’s biggest stages and would end up winning four points from the four matches that she played.

Tasked with trying to stop Carlota Ciganda, Zhang put on a brilliant ball striking display to blitz the Spaniard through the match’s opening holes. Making the turn two up, once again it would be on the 10th, 11th and 12th holes where the match would turn in America’s favour.  

Winning all three holes with birdies, Ciganda couldn’t respond and the match would come to an end on the 14th with the young American winning 6&4.

From here, it would be difficult for America to get over the line. Matches between Angela Lee and Esther Heinseleit, Lauren Coughlin and Maja Stark and Lilia Vu and Albane Valenzuela would all be halved. WIth the American’s inching towards victory it would be Vu who would hole the winning putt.

Needing to hole out for a birdie to secure the half, Vu would make no mistake from four feet to wrap up the victory.  

Upon the putt dropping, a huge sigh of relief enveloped the course and the Americans could start to celebrate. Reaching the magic score of 14.5 the win would be compounded further by Jennifer Kupcho defeating Linn Grant 2&1 in the day’s final match.

Lilia Vu holes winning putt


Leona Maguire situation reveals European tensions

It is usually the case in events like the Solheim Cup where the winning captain is portrayed as the hero and the losing captain the villain. In Europe’s case the interesting use of Leona Maguire is bound to be one of the weekend’s main talking points.

One of Europe’s best players when the Europeans emerged victorious when the competition was last held on American soil, there were many eyebrows that were raised when after Maguire and Georgia Hall lost in the Friday’s fourballs, we wouldn’t see Maguire again until the Sunday singles.

A gritty matchplayer, Maguire showed exactly what the Europeans had been missing when she powered her way to a 4&3 win over Ally Ewing where she wasn’t shy of showing her displeasure over how she had been used over the weekend. 

"It's Solheim Cup, I don't need any extra motivation but yeah, there probably was a little bit extra there. But ultimately it's what's best for the team this week.

"I would have loved the opportunity to try and deliver more points for the team, but I did what I could today."

In what was Pettersen’s second stint in charge as captain, this isn’t the first time that her leadership qualities have been called into question. A fiery competitor and leader, Pettersen’s style clearly hasn’t been for everyone. Although the Swede would have been delighted with how her team responded on the final day, it was a case of too little too late and if Europe are to regain the cup that they have just lost, it might have to be with a new captain at the helm.