Captain Suzann Pettersen hails Europe’s Solheim ‘legends’ after retaining Cup with draw

Casares – Team Europe captain Suzann Pettersen said her players had become “legends” after they retained the Solheim Cup with a remarkable 14-14 draw against Team USA on Sunday.

Carlota Ciganda’s stunning win over Nelly Korda on the 17th hole gave Europe the point they needed to secure the Cup for a third consecutive tournament.

Europe won the Solheim Cup in Ohio in 2021 and as defending champions needed 14 points to win, while the United States needed 14½ points.

“Does it get any better than this? This is a dream come true,” Pettersen said. “We had a massive challenge ahead of us. We have created history yet again in the Solheim Cup. These girls are legends.”

The match at Finca Cortesin in Andalusia, Spain was tied 8-8 heading into Sunday’s singles, with momentum swinging back and forth between the teams throughout the tense final day.

The Europeans, who trailed 4-0 after the first session on Friday, had shown great heart in fighting back, said Pettersen.

“I just said: ‘You get knocked down, you stand back up.’ Life can be tough but it’s how you stand back up that shows character. It really shows the character of this team,” she added.

US captain Stacy Lewis suggested future events should go to a play-off in the event of a tie.

“It would be better TV. It would be a better experience for the fans, whether it was a team play-off or something like that. That would be pretty cool,” she said.

“But if you want to stick with the history of the event and history of what the men do as well, you probably stick with retaining the Cup. I don’t know how I feel about that either way, to be honest.”

American Lexi Thompson beat Europe’s Emily Pedersen in the final match to end a thrilling competition 14-14. It was the first time that the matches have ended in a draw and the first time Europe have held the Cup three times in row. Ciganda, all square with three to play, holed from four feet at the 16th and from two feet at the short 17th.

“I’m so happy,” said Ciganda, who was congratulated by Spain’s King Felipe VI, and in turn thanked Pettersen. “I love Suzann, I love Spain and I love the Solheim Cup,” said the 33-year-old, who won all her four matches.

Pettersen, who famously holed the winning putt at Gleneagles in Scotland in 2019, shed tears of joy. “It was meant to be for Carlota in Spain. I said to her going down 16 is this what you would have wanted, and she said she was up for it,” she said.

Another home star was Caroline Hedwall, who turned a three-hole deficit into a two-hole win over Ally Ewing. With the pair all square with two to play, the Swede sank a 30-foot birdie putt at the 17th.

Leona Maguire got the first point on the board with a decisive 4-and-3 victory over Rose Zhang. A star of Europe’s win in Ohio as a rookie in 2021, the Irishwoman helped clinch the point by holing a 35-foot eagle at the par-four 14th.

“It feels just incredible,” said the 28-year-old after nudging Europe into the lead for the first time. “Suzann gave me a job to do and the fans were just fantastic.”

The first point for the US came in the top match with Megan Khang beating Linn Grant by one hole in a high-quality contest. The American was six under in the tricky, windy conditions.

“I’m super proud. I knew that Linn would bring it and be a tough opponent,” said Khang.

Danielle Kang put America 10-9 ahead with a 4-and-2 win over Charley Hull, but Anna Nordqvist, Europe’s most experienced player, tied the score again with a 2-and-1 victory over Jennifer Kupcho.

As the tension mounted, the tide seemed to turn in America’s favour.

Europe’s Georgia Hall, who had been 2-up early in the back nine, three-putted the 17th from 12 feet to allow Andrea Lee to level the match. At the same time, Europe’s Gemma Dryburgh, who had been 3-up, missed a short par putt at the 16th and also fell back to a tie with Cheyenne Knight.

Lilia Vu, who beat Madelene Sagstrom 4 and 3, and Angel Yin, who defeated Celine Boutier 2 and 1, added two points for the US.

Hedwall and Ciganda switched the momentum and Thompson’s 2-and-1 win over Pedersen in the final match was only good enough to make it 14-14 for Europe to keep the Cup. REUTERS, AFP