Americans endure long wait for coveted Solheim Cup win
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Lilia Vu birdied to win the 17th hole and made a tap-in birdie to take 18 and tie Swiss rookie Albane Valenzuela.
PHOTO: AFP
Gainesville – United States captain Stacy Lewis could feel the tension rise late on Sept 15, as match after match the Americans struggled before finally capturing their first Solheim Cup since 2017.
Two ties and two losses to Europe came and went before Lilia Vu landed her approach inches from the 18th pin, and tapped-in for birdie and a Cup-clinching half-point in the US women’s 15.5-12.5 victory.
“That was the longest hour and a half of my life. I’m not going to lie. That last hour of matches on 16 and 17 and 18, it just felt like it was never going to end,” Lewis said at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club in Gainsville, Virginia.
“Just really nerve-racking. You felt pretty helpless. The last 30 minutes or so were pretty rough.”
However, the joy of winning after Europe kept the Cup in 2023 following the 14-14 draw in Spain was worth the wait.
“I’m so proud of this team. They fought through some adversity this week and played some unbelievable golf. I’m proud that they get this moment to celebrate,” Lewis added.
She also praised her players for tenacity and fortitude in tension-packed situations.
“Grit. That’s what this event is about. It’s about toughness. It’s about grit. The golf is just so good on both sides that it’s one putt, one shot here and there, and that’s what brought us here,” the 39-year-old said.
With the US leading Europe 14-11 with four matches to go, Switzerland’s Albane Valenzuela led her match against Vu 1 up heading into the final hole. Valenzuela had a long birdie putt to win her match, but left it about a foot short.
Vu then made her birdie to halve the match and guaranteed the Americans the 14.5 points necessary to end a three-event losing streak to Europe.
“This has been everything,” said Vu, ranked No. 2 in the world.
“I have a picture of the US team winning the Solheim Cup a while back, it’s on my wall in my room. So this is a dream of mine, and so happy that I was able to do that for them.”
Top-ranked Nelly Korda, a six-time LPGA winner this season, got her first Solheim Cup triumph.
“This was probably the most fun I’ve had on a golf course ever,” she said, despite a 6&4 opening loss to England’s Charley Hull.
“Just the team, environment, the caddies. Everyone was so incredible. We all vibed really well off each other. This is the most I’ve laughed and the most I’ve fist-pumped ever on a golf course. It was just an amazing week.”
Meanwhile, Lexi Thompson, who plans to retire at season’s end, earned her third win in seven Cup appearances and said that it “meant the world to me”.
In the other camp, Suzann Pettersen is uncertain about making a return as Europe’s Solheim Cup captain but is proud of what she has achieved, even though she has not beaten the Americans.
Asked if she would return as captain should she be asked, the Norwegian said she did not know.
“I cannot answer that question. I have no idea. This is the end of my term as far as I know. Just feeling kind of a part of that player body has gotten me up every morning wanting to make this as good of an experience for all of them,” she said.
The 43-year-old, a two-time Major winner, added that she has given her all to advance Europe’s team culture to a next generation.
“I’ve done my best. I’ve tried my heart out and I’ve tried to pass on the values I picked up from my previous captains. We have a great culture on the European side and it has been nice helping, recruiting new monsters into this team,” Pettersen said.
Europe will host the next edition in 2026 at Bernardus in the Netherlands.
“Congrats to the US, but I think we’ve got some fuel and we’re ready to be back in 2026,” Swedish player Anna Nordqvist added.
AFP, REUTERS
