(26 September 2011 – Dunsany, County Meath, Ireland)
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Team Europe has won The Solheim Cup for the first time since 2003 with a dramatic 15-13 victory over USA at Killeen Castle in Ireland. Norway’s Suzann Pettersen stole the limelight with three-consecutive birdies over the final three holes to come from 1 down and close out Michelle Wie with a 1 up victory that swung the momentum to Team Europe. Solheim Cup rookie Caroline Hedwall, then battled back from two down on the 16th hole against fellow rookie Ryann O’Toole making a birdie at the last to squeeze out a half point and seal the win. Azahara Munoz could then relax as she was walking to the 18th tee with a 1 up lead over Angela Stanford, knowing that Europe could not be beaten even if she lost the hole. A halved hole saw Team Europe go wild with celebration after what was the most theatrical of finishes to a team’s event.
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rnWhile the focus early in the day surrounded Cristie Kerr conceding her match to Karen Stupples due to a wrist injury, it quickly shifted to the weather and then to the most electrifying final 30 minutes in the history of The Solheim Cup.
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rnTwo separate delays – first for unplayable course conditions and then for lightning – prolonged the day, but in the end, the finale was worth the wait. After beginning the final day with the scores all tied up at 8-all after the foursomes and fourballs, it was the U.S. Team that seemed to have control of the singles matches early in the day, needing just six points to retain the Cup. However, it was Scotland’s Catriona Matthew who made an ominous statement with a 6&5 victory over Paula Creamer, who was previously undefeated in Solheim Cup singles play.
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rnSophie Gustafson earned another point for the Europeans as she won the 18th hole to secure a 2 up victory over Kraft Nabiso Champion Stacy Lewis. However, it was all Team USA in the next few matches beginning with Brittany Lang winning her match over Sandra Gal to the tune of 6&5. Morgan Pressel earned yet another point for the U.S. with a 2&1 victory over Sweden’s Anna Nordqvist to close out the 2011 Solheim Cup undefeated with a 4-0-0 record.
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All eyes were then focused on the match of Solheim Cup veterans and golfing legends Laura Davies and Juli Inkster. Inkster headed to the 18th tee one down to Davies, but the match ended with both players playing their third shots from the greenside bunker. While Inkster nearly holed her bunker shot, Davies had 10-feet to win the match. In the end, she couldn’t find the bottom of the cup and the match was halved.
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rnIt was then Christina Kim’s turn to add another point for the U.S. Team with a 4&2 victory over Maria Hjorth. Solheim Cup rookie Vicky Hurst, who had played in just one match prior to singles, managed her first point with a 2 up victory over Melissa Reid. At that point, as in past events, it seemed like the Americans would again edge ahead in the singles to claim another Solheim Cup. They were now ahead 12½ to 11½ with four matches left on the course.
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rnBut, just as everything seemed to be going in the American’s favor, the momentum suddenly turned in favor of the Europeans beginning with Solheim Cup rookie Christel Boeljon securing a 2 up victory over Brittany Lincicome.
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rnThe scores were now level and it was Pettersen, twice a winner on the LPGA this year, and Wie who provided superb drama on the final three holes of their match. Down by 1 hole with three to play, Pettersen reeled off three birdies in a row, firstly for a win on the 16th to square up the match, then a half on the 17th before a point-sealing birdie on the 18th to put the Europeans up by a point.
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rnThe 2011 Solheim Cup ultimately came down to a duel between rookies Hedwall and O’Toole, with Hedwall dormie two before a birdie on 17 brought her to one down. Showing class and composure beyond her years, she knocked her 18th hole approach to five feet to square the match and win the decisive half point for the Europeans. With a 1 up lead heading to 18, Munoz could do no worse than a half point versus Stanford, meaning The Solheim Cup returned to European hands for just the fourth time in 12 stagings.
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Solheim Statistics – The U.S. Team went into Sunday’s singles play with a 69-42-13 advantage over Europe in singles play dating back to the inaugural Solheim Cup in 1990. The Europeans were determined to change tradition this year and that is exactly what they did. The home team prevailed with a 7-5 victory to win back The Solheim Cup. This was the first time the Europeans have won the Solheim Cup since 2003 at Barsebäck Golf and Country Club in Malmo, Sweden. Since the Solheim Cup’s inaugural event in 1990, the U.S. Team has won eight times while Europe has now won four.
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Sophie Gustafson (Europe) and Morgan Pressel (USA) were the only players to go through with records of 4-0-0 to earn a total of four points for their respective teams. However, it was the play of two rookies who stole the headlines. Caroline Hedwall mixed her impressive ball-striking with some sublime putting to finish with a 2-1-1 record for 2½ points. Meanwhile, Ryann O’Toole remained undefeated with a 2-0-2 record and three points for the controversial captain’s pick. The cruel nature of sport saw the half point she dropped to Hedwall in the singles as the crucial point for Munoz to make her walk down the 18th much more comfortable than it may have been otherwise.
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To view the complete list of results, click here.