Golf: It will be the blue flag of Europe fluttering high on the ramparts above Killeen Castle in Co Meath this evening after the home side held their nerve to clinch a dramatic 15-13 final day victory. The outcome hinged on the last three matches, and they all swung in Europe's favour in a thrilling finale to the tournament.
Azahara Munoz clinched the vital point in the final match with a one hole win over Angela Stanford. In the penultimate match, Caroline Hedwall, who was two down with two to play against Ryann O'Toole, won the last two holes for a vital half point.
Suzann Pettersen had started the final half hour of drama when she fought back from one down with three to play to beat Michelle Wie by one hole. The world number two birdied the final three holes, holing from eight feet at the last. It was a first ever singles win for Pettersen and only a fourth Solheim Cup victory for Europe in 12 contests.
Europe had led 10-8 and 11-9 at Killeen Castle in Ireland, but were pegged back and at one point trailed 12 1/2 — 11 1/2. But Christel Boeljon levelled and Pettersen, Hedwall and Munoz saw them to victory.
With those three pairs left out on the course, all eyes were on the duel between Pettersen and Michelle Wie. The American was one up going into the 16th when Pettersen sunk a putt to level, the pair then going into the final hole all square. Pettersen held her nerve with a superb second shot while Wie found the bunker, and the Norwegian holed her putt for a birdie-birdie-birdie finish and a fine win.
And fellow Scandinavian Hedwall sealed victory when she won the last hole to halve her match with O’Toole. The Swede’s approach spun back from the fringe of the green while O’Toole missed the green to the left and then duffed her chip, kindling memories of Hunter Mahan’s decisive 17th-hole meltdown against Graeme McDowell in last year’s Ryder Cup.
She sent her next narrowly past the hole and, with Munoz lying dormie one, Hedwall’s half-point secured the trophy for Europe — though their celebrations on the green and fairway, with Munoz and Stanford still to play, were excessive.
Munoz had nervelessly holed out to go down the last one up and, once order was restored, halved the last to earn a full point and a two-point winning margin for Europe.
Captain Alison Nicholas said: “The players showed such heart and passion, I hand it all to them. They were so up for it and believed in themselves, the rookies were fantastic and the experienced players have done well as well.”
She reserved special praise for Pettersen and Hedwall, saying of the former: “She’s a champion, and that’s what champions are made of.”
On Hedwall, she added: “What a great rookie performance, she’s a star of the future — watch out for her.”
On a day disrupted by the weather, with driving rain and wind and the threat of lightning forcing play to be suspended three times, Europe had moved into a 10-8 lead after Catriona Matthew’s dominant victory followed Cristie Kerr’s withdrawal through injury.
The three-time LPGA winner won 6&5 against Paula Creamer after the American missed a putt at the 13th. The Scot’s victory in Co Meath came after Kerr was forced to pull out of her singles match against Karen Stupples because of a wrist injury.
Kerr later released a statement saying: “I’m devastated that I couldn’t play today to help represent my team. I tried my best but I couldn’t hold the golf club.”
The pendulum kept swinging from one team to the other, with the United States reducing the deficit to one point when Brittany Lang had a dominant 6&5 victory over Sandra Gal. However, moments later Europe restored their two-point lead when Sophie Gustafson won two up against Stacy Lewis for her third win in four matches this week.
Morgan Pressel came from two down to win 2&1 against Anna Nordqvist and Europe led only 11-10. The tussle between Laura Davies and Juli Inkster was a fascinating one and, following yet another break because of the threat of lightning, the players returned and when the former just missed on her final putt it meant the match finished all-square, taking the score to 11 1/2 — 10 1/2.
American Christina Kim enjoyed a dominant victory over Maria Hjorth, 4&2, to take it to 11 1/2 — 11 1/2 before Vicky Hurst’s two-up victory put the USA ahead, only for Europe to roar back.
Europe 15 USA 13
Singles results (Europe names first)
Catriona Matthew beatPaula Creamer (6 and 5)
Sophie Gustafson beatStacy Lewis (2 holes)
Anna Nordqvist lost toMorgan Pressel (2 and 1)
Laura Davies halved withJuli Inkster
Melissa Reid lost toVicky Hurst (2 holes)
Christel Boeljon beatBrittany Lincicome (2 holes)
Sandra Gal lost toBrittany Lang (6 and 5)
Maria Hjorth lost toChristina Kim (4 and 2)
Suzann Pettersen beatMichelle Wie (1 hole)
Caroline Hedwall halved withRyann O'Toole
Azahara Muñoz beatAngela Stanford (1 hole)
Karen Stupples beat Cristie Kerr (conceded)
Saturday’s Foursomes
Caroline Hedwall and Sophie Gustafson beatAngela Stanford and Stacy Lewis (6 and 5)
Karen Stupples and Christel Boeljon lost toMorgan Pressel and Ryann O'Toole (3 and 2)
Maria Hjorth and Anna Nordqvist beatBrittany Lang and Juki Inkster (3 and 2)
Catriona Matthew and Azahara Muñoz halvedwith Cristie Kerr and Paula Creamer
Saturday Fourballs
Laura Davies and Melissa Reid beatBrittany Lang and Michelle Wie (4 and 3)
Suzann Pettersen and Caroline Hedwall lost toMorgan Pressel and Cristie Kerr (1 hole)
Sandra Gal and Christel Boeljon lost toStacy Lewis and Ryann O'Toole (2 and 1)
Maria Hjorth and Azahara Muñoz lost toPaula Creamer and Brittany Lincicome (3 and 1)
Friday Foursomes
Maria Hjorth and Anna Nordqvist lost toMichelle Wie and Cristie Kerr (2 and 1)
Karen Stupples and Melissa Reid lost toPaula Creamer and Brittany Lincicome (1 hole)
Catriona Matthew and Azahara Muñoz beatStacy Lewis and Angela Stanford (3 and 2)
Suzann Pettersen and Sophie Gustafson beatBrittany Lang and Juli Inkster (1 hole)
Friday Fourballs
Laura Davies and Melissa Reid lost toPaula Creamer and Morgan Pressel (1 hole)
Catriona Matthew and Sandra Gal halved withChristina Kim and Ryann O'Toole
Sophie Gustafson and Caroline Hedwall beatVicky Hurst and Brittany Lincicome (5 and 4)
Suzann Pettersen and Anna Nordqvist beatCristie Kerr and Michelle Wie (2 holes)
