TOLEDO, OHIO | Early in the week, long before the first competitive shots were struck, Mel Reid, the emotional leader of Europe’s Solheim Cup team, said, “I think we've got a fantastic team. I think it's the strongest team we’ve had in years.”
A lot of those who heard Reid smiled. What else would you expect her to say? Sure, Europe had three major champions in Georgia Hall, Sophia Popov and the most recent major winner, Anna Nordqvist, who won the AIG Women’s Open last month. But the U.S. didn’t field any slouches.
America had Rolex Ranking No. 1 and Olympic gold medalist Nelly Korda, along with major winner Danielle Kang, who also happened to win the first Drive On Championship at Inverness Club last year. Lexi Thompson is a major champion. Ally Ewing has won twice in the past 12 months. Ditto Austin Ernst, who claimed two of her three career victories in the past year. You had Lizette Salas, on the cusp of winning two majors this year, and Jessica Korda, six-time LPGA Tour winner and dynamic “atta-girl” partner for her sister.
Europe had a good team. But could they hang with that lineup?
By Monday afternoon, those who asked such questions slinked away, while everyone else thought Reid might have undersold things. Europe was more than good. They were possibly the best top-to-bottom performers the continent has ever fielded.
“I thought a lot about it before coming over here and I couldn’t see a weak link in this European team,” said Judy Rankin, the Golf Channel broadcaster. “I thought they were strong top to bottom.”
As spectacular as it was, the Americans never led. Hurst’s group fell behind 3½-½ during Saturday morning’s foursomes, a session in which all four matches were decided on the 18th green.
Stacy Lewis, who was an American assistant captain, agreed, saying, “It’s probably one of the best European teams I think I’ve seen. They’re just really, really a lot of great putters – not good putters, great putters – and when it’s tight like that, it’s a putt or two here and there.”
These matches, which captain Catriona Matthew’s squad won by the score of 15-13 for only the second victory for Europe on American soil, confirmed that opinion.
It also added polish to an event that has been arguably the most compelling team competition in golf. With apologies to the Tour Championship and it’s Sun King-level payout, the Solheim Cup was the biggest show in the game last week.
The winning putt was holed on the 18th green by Matilda Castren of Finland, a player few people knew four months ago. Then she won the Mediheal Championship outside San Francisco with ball striking that had a Hoganesque feel. After that, needing a Ladies European Tour victory even to be eligible for the team, Castren went to her home country and won the Gant Ladies Open in her first LET start.
“I knew it was going to be an important putt and I wanted to make it,” Castren said in the moments after making an extraordinary up-and-down from a fried egg lie in the bunker by the 18th green to capture the 14th point for Europe. “It’s a dream come true.”
That last quote could sum up the event for all who saw it.
Just a few numbers to show you how close and compelling the competition was: 16 of 28 matches went all the way to the 18th hole, a surprise to not only the players and fans but also to organizers who swapped the ninth and 18th holes so that the iconic, short par-4 hole where Bob Tway holed a bunker shot and Paul Azinger holed a breaking 8-footer – both to win PGA Championships, and both to beat Greg Norman – would fall in the middle of the matches, while the traditional ninth, a straightaway par-4 you wouldn’t remember on a bet, would likely see little action.
“That’s just unbelievable,” American captain Pat Hurst said when hearing the total match count that went the distance. “I don’t think anyone would have thought that considering we switched the nines because we thought their 18th hole wasn’t going to get used that much. It sure did this week. It definitely tells you that the teams are getting much closer and the competition is getting closer.”
Speaking of close, the area around 18 looked like the mosh pit at a Who concert, with thousands of people crowding for views outside the ropes and scores of interested observers inside them. Even without the normal contingent of European fans who couldn’t fly across the Atlantic because of COVID-19, a record 130,000 people flooded the grounds and filled the hospitality tents.
“Imagine if the Europeans had been able to travel; we might have been up at 200,000,” Matthew said. “I think it’s events like these that grow the game and grow women’s golf. And we’ve put on another spectacular performance this time.”
As spectacular as it was, the Americans never led. Hurst’s group fell behind 3½-½ during Saturday morning’s foursomes, a session in which all four matches were decided on the 18th green. A gallant comeback on Sunday morning pulled the United States to within a point but the Euros rallied late to enter the singles with a 9-7 lead – two points which proved to be the overall margin of victory. No longer is it accurate to say that the Americans have an advantage in singles. In Scotland in 2019, the teams were knotted at 8-8 going into the final session and Europe won the cup in the final match on the 18th green.
“It’s spectacular that you could have 24 players of this caliber and have it as close as it has been,” Rankin said.
If you only watched on Monday, too bad. You missed some incredible golf. But you also got a glimpse of the game’s future. The first singles match to be closed out in singles was a 5-and-4 drubbing of Jennifer Kupcho by the first Irishwoman to compete in the Solheim Cup, LPGA Tour rookie Leona Maguire, a former two-time winner of the Mark H. McCormack award as the world’s best amateur and the only person on either side to go undefeated (4-0-1) in all five sessions. The only thing keeping Maguire from going 5-0 was a fourball halve with partner Reid late on Sunday.
In the world of gender sensitive language, the old term “Man of the Match” might be passé, but Maguire qualifies. “(The title) definitely fits,” Matthew said.
But Maguire was more about the team win than her individual performance. “It’s been incredible,” Maguire said through a broad smile with the Irish flag draped across her shoulders. “To be on the team was a dream come true. But it doesn’t get much better than this. It’s been an incredible week from start to finish.”
After it was over, Reid gave a wry English smile. She didn’t say, “I told you so,” out loud. But the point was the same.
“I mean, you’ve just got to look at the way the rookies played,” Reid said. “They’re completely fearless. You know, they’ve either won or played amazingly well on the LPGA. They’re not scared of these girls. In the past I feel like they’ve not really played much golf on the LPGA. These girls are not like that.
“Everyone just played amazing. Everyone played their part.”
Top: Team Europe celebrates with the Solheim Cup trophy.
E-Mail Steve