CASARES, SPAIN | In one sense, there was no winner of the Solheim Cup, but try telling that to Suzann Pettersen, her team, the Spanish nation and the European fans.
Because, with a 14-14 tie, Europe retained the cup as defending champion amid scenes of joy at Finca CortesÃn.
The team didn’t create history by becoming the first European team to win the match three times in a row, but when King Felipe VI of Spain handed the trophy to Pettersen, it was the fifth time in seven matches that the Americans had watched their opponents celebrate the lifting of it.
It will sting the visitors that this was not defeat yet feels a lot like it. It will hurt that they squandered a 4-0 lead after the opening-day foursomes. It will smart to watch the opposition party like victors.
They won’t want to repeat this experience, so it might also pay dividends if they soak up all their feelings and recall them when the two teams resume hostilities again in 12 months’ time at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club in Gainesville, Virginia, when the biennial series returns to even-numbered years.
Oh, yes, remember that we’ve got only a year to wait for the next match, and it will once again feature Pettersen and Stacy Lewis as captains – a repeat of a fascinating clash of approach, style and personality, one that felt, at times, an awful lot like a world-title boxing bout.
This one demands a rematch, and it is already in the diary.
But first, let’s reflect on the latest dazzling conclusion to a European-hosted match. Ireland in 2011 was a thriller, Germany in 2015 was epic, and Scotland in 2019 outrageous.
Spain in 2023 will go down as sensational.
It was a week during which the Europeans refused to wilt, even when battered in that opening session.
Right then, the assiduous planning of Lewis seemed to have out-foxed the more emotional Pettersen.
The U.S. now led 13-11, and Lexi Thompson held a significant advantage in the final match against Emily Pedersen (and would win, 2 and 1). The trophy was within reach. But the Europeans refused to crack.
Europe fought back in Friday’s afternoon four-balls to trail 5-3, but Pettersen still felt the need for a heart-to-heart with her team. “It would probably not be appropriate to repeat what I said aloud,†she conceded later. “But I think it was needed. They got the message.â€
Indeed, Europe maintained momentum to hit the singles at eight points apiece.
What we did not know then was the extent to which the two teams would remain so tightly aligned for the rest of the match.
With eight matches out on the course, the two teams led in two matches with the others tied.
When all 12 singles had left the first tee, Europe led in five, the U.S. in five, and two were all square.
Americans Megan Khang (unbeaten for the week, with 3½ points) and Danielle Kang picked up early wins, against Linn Grant and Charley Hull, respectively, but Leona Maguire and Anna Nordqvist responded quickly with full points from contests with Rose Zhang and Jennifer Kupcho, respectively.
Briefly the result tilted, first one way and then the other.
Europe threatened to take control first, leading in six of the eight matches out on the course, but it was a very brief dominance. Within minutes, it was four apiece.
Roars thundered down the many valleys of Finca CortesÃn along the Costa del Sol. The visiting American fans were every bit as raucous as the Europeans because they had as much to celebrate (and were at times present in greater numbers).
Then there was an American twist. In a rush, Andrea Lee (who had been 2-down with four to play) earned a half-point against Georgia Hall, Lilia Vu downed Madelene Sagström, 4 and 3, Angel Yin (1-down with six to play) defeated Céline Boutier, 2 and 1, and Cheyenne Knight (2-down with four to play) ground out a half-point against Gemma Dryburgh.
The U.S. now led 13-11, and Lexi Thompson held a significant advantage in the final match against Emily Pedersen (and would win, 2 and 1). The trophy was within reach.
But the Europeans refused to crack.
Caroline Hedwall was 3-down with six to play against Ally Ewing. The American parred her way home, but the Swede made four birdies and a conceded eagle to win, 2-up. Her compatriot Maja Stark completed a 2-and-1 victory over Allisen Corpuz, and then all eyes turned to Spain’s very own Carlota Ciganda.
The crowd favourite was 3-up through eight against Nelly Korda, but the game was all square after 15. The destiny of the trophy would be determined by the result, and Korda knocked her approach at the par-4 16th to 8 feet.
Ciganda had been superb all week, but it would all be for nothing if she could not dig even deeper, and she did just that.
Her own approach finished 2 feet from the hole. Korda missed, and Ciganda did not. From the par-3 17th tee, she repeated the feat, and this time the putt not only won the hole but also the point and the match.
Her memories of that moment afterwards? Non-existent. She had been in the bubble. “I really can’t remember,†she said with a laugh. “I just went crazy. I was hugging everyone. I don’t really know what I did.â€
“A team playoff would be pretty cool. But if you want to stick with history, you probably stick with retaining the cup. I don’t know how I feel about that either way, to be honest.â€
Stacy Lewis
In the aftermath of the result, the Americans understandably were left a little unsure about what to make of what had happened.
Lewis felt vindicated in her methods.
“We’re so close,†she said. “Just considering where we were coming out of Toledo [where they lost in 2021] to where this team is at now, it was a win, and that’s all that matters. I don’t see a whole lot changing because it worked this year. We’re moving in the right direction, and I’m really excited about the future of this U.S. team.â€
She also had been wondering about the nature of an unresolved result.
“A team playoff would be pretty cool,†she said. “But if you want to stick with history, you probably stick with retaining the cup. I don’t know how I feel about that either way, to be honest.â€
And what had she said to her team in a get-together on the 17th green at the end of the match?
“I made them all cry, which that was not my intent. I just told them how proud I was of them and, I don’t want to sound like a sore loser, but it was a tie. I think that’s a lot for this team to build off.â€
Pettersen, ruled more by the heart than the head, happy to prod and be prodded, was exhausted afterward.
“Does it get any better than this?†she said. “I mean, this is a dream come true. We have an amazing team and we got off to a rocky start, but I wonder if it was almost a nice wakeup call for all of us. We’ve all been on a high road for a few years now.
“I believe in fate, so maybe [the slow start] was meant to happen. I just said to them that you get knocked down, you stand back up. Life can be tough, but it’s how you stand back up. I think the result really shows the character of this team sitting here.â€
She and her team were looking forward to the evening’s festivities, Lewis already had her sights a little further off.
“We only have to wait another year to go get this thing back,†she said.
Matt Cooper
