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“The good times have never seemed so good,” chanted the delirious European players. You bet they didn’t. Just a second Solheim Cup victory for the blues and yellows on American soil. This one arrived minus a travel medium. Say hello, Catriona Matthew, who has been captain of her team with back-to-back wins.
Simple statistics belie the story of an exceptional day under the Toledo sun. This should be a watershed moment for women’s golf. What a pity that Solheim’s transition to even years does not start until 2024. The level of play at Inverness Club was truly exceptional.
At one point, Matthew’s players – who only needed four points on Monday to keep – were ahead of eight games. A fierce backlash at home followed. Europe has kept its cool; even rubbing salt in the American injuries by winning outright, 15-13.
Matthew will never match the professional feats of winning a major tournament just 11 weeks after giving birth, but his efforts as a captain against some highly regarded American teams deserve huge praise. “It’s cute,” said the Scotsman, with typical understatement.
It must have been Mathilde Castren. As recently as last October, the Finn had not finished in the top 15 on any professional tour. She won the Symetra Tour which elevated her to the LPGA Tour. Another success there in June sparked awareness that Castren was not a member of the Ladies European Tour and therefore eligible for the Solheim Cup. She returned to her home continent, won in Finland in July, and the rest is history of the sport. Matthew and the European contingent here jumped for joy as Castren hit the putt which confirmed that Europe would not return the trophy to the United States.
Leona Maguire – who else? – led the first European charge. The Irish debutante made sure she won four and a half out of five possible points by brushing off Jennifer Kupcho, 5 & 4. Maguire equalized the second by five and did not look back; his performance here drew herograms from all over golf. She was huge at every session.
“I gave it my all,” said Maguire. “I couldn’t have asked for a better week.” Maguire is the first silent assassin to carry a new wood.
Europe’s second point came from Madelene Sagström, who beat Ally Ewing 3 & 2. Céline Boutier added more blue to the board, thanks to a 5 & 4 crush from Mina Harigae. Europe only needed two points to remember; three of Matthew’s team were ahead but two by one.
The last epic battle between Lexi Thompson and Anna Nordqvist ended, deservedly, in a match halved. Nordqvist had a lead after seven, with Thompson leading in the 9th. Nordqvist took the lead again with a birdie three in the 15th, but Thompson restored the tie a hole later.
With the United States lacking inspiration, watch out for Nelly Korda. The world No.1 endured a busy Solheim Cup, in part because of the reaction she had to benefiting from a high-profile rules controversy on day one. Korda is widely described as having been upset by the feeling that she was unsportsmanlike or unfair during this four-ball episode. When Georgia Hall moved up to two in just four holes, Korda’s Solheim horribilis looked ready to continue. Instead, Korda retaliated; she led two at the turn and closed a first point in singles for the United States with a victory of one. “Getting to the No. 1 ranking this week is not easy,” admitted Korda.
As Megan Khang headed for a win over Sophia Popov – the final margin was 3 & 2 – and Jessica Korda slashed Charley Hull from two to four, the United States had the pulse. Carlota Ciganda looked set to score a European point, but fell from two points after 12 to tie with Brittany Altomare on the 15th tee. Emily Pedersen led Danielle Kang in the final game; Europe really didn’t want it all to come down to this, especially in such a partisan atmosphere. Jessica Korda stepped up the pressure by winning the 14th, taking the lead for the first time in her clash with Hull. They couldn’t… could they?
Two key moments soon arrived. Austin Ernst was tamed with an 18th green putt and would have claimed a victory over Nanna Koerstz Madsen. Lizette Salas missed an opportunity to line up her match against Castren on the 17th. Europe was one point away from home, Castren guaranteed 50%. Pedersen had shown resilience to advance three after 14. She then delivered the last act of the day, sealing a victory of one.
From 140 yards and from the middle of the fairway to the last, Castren shot his ball into a trendy lie in a bunker on the green. Advantage Salas, who left an opportunity for a birdie. Salas’ attempt slipped agonizingly past the hole, which left Castren with 12 feet to retain the Solheim Cup for Europe. The 26-year-old continued her fairy tale.
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