The Solheim Cup drama hit peak levels in Gainesville, Va. , as Lilia Vu's effortless birdie putt on the 18th hole gave the United States the precious half-point to secure victory over Europe.
Amid the celebration on the green, U. S. captain Stacy Lewis embraced her young daughter Chesnee in a joyous bear hug. Finally, pride and the trophy were restored to the American team. A year ago in Spain, the Americans watched the Solheim Cup slip through their fingers, despite a promising early lead, ending in a bitter 14-14 tie with Europe keeping the cup.
Fast forward one year due to schedule changes, and under the intense pressure at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Club, fears of another letdown loomed large during a stint where the Europeans had all the momentum.
"That was the longest hour and a half of my life. I'm not going to lie," confessed a relieved Lewis. "It just felt like it was never going to end. Just really nerve-wracking. You felt pretty helpless."
In the clutch moment, world No. 2 Vu struck a stunning 300-yard drive followed by a pinpoint wedge from 103 yards out on the par-4 18th, essentially sealing the deal against rising star Albane Valenzuela. Regardless of the formality of a 2-foot putt, which Valenzuela refused to concede, it afforded the Americans a well-earned winning scene.
"This week was kind of hard for me. I felt like I wasn't physically 100%, and I almost felt guilty taking that spot from someone else," Vu shared, still on the mend from a back injury. "Luckily, I have the best team around me."
The scoreboard read the United States 15 1/2, Europe 12 1/2, marking the widest gap in this nail-biter of a team contest since the U. S. triumphed by five points seven years prior in Iowa. With the latest victory, Team USA has polished its Solheim Cup record to 11-7-1. The event, which kicked off in 1990, owes its existence to the financial support from Ping golf club creator Karsten Solheim and his spouse, Louise.
Post-victory, the American players exchanged subdued embraces with their European counterparts behind the scenes of the closing ceremony, the Europeans maintaining their composure despite not losing a single session after a 6-2 setback on Friday. The celebration was low-key; no oversized Champagne bottles were in sight as the victors sat munching on snacks and sipping water and wine from paper cups during their press conference.
"We haven't gotten to celebrate yet," admitted Lauren Coughlin. Europe had its sights set on an unprecedented fourth consecutive cup win, with Lewis and Suzann Pettersen at the helm once again as captains, as the tournament shifted to consecutive years to avoid clashing with the Ryder Cup. Despite the pressure, Lewis' squad nearly clinched it in Spain, an outcome that left the captain emotionally charged on the journey back.
Lewis recalled an emotional moment on the plane with her daughter, saying, "I was sitting on the airplane with my daughter and she was sleeping and I just lost it and I started crying," Lewis said. "I was like, 'We did all this work for these girls to play to a tie.'" Lewis continued to rely on data to inform her pairings, combining top players with role players to build a 10-6 lead going into singles.
Pettersen acknowledged that her team needed a "miracle," and the Europeans managed to keep things interesting by preventing the Americans from clinching the win on the 18th hole in three consecutive matches. However, the Americans ultimately outperformed the Europeans in every aspect of the game at the picturesque lakeside venue, which has hosted four Presidents Cups and is located about 40 miles west of Washington, D.
C. Lewis praised the standout performances of top-ranked Nelly Korda, 21-year-old Zhang, 31-year-old rookie Coughlin, and veteran spark plug Khang. Zhang, who was the best putter on either team, dominated Carlota Ciganda 6 and 4, becoming the first player in Solheim history to go 4-0 or better without reaching the 17th hole. She won 28 holes and lost eight throughout the week.
"I just feel like the Solheim Cup reignited my passion for the game," Zhang said. "We've been having so much fun, not only off the golf course but even on it. It's just been an incredible ride."
The Americans took the lead 13-8 with wins from Zhang and Allisen Corpuz. However, for nearly an hour, the U.S. didn't lead in any of the final seven matches. The Europeans had a narrow path to victory with Esther Henseleit having an opportunity to defeat Andrea Lee on the 18th hole, yet her birdie attempt fell short, allowing Lee to par and tie the match for the first time that week.
This created a chance for Lexi Thompson to claim the decisive point in what could be her last performance as a Solheim Cup player; however, Celine Boutier emerged victorious with a stellar approach and a birdie on the final hole, claiming a 1-up win. Coughlin, after being down three in the later stages, pulled even with Maja Stark but missed a birdie putt that would have won the cup, leading to Stark securing a par from roughly 12 feet.
In an eye-catching opening match, Charley Hull outshone Korda, hitting three successive birdies on the back nine and finishing strong with a 6 and 4 victory after an excellent approach shot on the par-5 14th that nestled within 2 feet, earning a conceded eagle. "I know I have what it takes to play Nelly," Hull proclaimed confidently, pushing Europe closer to a score of 10-7. Shortly after, Meghan Khang triumphed over a weary Emily Pedersen with a decisive 6 and 5 result.
Khang went unbeaten throughout the week, pumping up both crowds and teammates alike, while Pedersen, playing in all sessions, recorded a 2-3 score. "I've thoroughly enjoyed getting the crowd very much involved. My voice can be the victim of that," Khang admitted. "But I'd do it a million times over."
The Americans are setting their sights on a victory in Europe for the first time since 2015 when the battle was in Germany. They're looking ahead to the upcoming challenge as the Netherlands gears up to host the tournament in 2026. "Happy for Stacy, obviously, on home turf," Pettersen acknowledged, "but we'll come back very hungry."
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