Hosts crush European hopes in Iowa
Solheim Cup victory for Europe in America would have been the icing on Catriona Matthew’s birthday cake today. The 48-year old from Edinburgh was playing in her ninth, and possibly last, Solheim Cup at Des Moines Golf & Country Club in Iowa (18-20 August) where she and her European teammates had hoped to bring back the coveted trophy to this side of the Atlantic. The bi-annual tussle ended in a resounding victory for Team USA who secured 16½ points over the three days of matchplay against 11½ points by Europe.
On day one, Europe got off to a promising start by winning the morning foursomes by 2½ – 1½. It was a thrilling first round with three of the four matches finishing on the 18th green. England’s Mel Reid had the honour of hitting the first tee shot for Europe. Partnered by Charley Hull, they secured an honourable half against Christie Kerr and the world number two, Lexi Thompson.
Healthy lead for Americans after lunch
Celebrations were short-lived, however, as the Americans came back fully charged after lunch and snatched all four fourball match points to give themselves a healthy lead going into the weekend: USA 5½ – EUR 2½.
The next day, America came out strong. They won the top two matches of the morning foursomes by a convincing margin of 5&3. Europe then rallied to claim the next two foursomes points but struggled again in the afternoon losing three of the four fourball matches. At the end of Saturday’s play, the hosts had widened the gap still further: USA 10½ – EUR 5½.
Europe’s team captain, Annika Sorenstam from Sweden would have to perform a masterstroke of strategic genius in order to turn the tide and outwit her counterpart, Julie Inkster, the winning Solheim Cup captain from 2015. America had a 5-point lead and so needed just 3½ points from the 12 singles matches to retain the trophy. Europe needed to secure 9 points.
But this is golf, and just as in the Ryder Cup, anything can happen on Sunday when all 12 team members come out in the singles. Nerves are known to jangle as the pressure builds and the honour of playing for one’s country can weirdly weigh heavy on the emotions.
Showcase for women’s golf
In the top pairing, America’s Lexi Thompson set a blazing trail on the back nine at Des Moines in the singles. She needed to. Europe’s Anna Nordqvist had gone 4-up after the first four holes. From the 10th, Thompson pulled out all the stops playing the next eight holes in 7-under par to get herself back into the game. She eagled the 11th and 13th and then birdied the 16th to find herself one up on her Swedish opponent on the final tee. Nordqvist, who had triumphed in all three of her matches, was defiant. She fired a magical 8-iron to the 18th green. The ball was so close to the hole that it was conceded for birdie and the match was halved. What a momentous stride it was – a real showcase for women’s golf!
Meanwhile, Scotland’s Catriona Matthew and Caroline Masson from Germany were also giving it their all for Europe. Matthew taking out Stacy Lewis on the final green 1 up in possibly her last Solheim Cup appearance to bring her personal record to an impressive six wins, two losses and one half in her singles matches. Masson had a sensational 4&2 victory over Michelle Wie.
“The fact that I made the last putt to secure it, is indescribable. I’m still shaking!”
Lizette Salas
It was Lizette Salas who had the honour of holing out for Solheim Cup victory at the last hole. A par was all she needed to beat England’s Jodi Ewart Shadoff who had just witnessed her birdie putt slip past the hole. America had secured that vital point to get to 14½.
Draped in the United States flag, Salas, the daughter of Mexican immigrants was overcome with tears of joy. She said afterwards: “This is the best golf I’ve played all year and to do that in front of my home crowd and to wear red, white and blue is such an honour.”
In fact, after a tremendous effort on Sunday, Europe went on to halve the singles (6-6) leaving America victorious in the 15th edition of the Solheim Cup by the margin of: USA 16½ – Europe 11½.
Congratulations to Team USA! Especially to Captain Julie Inkster who has become only the second Captain to have won the Solheim Cup twice. The first was Judy Rankin (1996 and 1998).
And a very Happy Birthday to Catriona Matthew today!
Wendy Hoad
CHECK OUT ALL THE FINAL SCORES AND MORE HERE: Ladies European Tour
PICTURED: The victorious 2017 American Solheim Cup team. (LET)