Matthew leads team to stunning victory in Scotland
The Solheim Cup took a giant step closer at the weekend to reaching the dizzy heights of golfing hysteria that we are accustomed to in the Ryder Cup. It was one for the history books. A stunning victory for Team Europe by the closest of margins: 14½ -13½. An epic battle led by Scotland’s own former Solheim Cup hero, Catriona Matthew and played on the iconic Gleneagles course in Scotland (13-15 September 2019).
Europe dominated the first day securing 4½ points to America’s 3½. Team US turned the tables on day two. And so, after two days of matchplay (foursomes in the morning and four-balls after lunch), the battle was evenly poised at 8 points each. With 12 points up for grabs on Sunday, it promised to be an exciting climax. Europe needed to secure 6½ points to win the trophy; America 6 to retain it. Both teams played their hearts out and delivered.
Historical victories in Scotland
The 2019 battle at Gleneagles was the third encounter on Scottish soil. The previous two had gone in Europe’s favour. And with Scotland’s Catriona Matthew on-board as Captain, the stage was set in the ‘Home of Golf’ for an epic showdown. After 15 clashes in the biennial transatlantic event, America led the way by far: USA 10 – Europe 5.
The team of twelve American women, led by three-time Captain Juli Inkster, played with all the guts and grace you would expect of defending champions when playing an away match. The difference between flying back to the US with the glass trophy or going home empty-handed came down to a couple of shaved putts in the last few singles matches.
Moment of glory for Europe
European Captain Matthew, a 50-year old Solheim Cup veteran, pitched the perfect balance in her team placements in Sunday’s singles. Eventually America needed just half a point from the last three matches in order to retain the trophy. Europe won two of them. Then, as luck would have it, Matthew’s former seven-time Solheim partner, Suzann Pettersen, holed a brilliant 8-footer to win her point against Marina Alex on the final green and so secure victory for Europe. It was a putt of magnificence and significance. Not only did it clinch the title for Europe, but it also marked the end of Pettersen’s golfing career.
Shortly after her match, the Norwegian announced she was stopping golf to spend more time with her young son born in 2017. The 38-year old veteran of nine Solheim Cups, who had been a somewhat controversial wild-card pick of Matthew’s this year after she had slumped to 665th in the world, had shown an enormous return on investment rewarding her captain’s faith in her. What a way to end a glittering career!
After three nerve-racking days at Gleneagles, there cannot have been much left of the colourful nail varnish depicting European and American flags that had been painted so meticulously and patriotically on many a fair hand.
The job had been done. Europe were victorious. The Solheim Cup was back in European hands. The enthusiastic crowds could put away their crazy wigs and patriotic kilts. It was time to go home. Time to soothe the weary limbs and hoarse throats that had cheered on their team all week. Time to start saving for the trip to the Inverness Club for the 2021 Solheim Cup. That’s Inverness in Toledo, Ohio in the US, by the way, not Scotland! The date? Friday, 3rd September until Sunday, 5th September. Until then, sit back and wallow in the happy memories of Europe’s glory at Gleneagles!
Congratulations to Team Europe, especially to the three rookies, Celine Boutier (France), Bronte Law (England) and Anne van Dam (The Netherlands), and to Captain Catriona Matthew or ‘Beany’ as she is often called by her golf friends – terrific!
Wendy Hoad
For full results and news, CHECK OUT the Official Solheim Cup site HERE
MAIN PHOTOGRAPH: Proud European SolheimCup Captain, Catriona Matthew. MINIS: A few members of Team Europe (in blue) and Team USA (in red). BELOW: A truly enthusiastic supporter!