Suzann Pettersen justified her controversial wild card in stunning fashion as Europe regained the Solheim Cup in dramatic circumstances at Gleneagles.
Pettersen was chosen by captain Catriona Matthew despite having played just twice since November 2017 before the wild cards were named, since when she had finished 59th in the CP Women’s Open and missed the cut in the Cambia Portland Classic.
However, the 38-year-old Norwegian delivered when it mattered by holing from six feet for a winning birdie on the 18th hole of her match with Marina Alex to give Europe victory by 14.5 points to 13.5.
“I had faith in her all the time,” Matthew said, who rated the victory above her Women’s British Open triumph a decade ago. “This is the best without doubt. With the team around you nothing tops this to be honest.”
Pettersen said she did not know her putt was for the win, adding: “It’s all just a bit of a blur. I never thought I was going to do this again.
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“You have to trust you are good enough and this is a fantastic win for the team.”
Starting the day tied at 8-8, the home side won three of the first four singles matches courtesy of Carlota Ciganda, Georgia Hall and Celine Boutier, Hall and Boutier having also won all three of their matches together over the first two days.
However, Nelly Korda also maintained her unbeaten record by recovering from three down with nine to play to beat Sweden’s Caroline Hedwall, while rookie Brittany Altomare thrashed Jodi Ewart Shadoff 5&4 and Angel Yin’s triumph over Azahara Munoz made it 11-11.
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Jessica Korda took the United States in front for the first time by closing out Caroline Masson 3&2 and the momentum looked to have crucially turned in favour of the visitors.
Charley Hull took the lead against Megan Khang for the first time on the 16th, only to make a mess of the 18th and have to settle for half a point, while Lizette Salas defeated Holland’s Anne Van Dam on the last to get within half a point of retaining the trophy.
Anna Nordqvist kept European hopes alive with a 4&3 win over Morgan Pressel in the bottom match and Bronte Law then holed from 20 feet for birdie on the 16th to edge ahead of McDonald.
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A par on the 17th was enough to secure the win for Law and leave the outcome in the hands of Pettersen and Alex on the 18th.
Pettersen hit a superb approach to six feet and, after Alex missed from twice the distance, the 38-year-old amazingly held her nerve to hole the winning putt and spark jubilant scenes.
Solheim Cup Singles Sunday (Europe names first)
Carlota Ciganda beat Danielle Kang by one hole
Neither player ever led by more than one hole in a nip-and-tuck top match which finally swung in Europe’s favour on the 18th when Kang’s second shot from the sand landed in another bunker. When the American missed her par putt from 15 feet, the players shook hands and Ciganda celebrated securing Europe’s first point of the day.
Match score: Europe 9 United States 8
Caroline Hedwall lost by two holes to Nelly Korda
Hedwall looked on course to secure her first point of the week when she found herself three up at the turn but the younger Korda sister won five holes without reply at the start of the back nine to wrest back control of the contest. Hedwall won the 16th to reduce her arrears to one with two holes left to play but Korda took the last to level the scores at nine points each.
Europe 9 United States 9
Georgia Hall beat Lexi Thompson 2&1
Thompson opened up a two-hole lead early on but Hall won three in a row from the ninth to grab the initiative before taking the 15th with a par on her way to victory.
Europe 10 United States 9
Celine Boutier beat Annie Park 2&1
France’s Boutier found herself two down after as many holes but won the fifth and seventh to head into the turn level. Park’s birdie on the short 10th saw her regain the lead, only for Boutier to win the 11th, 13th and 16th to set up a comfortable win.
Europe 11 United States 9
Jodi Ewart Shadoff lost 5&4 to Brittany Altomare
Despite taking the first hole, Ewart Shadoff found herself five down as she walked off the 12th green after losing six without reply. And Altomare wrapped up the point when the 14th was halved.
Europe 11 United States 10
(Image: REUTERS)
Azahara Munoz lost 2&1 to Angel Yin
Yin raced into a commanding lead after winning four of the first nine without reply. She had to withstand a spirited fightback from Munoz at the start of the back nine, though, as the Spaniard cut the gap to one. But the American finally put the match to bed after winning the 16th and halving the 17th.
Europe 11 United States 11
Caroline Masson lost 3&2 to Jessica Korda
Masson saw her early two-hole lead disappear when Korda won the seventh, eighth and ninth but she took the 10th to draw level. Korda then established a two-hole advantage of her own by winning the 12th and 13th. When the 16th was halved after Masson’s putt lipped out, America went ahead in the contest for the first time.
Europe 11 United States 12
Charley Hull halved with Megan Khang
Khang won the first two holes and remained two clear for the entirety of the front nine after Hull failed to win a single hole. But the Englishwoman took the 10th, 13th and 16th to turn the match on its head. Hull had to settle for half a point, though, after losing the 18th.
Europe 11.5 United States 12.5
Anne Van Dam lost by one hole to Lizette Salas
Van Dam’s two-hole lead evaporated when Salas won the sixth, 10th and 13th. And – while Van Dam took the 16th to level things up – Salas sealed victory after she won the 17th and the 18th was halved.
Europe 11.5 United States 13.5
Anna Nordqvist beat Morgan Pressel 4&3
Nordqvist ran away with the anchor match, going three up before Pressel took her first hole at the eighth. The Swede responded by winning the 10th and 11th to stretch her advantage to four holes and cruised to victory to keep Europe’s hopes alive.
Europe 12.5 United States 13.5
Bronte Law beat Ally McDonald 2&1
Law saw one-hole leads wiped out on three occasions on the front nine before McDonald won the 10th to go ahead for the first time. The pendulum swung Europe’s way when Law holed a brilliant birdie putt at the 16th to go one hole clear. Law also took the 17th to win the match and set up a thrilling finish.
Europe 13.5 United States 13.5
Suzann Pettersen beat Marina Alex by one hole
Pettersen led by two holes on a couple of occasions in the match but Alex won the 13th and 14th to level things up. Pettersen had the last word, sending her approach at the 18th to six feet before holing the winning putt.
Europe 14.5 United States 13.5
