User:Wmigda/Europe captures Solheim Cup after an epic battle

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View of the Killeen Castle Golf Resort
Image: C O'Flanagan (Geograph.org.uk).

European female professional golfers won the 12th staging of the Solheim Cup matches by beating Americans 15-13 on a rainy but otherwise dramatic and emotional Sunday. The competition was hosted on the Killeen Castle Golf Resort golf course over three days from 23rd to 25th of September 2011. Biennial Solheim Cup matches are played between teams of best U.S. born and European professional golfers since 1990. The Europeans won the Solheim Cup only three times before, in 1992, 2000, and 2003.

After two days of the competition, which consisted of a total of two foursome and two fourball sessions, both teams have amassed 8 points each. This meant that the singles matches traditionally played on the final day would prove decisive.

The tone of Sunday's matches was quickly set by an exceptional play of Scotland's Catriona Matthew who was paired against Paula Creamer. The American star, who was unbeaten during previous two days, was quickly loosing holes and after four Matthew was 3 up. Then the Scot won another with an eagle on the 7th. Creamer meanwhile bogeyed two following par fives, 10th and 12th, while Matthew parred them, and the match went to a dormie. As both players parred the following 13th Matthew won with a remarkable score of 6&5, equaling the highest defeat over an an American in singles Solheim Cup matches.

The first point for the European team, however, was earned in an unlikely manner, as U.S. Cristie Kerr scheduled to play in the last pairing against England's Karen Stupples had to withdraw due to a right wrist injury.

I’m devastated that I couldn’t play today to help represent my team, I tried my best but I couldn’t hold the golf club.

—Kerr's emotional comment on her withdrawal

Brittany Lang gave the first point for the Americans when she defeated German rookie Sandra Gal 6&5. Europe rebounded with a point from Sweden's Sophie Gustafson who won the second match of the day beating reigning Kraft Nabisco champion Stacy Lewis 2 up. Match no. 3 went in favour of Americans despite early lead by Anna Nordqvist of Sweden. After eigth holes Nordqvist was 2 up against Morgan Pressel but then the American won five consecutive holes. The Swede won one back at the 15th but could not deliver more and lost the match 2&1.

The fourth match was being played between the oldest members of both teams - 51-year old Hall-of-Famer Juli Inkster and 47-year old England's legend Laura Davies. The American took the lead at the first hole and kept the advantage until 8th when Davies brought the match to all-square. Davies surged into the lead only after wining the 15th. The score held until they played the 18th, and when it looked as if the Europeans would earn another point Inkster won the last hole with a par after a poor shot from a greenside bunker by Davies and the half-points were shared between both teams.

Things started to look dim for the Europeans after the U.S. team earned two more points from matches won by Christina Kim and rookie Vicky Hurst who defeated Sweden's Maria Hjorth and England's rookie Melissa Reid 4&2 and 2 up, respectively, and the Americans took the lead for the first time on Sunday.

An unlikely point to level the score was won for the European's by Christel Boeljon - a rookie and the first Dutch player to compete in the Solheim Cup matches. Boeljon, the shortest hitter among all players, was paired against the long-hitting american star Brittany Lincicome. Boeljon led from the early holes and closed the match with a fine birdie at the last to win 2 up.

At that point there were three matches still being played and the Europeans weren't leading any of them, with the projected scores in favour of the Americans.

Europe's highest ranked player Norway's Suzann Pettersen was playing against Michell Wie, being 1 down after 15 holes. The she delivered a spectacular display of skills birdieing three remaining holes for a 1 up victory and another point for her team.

In the other match there two rookies paired - Sweden's Caroline Hedwall and U.S. captain's pick Ryan O'Toole, the latter having a perfect 4-0-0 record set in the previous days' matches. With two holes remaining Hedwall was 2 down, but at the 17th her par was good enough to win against O'Toole's bogey to bring the score to 1 down. In the match which followed them Spain's Azahara Muñoz - another European rookie - won the 17th after a close approach to the green and a holed birdie putt to go 1 up against Angela Stanford. With that she secured at least a half point for her team.

As the Europeans needed 14.5 point to win the trophy this meant that Hedwall had to win her last hole to bring her match to an even score. The Swede hit her approach shot into a birdie distance from the flag, while her american oponnent made another unlikely error landing her second shot in the rough left of the green and then leaving her chip short of the putting surface. O'Toole conceded the hole what sparked european celebrations, as that gave them enough points to win the Solheim Cup trophy. The last match was won by the Spaniard setting the final score at 15 to 13 for the Europeans.


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