The United States held off a determined singles challenge by Europe to capture a third straight Solheim Cup. However, for much of the afternoon it appeared that the European side might pull off a shock victory to rival that of their victory at Dalmahoy in the 2nd Solheim Cup match between the two sides.
History has told us that the Americans are a formidable force in singles competition and locked together at eight points each, the American team quickly took control with Angela Stanford crushed Britain’s Becky Brewerton by a 5&4 margin to draw first blood in the singles, before Paula Creamer defeated Norwegian Suzann Pettersen 3&2.
Michelle Wie’s inclusion as a wild-card pick by captain Beth Daniels had raised several eyebrows and many had questioned her credentials as a deserving player. However, throughout the fourballs and foursomes matches Wie had vindicated Daniels’ faith in the young rookie and Wie continued her blistering form in the singles to defeat veteran Helen Alfredsson 1 up. The victory took Wie’s Solheim Cup record to 3-0-1 which was the best of any of the American side.
Wie had quickly opened up a three-hole margin on Alfreddson before the Swede fought back to level on the 11th hole. From thereonin it was a see-saw battle, with the young Wie finally closing her opponent out on the final green with a two-putt birdie.
However, back down the course the Europeans had picked up the bit and were ahead or tied in enough matches to see them lift the trophy should the scores have remained. Britain’s Catriona Matthew, the current Women’s British Open winner posted Europe’s first point of the day when she defeated Kristy McPherson 3&2 and it looked likely that veteran player Laura Davis would also post a full point to the European team. However, Davis let slip a three hole lead with eight to play to allow Brittany Lang to halve the match.
It was all starting to go wrong for the European team and Brittany Lincicome defeated Sophie Gustafson 3&2, while 49-year old Juli Inkster – the second pick of Beth Daniels – fought back from three down to half her match with France’s Gwladys Nocera. For Juli Inkster it was a U.S.-record 18 career Solheim Cup points and she lowered the flag at the closing ceremony and said this was her final Solheim Cup appearance.
The winning putt came courtesy of Morgan Pressel in the penultimate match. Pressel had to dig deep to see off a spirited challenge from Swede Anna Nordqvist but held enough in reserve to defeat her opponent 3&2 to seal the win for the United States.
She was followed in by the effervescent Christina Kim who danced and whooped her way to a two-hole win over Spaniard Tania Elosegui. Half points came courtesy of Natalie Gublis and Cristie Kerr, while Diana Luna won her match against Nicole Castrale 3&2. For Castrale, it was a Solheim Cup to forget – the player failed to earn anything towards her team’s final tally of sixteen points.
But the weekend belonged to the United States, and in particular to Michelle Wie who must now surely have silenced the doubters.
