The Solheim Cup is once again in the hands of the Americans.
The US team successfully completed the remaining business from a year ago and won the cup for the first time since 2017. The final score was 15.5-12.5, the largest difference since 2017, when the Americans won by five points.
It was Lilia Vu who earned the decisive half-point. Trailing Albane Valenzuela by one in her match, Vu sent the crowd at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Course in Gainesville, Virginia, into hysterics with an approach shot on No. 18 that was driven to two feet. Valenzuela left her long birdie putt short, Vu driving her ball smoothly to bring the U.S. to 14.5 points.
Vu, wrapped in an American flag, told NBC she felt like she didn’t do enough to help the team this week, but that she had a chance to make up for that on Sunday.
“On the 18th hole, in the middle of the fairway, I saw we were up 14 and I thought, oh come on, I’ve got to make a birdie out of this. Let me do my best,” Vu said.
US captain Stacy Lewis led a winning strategy all week, starting on Friday with a pair of sessions that the US won 3-1. The European team fought back to draw the US in both sessions on Saturday, but still left the European Championship four points behind and needed a dramatic Sunday singles rally.
That didn’t happen, as Lewis put many of her best players on the court first all week. With Charley Hull dominating world number one Nelly Korda 6-4 in the opening match and Georgia Hall beating Alison Lee 4-3 in match no. 3, there was enough American firepower to earn the necessary points.
Megan Khang defeated Emily Pedersen 6-5 for point #11, and Rose Zhang (4-0 this week without ever having to play the last two holes) defeated Carlota Ciganda 6-4 for the 12th point. Allisen Corpuz defeated Anna Nordqvist 4-3 for the 13th point. Andrea Lee earned a half point against Esther Henseleit.
Tense moments arose as the Americans searched for the decisive moment.
Celine Boutier, three holes behind after 11 holes, recovered in her match against Lexi Thompson, birdied No. 18 to win and narrow the score to 13.5-9.5. Leona Maguire, oddly enough a one-time starter in the first two days despite a stellar history in this event, lifted the Euros to 10.5 points with a 4-3 win over Ally Ewing. Then Maja Stark made a 10-foot par putt at the halfway point of her match with Lauren Coughlin, leaving the US halfway down.
A year ago, the Solheim Cup ended in a 14-14 tie, so the Europeans, winners of the 2019 and 2021 competitions, retained the trophy. That left a sour taste in the mouths of the Americans, who spoke openly about their desire to finish the job this time.
The event is normally held biennially, but was held back-to-back years to break away from the Ryder Cup schedule.
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(Top photo of Rose Zhang: Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
