The Solheim Cup again belongs to the Americans.
The U.S. team successfully finished their leftover business from a year ago, winning the cup for the first time since 2017. The final score was 15.5-12.5, the biggest gap since 2017 when the Americans won by five points.
It was Lilia Vu who earned the clinching half-point. Down by one in her match to Albane Valenzuela, Vu sent the crowd at Robert Trent Jones Golf Course in Gainesville, Va. into hysteria with an approach shot at No. 18 hit to two feet. Valenzuela left her long birdie putt short, Vu smoothly hit her ball in and got the U.S. to 14.5 points.
Vu, wrapped in an American flag, told NBC that she felt like she had not done enough to help the team this week but that Sunday was her chance to make up for it.
“On the 18th hole, in the middle of the fairway, I saw we were at 14 points and I was like, oh shoot, I better birdie this. Let me try my best,” Vu said.
U.S. captain Stacy Lewis helmed a winning strategy all week, beginning on Friday with a pair of sessions that the U.S. won 3-1. The European team fought back to tie the U.S. in both sessions on Saturday, but it left the Euros still four points down and needing a dramatic Sunday singles rally.
That did not come, with Lewis putting many of her best players all week out first. While Charley Hull dominated world No. 1 Nelly Korda 6&4 in the opening match and Georgia Hall beat Alison Lee 4&3 in match No. 3, there was enough American firepower to earn the necessary points.
Megan Khang beat Emily Pedersen 6&5 for point No. 11, and Rose Zhang (4-0 this week without ever having to play the final two holes) took down Carlota Ciganda 6&4 for the 12th point. Allisen Corpuz beat Anna Nordqvist 4&3 for the 13th point. Andrea Lee earned a half-point against Esther Henseleit.
There were then tense moments as the Americans searched for the clinching point.
Celine Boutier, three down after 11 holes, rallied in her match against Lexi Thompson, making a birdie on No. 18 to win and narrow it to 13.5-9.5. Leona Maguire, curiously only used once in the first two days despite a stellar history in this event, got the Euros to 10.5 points with a 4&3 win against Ally Ewing. Then Maja Stark made a 10-foot par putt to half her match with Lauren Coughlin, leaving the U.S. a half-point shy.
A year ago the Solheim Cup ended in a 14-14 tie so the Europeans, winners of the 2019 and 2021 competitions, retained the cup. That left a sour taste in the mouths of the Americans, who spoke openly of their desire to finish the job this time around.
The event is typically held biennially but was held back-to-back years to get away from the Ryder Cup schedule.
Required reading
(Top photo of Rose Zhang: Gregory Shamus / Getty Images)
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5768826/2024/09/15/solheim-cup-united-states-win-europe/
