“They drink on Saturday, we drink on Sunday!”
That was the mantra echoing across the Group Europe bus on Sunday night after one other Solheim Cup house success, the place Anna Nordqvist overcame Group USA on the ultimate day to regain the trophy.
The competition had been delicately poised heading right into a wet sit singles session at Bernardus Golf, with the momentum seemingly with the Individuals after late drama within the Saturday fourballs noticed them pull the match again into an 8-8 tie.
Jennifer Kupcho nailed two unbelievable putts on the seventeenth and 18th gap to steal the win and spark wild celebrations from Group USA
Jennifer Kupcho had holed over 110 ft of putts over her ultimate two holes to grab victory with Lindy Duncan over Carlota Ciganda and Celine Boutier, a outcome Group USA captain Angela Stanford mentioned had “turned the tide” of their favour.
A video of the American workforce consuming beers on their bus that night ended up being a untimely celebration and a simple motivator for Group Europe, who received six of the highest eight singles matches to regain management of the competition.
Lottie Woad’s point-winning second will probably be remembered because the one which clinched the Solheim Cup, taking Europe to 14 factors with Carlota Ciganda already assured at the very least a half-point, however it was the Spaniard who closed out her win and made it official.
Boisterous scenes across the course and within the trophy presentation continued off it, with a viral social media clip of Dame Laura Davies handing out beers to the European workforce on the bus and their celebrations working lengthy into the evening.
Dame Laura Davies handed out the drinks on Group Europe’s bus after Solheim Cup victory. Photos courtesy of @SolheimCupEuro
A ultimate rating of 15-13 did not actually mirror the final-day dominance of Nordqvist’s aspect, with Group USA’s largely flat high order – Nelly Korda and Alison Lee apart – unable to observe up their jubilance of the earlier evening and put stress on Europe.
Massive position once more from fired-up Ciganda
Few embrace the Solheim Cup greater than Ciganda, who went from Europe’s first-tee supporter within the opening session to producing a number of clutch moments because the week progressed.
The veteran was Europe’s hero on Friday, the place a dramatic final-hole par gave her and Julia Lopez Ramirez a half-point that prevented Group USA main after day one, then was on the receiving finish of Kupcho’s birdie-birdie end the next day.
Ciganda gained revenged over Kupcho within the singles and closed out her eighth look in fashion, changing into simply the second participant in historical past to earn the clinching level in two completely different Solheim Cups.
Carlota Ciganda beat Jennifer Kupcho 4&2 as Group Europe closed out Solheim Cup victory, having delivered the purpose for them to retain the trophy in 2023
“I used to be actually comfortable to see that I used to be enjoying in opposition to Kupcho,” Ciganda admitted. “She’s a fighter, I am a fighter. I knew she had no probability. I used to be like, ‘I wish to kill you’, so I had it very clear in my thoughts.”
Europe’s star pairing fails to ship
Charley Hull and Woad grew to become the primary pairing ever to tandem in all 4 periods and broke a number of undesirable information throughout a disappointing first two days, regardless of enjoying higher than their scores advised.
Charley Hull and Megan Khang each requested for the Solheim Cup crowd to make some noise forward of their singles match
They have been each inside the highest 4 for European birdies revamped these periods however returned simply 0.5 factors, with a record-equalling 6&5 loss within the Saturday morning foursomes among the many three defeats.
Nordqvist was questioned for not splitting the pair on day two and got here beneath additional scrutiny for sending out Hull within the singles, a call she described as a “no-brainer” earlier than watching the 30-year-old earn Europe’s first level of the day.
Anna Nordqvist was criticised for maintaining Charley Hull and Lottie Woad paired collectively on day two, after a disappointing opening day on the Solheim Cup
Hull mentioned it was a “irritating” week that noticed her and Woad battle to gap putts, with each – till their singles victories – at risk of changing into the primary to take part in 5 periods and never have any wins.
“Being the chief of this workforce, we knew she [Hull] was going to ship,” Nordqvist mentioned. “It was blue on the board early. Lottie [Woad] has been very regular this week – it was good to see her lastly gap some putts”
Charley Hull beat Megan Khang 3&2 in the course of the singles session on the Solheim Cup
Grant joins unique membership as Europe’s MVP
Group Europe’s star efficiency got here from Linn Grant, who grew to become the primary participant to go from incomes zero factors within the earlier Solheim Cup to earn at the very least 4 factors within the subsequent.
Grant grew to become solely the ninth participant to go 4-0 or higher throughout a Solheim Cup, with three victories alongside Maja Stark adopted by a commanding 4&3 win over Angel Yin within the singles.
Maja Stark and Linn Grant react to securing some extent for Group Europe within the Saturday fourballs
The all-Swedish pairing between the shut mates was additionally seen within the 2023 version and sure once more in future Solheim Cups, with Grant overcoming surprising pre-event type – having 5 missed cuts in six begins – to complete as Europe’s main scorer.
“That could be a actually cool feeling that you’ve an individual like this in your workforce, that you realize you’ll be able to simply exit and you realize them in and out and their recreation,” Stark defined about Grant. “It felt like, for Anna, it was a no brainer to place us collectively.”
Nordqvist rewarded for captain’s picks
Europe’s captain’s picks all delivered at the very least 1.5 factors every, with Leona Maguire stepping up – in one other record-breaking show – and the opposite three rookies contributing to push Nordqvist’s aspect to the goal required.
Group Europe captain Anna Nordqvist reacts to profitable the Solheim Cup and regaining the trophy on house soil
Maguire received each foursomes periods alongside Esther Henseleit to change into the quickest participant to succeed in 10 match wins, taking simply 14 matches and one quicker than the earlier file.
She briefly had the best profitable proportion in Solheim Cup historical past till her loss alongside Celine Boutier within the fourballs, whereas Ramirez responded to being disregarded all through Saturday to complete unbeaten from her two matches.
“I mentioned from the start her picks have been actually good,” Stanford insisted, having seen her three picks ship 5 factors for Group USA. “She picked properly as a result of this golf course wanted high-ball hitters and that is what she did.”
Rhodes shines in ‘surprising’ partnership
Had the ultimate spherical of the AIG Girls’s Open performed out in a different way final month, Rhodes would doubtless not have teed it up within the Netherlands. As an alternative, she leaves this week as a powerful Group Europe choices for a lot of Solheim Cups forward.
Mimi Rhodes made a profitable begin to her Solheim Cup profession
Henseleit ending runner-up at Royal Lytham – the ultimate qualifying occasion – noticed her overtake Chiara Tamburlini within the European factors checklist, securing Nanna Koerstz Madsen qualification through the world rankings and liberating up an additional captain’s decide.
Rhodes took full benefit and was an prompt hit, revelling within the first-tee highlight and forming a profitable partnership in each foursomes and foursomes with Nastasia Nadaud – the primary rookie pairing to win two matches collectively at a Solheim Cup.
Nastasia Nadaud had loved a gradual rookie season on the LPGA Tour earlier than Solheim Cup success
“Lots of people questioned why would you ship out two rookies, however I mentioned why not?!” Nordqvist defined. “And so they delivered. I by no means felt like they have been rookies.”
Nadaud confirms standing as European star
Solely Grant ended the week with extra factors for Group Europe than Nadaud, who was barely contained in the world’s high 150 a 12 months in the past however continued her meteoric rise with a Solheim Cup debut to recollect.
A powerful friendship off the course with Rhodes fuelled an equally spectacular dynamic on it, with their 4&3 foursomes win on Saturday morning matching the largest-winning margin by a rookie pair.
Her efficiency that morning – the place she was shocked to have even been chosen – led to her being despatched again out with Maguire that day, whereas her 3&2 singles win over Andrea Lee got here at a time the place Group USA threatened to wrestle again some management.
French rookie Nastasia Nadaud claimed an important level for Europe as she defeated Andrea Lee 3&2
“Getting three factors for Europe is simply completely loopy – acquired no phrases for that,” mentioned Nadaud, who will now have her sights set on representing Europe once more in years to return. “All the pieces simply occurred so quick!”
A brilliant future forward for Group Europe
It might be little shock to see the vast majority of Nordqvist’s profitable dozen again collectively sooner or later to attempt to win on away soil, given seven of them will nonetheless be aged beneath 30 for the 2028 version in Virginia.
Group Europe began dancing and celebrating after their Solheim Cup win at Bernardus Golf within the Netherlands
4 rookies making a direct affect solely highlighted the power and depth of Europe’s choices, given the house victory got here with out current Solheim Cup regulars Georgia Corridor, Emily Kristine Pedersen and Madelene Sagstrom.
It was additionally the primary Solheim Cup since 2007 with out Nordqvist being concerned as a participant, having introduced her retirement mid-season and ruling herself out of a captain’s decide, however may the Swede be again once more sooner or later?
“You are by no means going to say by no means,” Nordqvist mentioned of their victory press convention, when requested if she would contemplate taking over captaincy once more in 2028. “I do not know what my future holds.”
When Europe final received outright on house soil in 2019, Catriona Matthew returned as captain once more to cause them to away glory within the following version. Whether or not it is Nordqvist on the wheel or not in Virginia, that would be the subsequent goal.
What’s subsequent?
The following version of the Solheim Cup will probably be in 2028 and happen at Valhalla Golf Membership in Kentucky from September 8-10 that 12 months. Get newest Sky Sports activities offers or stream with no contract on NOW.
