The United States retained the Solheim Cup with a 16½–11½ victory over Europe at Des Moines Golf and Country Club in Iowa.
The hosts held a five-point lead going into Sunday and only needed to earn three and a half points from the 12 singles matches, whereas Europe needed nine, but the sides shared the singles matches equally – 6-6.
Europe came out fighting and Anna Nordqvist went four-up after four holes in the top match, but the world number two Lexi Thompson rallied and was seven-under for eight holes from the 10th.Thompson made two eagles at the 11th and 13th, and then birdied the 16th to take a one-up lead heading into the last, but Nordqvist, who had won all three of her matches, fired a superb 8-iron into the final green for a conceded birdie putt to halve the match.
There was a European point from the evergreen Catriona Matthew, who, just days before her 48th birthday, defeated Stacy Lewis 1up to make it six wins, two losses and one half from her nine career singles matches.
She said later: “This is going to be my last one playing. I was 3-down through 11 and said to myself ‘This is going to be your last match, so give it your all’, and I managed to play all 18, and just squeak a win, so I enjoyed the moment today, but I think it’s time for some younger players to take over.”
There was another point for the Europeans when Caroline Masson secured a 4&2 win over Michelle Wie, but then the momentum swung in America’s favour.
Cristie Kerr continued her superb form during the week with a 2&1 triumph over Melissa Reid, who lost three of her four matches, while Paula Creamer posted a 1up victory over Georgia Hall, who missed a five-foot putt on the 18th hole that would have halved the match. Hall was the only European to play all five sessions, and came away with two wins and three defeats.
“She’s a rookie, she played all five matches this week and she played awesome,” Creamer said of Hall. “I knew that she was going to be a fighter. I see a lot of me in her, just that grinder attitude, doesn’t matter where the game is at. It’s an unfortunate finish for her because she really did play well. We deserve to halve that match, I truly believe that.”
Angel Yin halved her match against Karine Icher to reach 13½ points, effectively sealing the victory, with at least a half point already guaranteed from Lizette Salas.
Jodi Ewart Shadoff won the 17th to keep the match alive, but after her birdie putt on the last slipped past the hole, Salas holed a par putt from five feet to get the winning point for the US team, taking the score to 14½.
Salas said: “This is what I work for all year, and today’s probably the best golf I’ve played all year, and to do that in front of my home crowd and to wear the red, white and blue is such an honour. The fact that I made the last putt to secure it is undescribable. I’m still shaking, and just glad I got it done for Team USA.”
With the match over as a contest, Charley Hull, who sat out Saturday’s play with a wrist injury, played through the pain to beat Brittany Lang on the 18th, while Carlota Ciganda wrapped up a 4&3 win over Brittany Lincicome. Madelene Sagstrom then earned her first point for the European team with a 3&2 victory over fellow Solheim Cup rookie Austin Ernst.
There were also two more points for the United States when Gerina Piller earned a 4&2 victory over Florentyna Parker and Danielle Kang defeated Emily Kristine Pedersen by 3&1.
Juli Inkster, who became the second United States captain to achieve two victories, after Judy Rankin in 1996 and 1998, said afterwards: “It’s amazing. I can’t believe we’ve just won. I’m glad we had a lead, because Europe came out firing today, and I knew they would. “I really haven’t been nervous all week but today I was a little bit nervous. But they believed in each other. They played for the person behind them and in front of them, and they played some amazing golf.”
After making it 10 wins for the United States from 15 contests, Inkster congratulated Annika Sorenstam and her team for an amazing match in Des Moines. Sorenstam said: “We just got outplayed, there’s no doubt about it. I’m so proud how hard they fought. And it’s not easy coming out here on a Sunday with the team so far behind, but I’m proud of them. They were out there fighting every single match, every single point. What can I say? Just congratulate the USA, because they played some awesome golf.
“Sometimes it’s not always about the results. I must say that this has been a lot about the journey. I’ve learned a lot over the last 18 months. It’s been a pleasure to represent the European Tour. I’m so proud of these young girls, and to get to know them.”
When asked if she would like to continue as captain, Sorenstam replied: “I want to give someone else the chance to do it. It’s time to move the torch to someone else and we have some great candidates.”
That ‘someone else’ looks like Scotland’s Catriona Matthew, who would be a popular choice for the matches which are to be held on her home soil at Gleneagles in 2019.
2017 SOLHEIM CUP RESULTS
DAY ONE – FRIDAY 18TH AUGUST
Foursomes Results
Melissa Reid & Charley Hull (EUR) halved with Cristie Kerr & Lexi Thompson (USA)
Danielle Kang & Lizette Salas (USA) bt Carlota Ciganda & Caroline Masson (EUR) 1up
Georgia Hall & Anna Nordqvist (EUR) bt Paula Creamer & Austin Ernst (USA) 3&1
Karine Icher and Catriona Matthew (EUR) bt Stacy Lewis & Gerina Piller (USA) 1 up
USA 1½ Europe 2½
Four Ball Results
Michelle Wie & Danielle Kang (USA) bt Madelene Sagstrom & Jodi Ewart Shadoff (EUR) 3&1
Angel Yin & Lizette Salas (USA) bt Carlota Ciganda & Emily Pedersen (EUR) 6&5
Brittany Lincicome & Brittany Lang (USA) bt Florentyna Parker & Caroline Masson (EUR) 3&2
Stacy Lewis & Gerina Piller (USA) bt Charley Hull & Georgia Hall (EUR) 2&1
USA 4 Europe 0
DAY TWO – SATURDAY 19TH AUGUST
Foursomes Results:
Cristie Kerr & Lexi Thompson (USA) bt Jodi Ewart Shadoff & Caroline Masson (EUR) 5&3
Paula Creamer & Austin Ernst (USA) bt Mel Reid & Emily Pedersen (EUR) 5&3
Anna Nordqvist & Georgia Hall (EUR) bt Stacy Lewis & Gerina Piller (USA) 2&1
Catriona Matthew & Karine Icher (EUR) by Michelle Wie & Danielle Kang (USA) 2&1
USA 2 Europe 2
Four Ball Results:
Brittany Lang & Brittany Lincicome (USA) bt Mel Reid & Carlota Ciganda (EUR) 2 up
Anna Nordqvist & Jodi Ewart Shadoff (EUR) bt Lizette Salas & Angel Yin (USA) 4&2
Paula Creamer & Austin Ernst (USA) bt Karine Icher & Madelene Sagstrom (EUR) 2&1
Cristie Kerr & Lexi Thompson (USA) bt Catriona Matthew and Georgia Hall (EUR) 4&2
USA 3 Europe 1
DAY THREE – SUNDAY 20TH AUGUST
Sunday Singles Results:
Anna Nordqvist (EUR) halved with Lexi Thompson (USA)
Paula Creamer (USA) bt Georgia Hall (EUR) 1 up
Cristie Kerr (USA) bt Mel Reid (EUR) 2&1
Catriona Matthew (EUR) bt Stacy Lewis (USA) 1 up
Karine Icher (EUR) halved with Angel Yin (USA)
Caroline Masson (EUR) bt Michelle Wie (USA) 4&2
Lizette Salas (USA) bt Jodi Ewart Shadoff (EUR) 1 up
Charley Hull (EUR) bt Brittany Lang (USA) 1 up
Carlota Ciganda (EUR) bt Brittany Lincicome (USA) 4&3
Gerina Piller (USA) bt Florentyna Parker (EUR) 4&2
Madelene Sagstrom (EUR) bt Austin Ernst (USA) 3&2
Danielle Kang (USA) bt Emily Pedersen (EUR) 3&1
USA 6 Europe 6
OVERALL RESULT: USA 16 ½ EUROPE 11 ½