USA hold off European fightback to win Solheim Cup for first time since 2017

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Lilia Vu secured the Solheim Cup for the USA on Sunday in Gainesville, Virginia, when she clinched half a point in her match against Europe’s Albane Valenzuela that took the hosts to the 14.5 target they needed to regain the trophy.
The hosts needed 4.5 points from the 12 singles matches and wins for Megan Khang, Rose Zhang, Allisen Corpuz and a half-point each from Andrea Lee and Lauren Coughlin set the stage for Vu, who sealed it with just two other matches on the course.
Vu trailed Valenzuela with two holes to play as Europe mounted a fierce charge on the final day but the American capped her round with a pair of birdies, including at the last where she tapped in after a brilliant approach shot.
It marked the Americans’ first win in the biennial match-play competition since 2017 and denied Europe from lifting the Solheim Cup trophy for an unprecedented fourth consecutive time.
The USA lead the overall Solheim Cup series 11-7-1, with the one tie coming last year in Spain.
More to follow…
On the Sunday singles fightback…
“We gave them a run for their money. I don’t think anyone expected us to be here at 2.30pm and still have a chance. It’s hard to believe we actually had a chance. That poor start gave them such a head start. It’s always exciting on a Sunday. There were possibilities out there and several times we thought we could get it done but it came down to a couple of matches.”
On her opposite number…
“I am happy for Stacy Lewis winning at home but we’ll come back very hungry.”
On the captaincy…
“I’ve truly enjoyed it, win or lose. It’s fun to win, a little bit more painful to lose. At the end of the day we’ve had a lot of small victories within our team this week, a lot of fun and moments I will cherish forever.”
On the event…
“Solheim’s are the best.”
The cup is staying in the States 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/MV0LTFgnAg
On the nerves at the end of the singles…
“This is so cool. It’s so stressful to watch,  I’m so proud of the players. It’s amazing how these things come down to half a point here and there. Fortunately this time we were on the right side of [the result] it really could have gone either way.” 
On Lilia Vu’s half…
“I was just hoping and praying. Lilia’s finish was unbelievable but what you expect from one of the best players in the world?”
Jennifer Kupcho beats Linn Grant 2&1, and…
Madelene Sagstrom beat Sarah Schmelzel 1UP
So the final score ends: USA 15.5 Europe 12.5
“I felt like I didn’t do my part this week and wanted to get something done. I said to my caddie on 16 I felt like I haven’t done anything for this team. On 16 I was in the back bunker and thought oh no, I ended up making up and down from the bunker and somehow birdied 17 and got it done on 18 to get the half point. I knew [how important the match was] on the 18th hole, I thought oh shoot, I’d better birdie this, let me try my best.”
From Vu to win the trophy for the hosts. 
For the first time since 2017! 
The moment Lilia Vu and Team USA clinched the 2024 Solheim Cup 🇺🇸👏 pic.twitter.com/EORoG3Pnml
She hits a wedge to within a couple of feet. She’s one down against Europe’s Valenzuela, who has a 25-footer uphill for a birdie and the match. 
It’s a good putt, right on line, but ran out of juice in the last few feet. 
Vu now has a tiddler for the hole and the half to win the match for the USA. 
Kupcho is now 1up against Grant in the last game. 
The USA only need half a point for the win…
Leona Maguire wrapped up a 4&3 win over Ally Ewing. 
Impressive from the Irishwoman who, remember, had sat out the previous three sessions. 
She gave her putt a chance, but it’s too much…and runs it well by…oh no. 
Coughlin now has a putt for the match and to earn USA the point they need for the victory…
It’s short but is conceded. 
Now, Stark has a lengthy par putt to tie the match and prevent, for now at least, USA from winning. 
Can she do it? 
YES. SHE. CAN! 
She earns the tie and Europe are, just, still alive…
Coughlin vs Stark match halved
Boutier birdied five of the last seven holes today. 
As they say in golf (at least if you’re an American…) CLUTCH.
The European is tied with Coughlin who is also on the fairway. Both find the dancefloor, but it is the American who will be feeling the moves more as she’s got the shorter putt for the win. 
Drain this left-right break and it will guarantee a point for the hosts. It drifts leftside of the hole and now Boutier has a putt for a MUCH-NEEDED point (again, caps lock more than justified) for Europe. 
She was three down through 11, this would be a remarkable comeback. 
It’s a five-footer and she drains the putt! 
EUROPE ARE STILL ALIVE! 
Boutier beats Thompson 1up
Team USA only need one more point to win, but Team Europe are hanging on in there! 😲 pic.twitter.com/WpfABKb6bY
For the win…
Lexi Thompson has rough the rough on the right, it could be a jumper…she plays a fine shot to the left of the hole, using the slope to come back towards the pin. 
Boutier is on the fairway, and she goes straight at it, the ball finishing six-feet from the hole. Great shot and that’s a slight advantage for Europe. 
BIG PUTTS coming up (so big, use of caps lock is more than justified..). 
Her putt is a good one, but still leaves her with about three-foot to the hole. 
Now it’s Henseleit to go, drain this and the match and a point go Europe’s way…she leaves it short and she looks anguished. 
She makes par and Andrea Lee now has a putt for the half. She makes it and it’s half a point to both side. 
That’s the first half of the week!  
Europe lead in two, the other five are tied…
If it stays that way USA win. 
To the last finds the dancefloor but she’ll have a long (as in different postcode) putt for the birdie. 
Henseleit has 110 to the hole, there’s a long chat with her caddy over where she should pitch the ball, she being told to pitch it 97 yards…let’s see how it goes…
And it goes…well, it pitch short of the flag before spinning back slightly, but her ball is closer than Andrea Lee’s. 
She gets down in two for par. 
Now Boutier has a putt for the hole, it’s good but not good enough, so that match goes down the 18th…
She misses it but the American has to hole a lenghty putt to stay at 1down…she misses and Europe have a 2up lead with three to play. 
Europe desperately need that point…
They’re now on the 17th and both have found the green in two. But it’s advantage to Boutier, whose ball is a good 20 feet-closer to the hole. 
She tries to lag it but leaves herself at least another 18-foot for the par. It’s still her to go AND SHE DRAINS IT. She had to do that though Andrea Lee still has a putt for the hole and to guarantee the USA half a point. 
The American has about 15-feet to the hole, can she make it? No, she cannot! And the putt is not conceded
She now has a two-footer for the halve with just the one hole to go. Lee makes no mistake and it’s tied going down the last. 
To be USA 15 Europe 13. 
But all the matches out there are tight…anything can happen. 
Henseleit has just been pegged back by Andrea Lee. So that crucial match is tied. 
It’s a been a fine fightback and as I type that Sagstrom takes the lead over Schmelzel. 
Now of the seven matches still out on the course Europe are ahead in four and three are tied…
That would make it USA 14.5 – Europe 13.5
Of the seven matches out there Europe are ahead in four, level in two and down in one…
And she’s now level with Kupcho. 
Not only that but Valenzuela has found something with her putter and she’ drains one from downtown to go one up against Vu.
If things stay as they stand then it will finish…
Rose Zhang won 28 holes while losing only eight this week. 
Are very tight, the biggest lead is by two. 
This one is thanks to Corpuz beating Nordqvist 4&3, the Swede, bar the hole out at the fifth. 
But it’s a birdie for Lauren Coughlin at 12, and suddenly the European’s three-hole lead is whittled down to one.
…for any hope Europe have of pulling this rabbit out of the hat.
The German has just doubled her lead against the American to 2up, through 13. 
But it doesn’t look like it at the moment. 
The Spaniard has just been beaten 6&4 by Zhang, so it’s now 12-8 to the USA, they need 2.5 points for the win. 
So Europe are up in four of the matches still out on the course, good, but not good enough for the win. 
On the big win over Korda…
“I knew I had to play unbelievable to beat Nelly, she’s a great player and I played my heart out. I shot seven under through – I don’t know how many holes I played. I did what I had to do and it was a pretty cool moment.”
On whether it will provide a much-needed morale boost for Europe…
“Just go out there and anything is possible. I just love playing under pressure – that’s why I think I play well in the majors. Big events, big crowds on hard courses. It’s what I love doing.”
As Georgia Hall, who was in control throughout, beats Alison Lee 4&3. 
Through nine against Ally Ewing. 
But then Henseleit then misses a par putt at the par-five 14th to see her lead against Andrea Lee halved to one.
She’s looking good for a point, but it’s a struggle to see where the eight Europe need for the win are going to come from.
As I type that Stark goes 3up through 10 against Coughlin, who is unbeaten this week. 
They’re mostly more than two-hole advantages…
BUT as I type that Esther Henseleit wins her fourth hole in a row to turn a two-hole deficit into a two-hole advantage. 
Esther Henseleit 2up vs Andrea Lee (11)
But no sooner had she helped Europe get to within three of the hosts than the USA added to their 10 thanks to Khang’s demolition job on Pedersen. She beat the Dane 6&5 to make it 11-7.
Just was the doctor ordered. It’s a morale-boosting win, but the board is mostly red at the moment so it may well not dish up enough of a morale-boost to turn this tide. 
As Schmelzel chips in from the bunker to tie the match against Sagstrom, that was on to the few bits of blue on the board…
Give carries the water the takes the slope to finish five-foot within the pin. Meanwhile, Korda is forced to lay up after a poor drive. This should be game, set, and match for Europe…
Though, as I type Korda’s third is stiffed to two feet.
(That’s the term for the hottest temperature that conventional physics can predict, which is roughly 1.416808×1032 Kelvin (K), as if you didn’t know…). 
She’s now 5up over Korda (through 13) thanks to draining a 35-footer. It’s dormy-five in that match, one that was predicted to be tight, and Europe are looking very good for one of the eight points they need for the unlikely win. 
…of the previous hole. She drains a right-to-left breaker putting pressure on Alison Lee who misses her putt on the right. So that’s back to: Hall 4up vs Lee (11)
The Briton has played like a dream so far but she misses a knee-knocker of a five-footer to give Allison Lee a glimmer of hope with eight holes to go. 
Hall 3up vs Lee (10)
When Charley Hull putts like this she is nigh on unstoppable. The Englishwoman has an empty course in front of her and at four-up after 11 holes does not give the first hoot that it happens to be Nelly Korda world No 1 who is in her path to recording what would be a morale-boosting point for Europe. 
However, Korda has come back from deficits in the Sunday singles before. She was three down against Caroline Hedwall at Gleneagles in 2019 and ended up winning and two years later in Toledo was two down to Georgia Hall before prevailing on the last. This is not yet done for Hull.
Stark is now 3up over Coughlin (who is unbeaten this week) and Maguire is 1up over Ewing. 
But the overall tale is…
Her putter has been red-hot today and the flat-stick again sees her win a hole against the world No.1. Korda’s birdie putt at 11 slides by while Hull’s drops down, away from view. 
Hull 4up vs Korda (11). 
Said it before, and will doubtless say it again, Hull needs to win that to get it back to 10-7 (if only momentarily) and to prove that by taking down the world No.1 that Europe are still well in this…
She is down by three against Khang (through 9) and has followed up an out and out shank at the ninth with a drive into the water at the drivable par-four 10th. 
As she chips to 10-feet at the 10th, she misses her birdie putt and it stays at Hull 3up. 
Europe are up in three and down in two. 
While Hull finds the front left bunker on the drivable par-four. Hull’s still 3up. 
You suspect if Europe are to have any chance they need Hull to take down the world No.1…
Just been out on the course and, despite the heroics of Charley Hull and Georgia Hall in their respective matches, I’m sorry to report that the vibe of the home crowd is so far remaining positive. Amazing atmosphere out there – it is one big party. Not a shirtless caddie in sight. They don’t have to take their clothes off to have a good time.
She’s not hit a shot since Friday but she’s now 1up through one. 
Leona Maguire 1up vs Ally Ewing (1)
As Jennifer Kupcho’s clash against Linn Grant walks off the first tee. Europe’s Grant finds the trees on the left, while her American opponent finds the fairway. 
She drains a downhill breaker at the eighth. Korda now must sink a four-footer to tie the hole, AND SHE MISSES! 
She’s been on the defensive since the first and she now three down through eight. 
Hull 3up vs Korda (8)
And there is now more red than blue on the board. 
The USA lead in five and Europe in three, with two matches tied. 
Still early days, I know, but there is more blue than red on the board at the moment and part of that is down to Hull going 2up through seven against the world No.1. Korda misses the green with just a nine-iron and shortsides herself. That means Hull has the luxury of  a two-putt for the win. 
Hull 2up vs Korda (7)
Another win for @HullCharley 🇪🇺She’s 2-Up over @NellyKorda at @TheSolheimCup pic.twitter.com/km1RMhJsZE
And that’s exactly what happens as she HOLES HER APPRAOCH AT THE FIFTH! 
She hits her third at the par-five into the hole – one bounce then in! The USA have holed a few approaches and now Europe are getting in on the act…can that act as a galvanising force? 
Happy to report the caddy kept his top on…
Nordqvist is now 1down against her American opponent. 
ANNA NORDQVIST WITH THE HOLE OUT FROM THE FAIRWAY! 🇪🇺 pic.twitter.com/FqIvBrgc1L
Ciganda was 1up after the first but is now 1down through three. That’s down to being unable to get up and down from the rough 10 yards from the green. Topsy-Turvy. 
That’s thanks to the American missing a breaking, downhill 15-footer at the sixth, she found the bunker and was unable to get up and down. This marquee match is matching the hype so far. 
So Europe are up in four now…
As Celine Boutier goes 1up against Lexi Thompson after one. 
I make it that Europe are up in three, down in two, and tied in two. 
Are on the first tee, Europe’s Stark finds the left rough as does the American Coughlin’s drive. 
Just four matches left to get under way. 
She birdies the fifth to get back to parity in the marquee match. 
She’s gone 3up against Allisen Lee through four. Another fine putt for birdie means she’s currently bossing the third match. 
I feel able to write that because Henseleit has just gone 1up over Andrea Lee at the first. 
So that means Europe are up in four and down in two of the six matches through the first. 
She drains a 25-footer at the third to put the pressure on Allisen Lee who need to hole a 10 footer to stay at 2down…the American does just that and it stays Hall 2up through 3. 
Europe are up in three and down in two. 
As Zhang bogeys the first. 
Is the next match and both get their drives away well. 
Means it doesn’t matter what you score, only in relation to your opponent does the score count. 
And that’s why a bogey at the first doesn’t matter for Nordquist who fails to get up and down from rough at the first green, as her opponent Corpuz also fails to get up and down from the bunker, so the hole is halved with two fives. 
And down in one. 
Now it’s Carlota Ciganda up against Rose Zhang on the first tee. 
Spain’s Ciganda’s drive finds the left rough, where many of her team-mates have ended up, while Zhang’s opening shot finds the fairway on the left. 
To win the third. She misses but its conceded and Hull has a seven-footer putt to stay one up. She drains it and it’s still advantage Europe in the mouth-watering match. 
Hull 1up through three vs Korda 
And she has every reason to as she’s now two-up through two against Pedersen. 
Zhang 2up through two vs Pedersen 
Are on the first tee, both find the fairway. 
Up on the first green Alison Lee misses a 12-footer for the half. 
Hall 1up through one vs Lee
She drains the birdie putt at the second while Korda misses hers. 
Hull 1up through two vs Korda
Against Pedersen, who missed her birdie putt. 
First (bit of tiny) blood to the USA. 
Meanwhile, both Hull and Korda send their approaches to the second to within six feet. 
Hall goes first for Europe and finds the first cut of rough (a popular spot for the Europeans so far). Lee then sends her drive also to the first cup, about 10 yards further forward. 
Pedersen, meanwhile, does well to also find the dancefloor. Both will have birdie opportunities at the first. 
Hull from the bunker and Korda from the greenside rough and the first hole is halved. 
Denmark’s Pedersen finds the left rough on this dogleg. Khang meanwhile finds the fairway…
It’s quite raucous on the first tee…
Hull goes first, 168 yard to the pin and she pushes it to the right, finding the front-right bunker. 
It looks as though Korda does not have a clear line of sight to the hole. She’s actually nearer the adjacent fairway than she is to the first. I spoke too soon, there is a slight opening for a low punch through the trees, can she pull it off? She catches it too well and finds the rough to the right of the green…
And finds first cut of rough. That was a confident-looking swing. 
Korda follows up and is well left. It’s in the trees and, very early days as in the sun is yet to rise, but early advantage Europe. That drive was further left than the Soviet Union…
Should be a thriller. 
Are on the first tee, and the opening singles battle is moments away from starting. 
Europe need Hull to somehow take down the world No.1. Hull is world No.12….
The traditionalists would have hated it and no doubt the European team were not impressed, but the US caddies could not resist.
When Alison Lee holed out from the fairway on the second hole in the fourballs at the Solheim Cup, the wild celebrations were marked by Shota Takada taking off his bib and his shirt and performing a bare-skinned hug with Jack Fulghum, Megan Khang’s bagman, who had also disrobed in the excitement.
SHIRTS OFF FOR ALISON LEE’S HOLE OUT FROM THE FAIRWAY 😤💯 pic.twitter.com/VDmLUq8xR6
More from James Corrigan on one of the many talking points heading into the final day. 
READ: Two US caddies take tops off at Solheim Cup
Which matchup are you most looking forward to in the Solheim Cup singles? 💭 pic.twitter.com/yNJIIG65Fz
But the Solheim Cup has it’s very own jaw-dropping, did-it-really-happen comeback.
In 2015, in Germany, Europe held a 10-6 lead going into the singles, only to fall to an 8½-3½ defeat in on the final day to gift the USA a 14½-13½ overall win.
Take nothing for granted. 
…won the Solheim Cup having been behind going into the singles…
Gulp…
“It’s a monumental task .” That’s Catriona Matthew’s summary what what Europe face in today’s singles, and, as a pithy, accurate overview it’s pretty spot on.
The USA head into today’s final day with a 10-6 lead, knowing they only need to win four and a half points for victory.
That scoreline doubtless takes your mind to a certain Miracle of Medinah, and, as with that remarkable Ryder Cup comeback in 2012, Europe gave themselves a chance by winning the final two points on Saturday to keep their slim chances of retaining the Solheim Cup alive.
And, it won’t shock you to learn, that the visitors are feeling confident they can can create more comeback victory today.
“We have a chance, the Miracle of Medinah is coming,” said Spain’s Carlota Ciganda.
That optimism was echoed by the captain, Suzann Pettersen who said: “Medinah…We’ve given ourselves a chance. As long as there’s hope, theses girls will fight.
“10-6? It’s absolutely doable. We just have to see if we can recharge, wake up fresh and on any given day these girls can take each other down.
“It will be a miracle, but we’ve seen it before.”
Petersen has loaded the top of the singles with her best players, knowing there needs to be blue on the board early on to give the USA something to think about.
“We have to go by form because if we don’t get enough points in the first six matches its game over anyway.”
While not saying the game is over, USA captain Stacy Lewis is feeling confident.
Asked how close her team were to victory, she said: “We’re almost done.”
Stay here for all the action from Virginia, with Nelly Korda vs Charley Hull, the mouth-watering first match, set to get under way at 1.50pm.
Can Europe create the latest golfing miracle? We’re about to find out.