Europe retains Solheim Cup in heart-pounding style. Here’s how they held off the U.S.

Carlota Ciganda was the Solheim Cup’s hometown hero.

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Caroline Hedwall began this week’s Solheim Cup as a controversial captain’s pick. Then she sat the first three sessions. She played some spirited golf in a Saturday fourball — but it was in a losing effort. When she arrived at the 13th tee 3 down on Sunday, it felt as though she’d leave the week with nothing to show for it.

But then Hedwall birdied the 13th. She birdied the 14th. She parred the 15th. And on the next two holes she buried two of the more spectacular match-play putts you’ll see.

When two mighty lashes got her to the middle of the par-5 18th in two shots, it was all but over. Hedwall didn’t even have to putt out. She’d secured a point. And that point all but secured the Solheim Cup for Europe.

Play began at the Solheim Cup Sunday with the score tied at 8 a piece. It ended the day tied as well, which means Europe retains the Cup.

We’ll have more from on the ground from James Colgan and Sean Zak later. In the meantime here are your results, your MVPs and your moment of the match.

MATCH SCORES

Friday foursomes: USA wins 4-0

Friday fourball: Europe wins 3-1

Saturday foursomes: Tied 2-2

Saturday fourball: Europe wins 3-1

Sunday singles: Tied 6-6

Megan Khang wins 1 up over Linn Grant

Leona Maguire wins 4 and 3 over Rose Zhang

Danielle Kang wins 4 and 2 over Charley Hull

Anna Nordqvist wins 2 and 1 over Jennifer Kupcho

Andrea Lee ties with Georgia Hall

Cheyenne Knight ties Gemma Dryburgh

Angel Yin wins 2 and 1 over Celine Boutier

Caroline Hedwall wins 2 Up over Ally Ewing

Lilia Vu wins 4 and 3 over Madelene Sagstrom

Maja Stark wins 2 and 1 over Allisen Corpuz

Carlota Ciganda wins 2 and 1 over Nelly Korda

Lexi Thompson wins 2 and 1 over Emily Pedersen

Europe retains Solheim Cup 14-14

Most Valuable Golfer

Every golfer serves a slightly different role on these teams, so it’s tough to pick just one. But this week it was pretty easy.

Team Europe leaned on its stars Leona Maguire and Linn Grant, who each went 3-2-0 on the week. Emily Pedersen and Maja Stark earned 2.5 points each. And they got that starring performance from Hedwall.

But there was nobody equal to Carlota Ciganda, who wasn’t just the heart and soul of the European team, but she was playing on her home turf with this being the first Solheim Cup held in her native Spain.

Ciganda was a perfect 4-0-0 on the week, the only golfer on either side who finished with an unblemished mark.

It was fitting for Ciganda to clinch the winning point for Europe by defeating Nelly Korda, perhaps the best player on either side, 2 and 1 in singles.

Turning Point

As Hedwall was making her move in her dramatic comeback from 3 Down against Ally Ewing, Ciganda was making a move of her own. But it didn’t start the way she wanted to.

Ciganda shanked a shot from the fairway on 15 and made six on the par-5, allowing Korda to tie the match for the first time since the opening hole.

She then responded by hitting both her approaches at 16 and 17 within five feet for birdies. Her approach on 16 settled inside Korda’s who had played before here and the American missed birdie effort to fall back to 1 down.

Her putt to clinch the Cup for the Europeans was just three feet.

Dylan Dethier

Dylan Dethier

Golf.com Editor

Dylan Dethier is a senior writer for GOLF Magazine/GOLF.com. The Williamstown, Mass. native joined GOLF in 2017 after two years scuffling on the mini-tours. Dethier is a graduate of Williams College, where he majored in English, and he’s the author of 18 in America, which details the year he spent as an 18-year-old living from his car and playing a round of golf in every state.

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Jack Hirsh

Golf.com Editor

Jack Hirsh is an assistant editor at GOLF. A Pennsylvania native, Jack is a 2020 graduate of Penn State University, earning degrees in broadcast journalism and political science. He was captain of his high school golf team and recently returned to the program to serve as head coach. Jack also still *tries* to remain competitive in local amateurs. Before joining GOLF, Jack spent two years working at a TV station in Bend, Oregon, primarily as a Multimedia Journalist/reporter, but also producing, anchoring and even presenting the weather. He can be reached at jack.hirsh@golf.com.

 

 

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