When Jennifer Kupcho drained two birdie bombs to flip her and Lindy Duncan’s four-ball match against Europe’s Carlota Ciganda and Celine Boutier and tie the Solheim Cup score at 8-8 on Saturday night, the dizzying celebrations that followed seemed to direct the momentum firmly to the corner of the Americans.
But on Sunday, a commanding performance by the Europeans in singles stymied the charge of the Americans Bernard Golfas Europe secured the points needed to reclaim the Cup with three games still undecided on the course.
The United States needed six points from the 12 singles matches to reach 14 total points and retain the Cup while Europe needed 6.5 points to reach 14.5 and recover. The Europeans knew that, and then some.
Sunday’s charge in Europe began with the first match of the day. Charlie Hullwho along with Europe’s other top-ranked player, Lottie Woad, came in singles with only half a point earned in four team games, he made a first statement.
Hull took the lead from the first hole onwards and never relented, dispatching Megan Khang 3 and 2 to earn her first full Cup point. The result was not given, yet. Hull became the first player to take Khang in singles. Europe’s Linn Grant was next on the board, defeating Angel Yin 4 and 3 in the third game, taking Grant to 4-0 for the week.
Behind Hull and Grant was a sea of blue on the classification, with many Europeans holding leads of 2, 3 and even 4. While the Americans fought hard, the result seemed inevitable. The few bright points for the United States: Nelly Korda, who posted a 4 and 2 victory over Mimi Rhodes, and Alison Lee, who was an MVP for the United States team during the team matches, and who reached his course at the 17th tee in singles after being 4 down through 11. After winning the 17th point with the birdie, the United States put the first point for the birdie. defeats Esther Henseleit 1 up – biggest Solheim Cup comeback since 2013.
With two American victories on the table, the score was again tied, 10-10, with the four consecutive games in favor of Europe, and six of the remaining eight.
Europe’s Nastasia Nadaud posted the next point, rolling in a birdie on the 16th green to defeat Andrea Lee 3 and 2. Nadaud’s point was quickly followed by Europe’s Nanna Koerstz Madsen, who beat Allisen Corpuz 2 and 1.
That made the score 12-10 in favor of Europe with six games remaining.
With the Americans Lauren Coughlin and Lindy Duncan holding a lead of 3 and 4 more, respectively, against Leona Maguire and Maja Stark, the two games in front of them took on great importance: the American Yealimi Noh was 2 under 16 to Julia Lopez Ramirez, although Auston Kim had reduced her deficit to 1 and Lottie Woad, at least one of the United States was to win at 15. have a chance of victory coming in the deal
It was not being. Noh fell 3 and 2 to Ramirez. The score was 13-10 to Europe.
Then Woad won the 16th to go within 2 and guarantee half a point. Meanwhile, Lauren Coughlin, who never trailed in her match and had amassed a 3-point lead over Europe’s Leona Maguire at one point, also secured a half point, going 2 with two to play. Behind her, Lindy Duncan was 3 for 16, Jennifer Kupcho 3 against Carlota Ciganda, and Rose Zhang was linked with Céline Boutier.
The job was done when Woad secured Europe’s 14th point with a win on the 17th green, which meant Ciganda, who was 3 over Jennifer Kupcho with three holes to play, had secured the half point Europe needed for victory.
Although three other games remain on the course, they have been discussed.
The Solheim Cup record is now 11-9 for the Americans, with the next edition scheduled for 2028 at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Ky.