This feeling is still there, Carlota Ciganda he explains. It always has been. Because, well…
“Yes, I mean I think the Spaniards, we are very passionate,” said Ciganda, “very heart, a lot of fight, and that’s what I tried to do.
“And you guys can see, I mean, how crazy I’m going.”
He came especially to the Solheim Cup. Oh, the Solheim Cup. A team event in a singular game. Eleven companions. But also a dozen enemies. The colors of your side. Against their own. May the best women win.
Tick. Tick. Tick.
“I mean, I love this week,” Ciganda said. “As I said, I like to play for the team, for my teammates, for everyone here. Yes, I don’t know what just happened, but I just like it. I mean, I like to beat the Americans. And then, yes, winning just for Team Europe, it’s the best feeling.
“And I think, yes, playing for something bigger than yourself, I think my mind is very focused and I enjoy this week. That’s why I play golf.”
Before last week’s Solheim, Ciganda had been a lot – a (Car)lot(a)? – for Americans. Seven straight appearances. A record of 12-11-4. Four cup wins. In 2023at home in Spain, won the point that keeps the Cup for the Euro.
Then came what happened at Bernardus Golf in the Netherlands. Last Friday afternoonsomehow scratched a par on the 18th hole, giving her and her Spanish partner Julia Lopez Ramirez half a point in their four-ball match against the Americans Nelly Korda and Lauren Coughlinand the sides finished the first day with four points apiece. On the par-4, Ciganda went right off the tee and right with his second shot, only to pitch about 10 feet and drop the ensuing putt. And a putter drop follows.
“I’m enjoying this week,” Ciganda later told Golf Channel. “I just like to play for the team, for my teammates. Anna (captain Anna Nordqvist) is a good friend of mine, so I just want to win for her. So I played with Julia, my good Spanish friend. It was amazing.
“We had a tough match against Nelly and Lauren, very consistent, but we fought hard and at least we got half a point, which I think is really important.”
On Saturday, Ciganda played once. She is Celine Boutier met americans Jennifer Kupcho and Lindy Duncan in the last four-ball game of the day, and the Euros were two-up after 14. Then the Americans won the 15th.
Then, on the 17th, Kupcho hit a 90-footer. A footer of 90 madmen. And they were related. And they were torn bound.
Tick. Tick. Tick.
And those who are on site will be able to hear Kupcho, play Ciganda, speak a little spanish. – Let’s go ! Let’s go !
Tick. Tick. Tick.
Then on the 18th, Kupcho dropped a 25-footer to win the hole and the match. Americans and Europeans were once again equal.
But on Sunday, Nordqvist put Ciganda in the penultimate group in singles play. Where to face the choice of American captain Angela Stanford.
Kupcho.
Boom.
Ciganda won the second hole. And the third. And the fourth. And the fifth. He won the match in 16, 4 and 2. It was the final score of the Europeans in a 15-13 victory.
And then, Ciganda put into words which had taken shape, and the Solheim Cup received one of its best quotes ever, and perhaps its most ruthless.
Here it is… @BrentleyGCThe question of Carlota Ciganda and the answer that will live in the history of the Solheim Cup…
“But today. I knew she had no chance. I was like, I want to kill you.”
“I was really happy to see that I was playing against Kupcho,” he said. “It’s a struggle, I’m a struggle, and I told him, ‘Look, great game.’ I mean, even yesterday what he did was amazing in 17 and 18.
“But today I knew she had no chance. I was like, I want to kill you.”
Booooom.
“So I had it very clear in my mind, and I was, like, I have to do this for the team, for Anna, for all the captains,” Ciganda continued. “I mean, it’s been an amazing week. But yeah, this week, I just love it. I think playing for something bigger than yourself is very special, and it’s been a very special group, a great team. I think this week you just make friends forever and I’m so happy for everyone on Team Europe.
“We were a team, and I think Anna did an amazing job and just very happy. I’m very proud of everyone.”
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