A Solheim Cup Finish For The Ages: Pettersen Makes The Ultimate Walk-Off Winning Putt
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I feel like we’ve had more “sad someone had to lose” events in golf in recent years, and you can add the 2019 Solheim Cup to the list. Team USA and Team Europe—once they actually hit their shots—put on valiant efforts under intense pressure. Everyone really should get a trophy for the show they put on.
But it was the final 45 minutes, where the outcome was in doubt and a screenwriter seemingly scripted the series of events in brilliant coordination with Golf Channel, that makes this one so unforgettable. (It replays at 11 am ET Monday.)
Beth Ann Nichols of Golfweek captured the magical day here very well, and in this paragraph summed up the stunning composure of Bronte Law and Suzann Pettersen, along with the brilliant captaining by Catriona Matthew to place them in the last to singles slots.
Everything down the stretch had to go Europe’s way. Bronte Law, an English lioness who sprinted out the tunnel and onto the first tee, walked in a birdie putt on the 16th hole and closed her match against alternate Ally McDonald on the 17th to leave the fate of the Cup in Suzann Pettersen’s hands. They are cut from the same mold, Law and Pettersen. High-octane players who feed off of moments like this, particularly in team competition.
Ron Sirak has seen has share of great moments and writes “you’d have to search far and wide to find a more dramatic finish anywhere in the history of sports.”
Suzann Pettersen was blocked out on 18, wedged out, wedged close and made the winning putt. A controversial captain’s pick, she returned from a maternity leave and announced her farewell soon after the matches, writes Alistair Tait.
Brentley Romine with the Sunday singles roundup…each match mattered.
As with all team events, the day yielded many emotion-laden images.
As for Sunday’s strategy, Michelle Wie made her TV debut and confidently questioned Juli Inkster’s decision to middle-load the USA lineup with veterans while Matthew clearly looks brilliant for backloading hers with the most fiery competitors:
Golf Central’s highlight package:
