The United States has won the Solheim Cup for the tenth time in history, beating the European team by a clear 16.5 to 11.5 in the 15th edition of this exciting competition, which took place at the American course in Des Moines, in the capital of the state of Iowa.
The European team, with Spain's Carlota Ciganda in its ranks, faced the challenge with the intention of avenging the defeat suffered in 2015 on the German field of St. Leon Rot, when the Americans pulled off an epic comeback to deny Europe its third consecutive victory after overcoming a four-point deficit in the individual matches on the final day.
The challenge, however, proved to be an obstacle course for the Europeans, who accumulated an excessive disadvantage during the first two days, when the team captained by Juli Insker proved far superior.
Not surprisingly, the North American dominance in the fourballs, both on the first and second day, partially settled with 7 to 1 in favor of the USA, drastically marked the course of this Solheim Cup 2017.
With this background, on the last day the North Americans were ahead of the Europeans by 10.5 to 5.5 with 12 individual matches remaining, which required the pupils directed by Annika Sorenstam to win nine of the twelve scheduled matches, one of which involved the Spaniard Carlota Ciganda, who measured her strength against the American Britany Lincicome.
The Navarrese player, very successful on this occasion, dominated her rival with an iron fist from the first moment, two holes ahead during the first round and, already in the second, three consecutive holes of partial victories between the 11th and the 13th that resulted in a clear and definitive 4/3.
Carlota Ciganda's point was one of five secured by Europe – Catriona Matthew, Caroline Masson, Charlie Hull and Madelene Sagstrom also won, in addition to two draws by Anna Nordqvist and Karine Icher – a good haul, but insufficient given the large deficit accumulated in the previous two days.
Special mention should also be made of the other Spanish woman present at the 2017 Solheim Cup, Marta Figueras-Dotti, serving as vice-captain and advisor to Anikka Sorenstam, captain of the European team.
The United States takes the lead on the first day by 5.5 to 2.5
The United States acquired a 5.5-2.5 advantage on the first day as a result of the absolute American dominance during the afternoon fourballs, settled by a resounding 4-0.
The American supremacy in this phase of the day allowed the players captained by Juli Inkster to turn the score around, which was 1.5 to 2.5 in favor of the Europeans after the celebration of the morning foursomes.
In a gala atmosphere, with stands seating 7,000 spectators, Cristie Kerr and Lexi Thompson opened this fifteenth edition against Mel Reid and Charley Hull. Despite the Americans' initial momentum, winning the first hole, the Europeans recovered ground on holes 4 and 5, taking the lead on the scoreboard.
From then on, a back-and-forth exchange ensued that didn't suit the home team, who remained under the control of the English, who regained a two-hole lead on the 12th and 13th holes. However, two American birdies on the 17th and 18th holes gave each team half a point, a welcome bonus for the home team.
The match between Carlota Ciganda and Caroline Masson, the closest of the foursomes, provided some very exciting moments. After a first round dominated by the Americans, with Danielle Kang and Lizette Salas winning three holes and losing one, the second round saw a European comeback, with victories on the 11th and 14th holes to start afresh. This proved to be a mirage, as Kang and Salas struck again, winning the 15th and 16th after the European bogeys. The Europeans rallied on the 17th, but both teams' pars on the 18th gave the point to the Americans.
Meanwhile, Anna Nordqvist and George Hall faced off against Paula Creamer and Austin Ernst. Although the Europeans seemed to have the upper hand, winning three holes on the front nine, the Americans gradually improved, gaining ground by winning holes 7, 9, and 12. Always trailing on the scoreboard, the Americans didn't give up, but they couldn't break through the European defense, who again took a two-hole lead on the 16th, an insurmountable gap that allowed them to finish 3-1 on the 17th.
In the final match of the morning, Karine Icher and Catriona Mathew faced Stacy Lewis and Gerina Piller. After two American bogeys on holes 3 and 4, the Europeans rallied with two victories on holes 13 and 14. Earlier, each team had won two other holes. Four holes, therefore, remained to decide the point. A bogey on the 16th by the Americans gave Europe the advantage, which they sealed on the 18th to take the lead.
The European joy, however, turned to misery during the afternoon four-ball matches, where the Americans gave them no chance whatsoever. Michele Wie and Danielle Kang defeated Madelene Sagstrom and Jodi Ewart Shadoff 3-1; Angel Yin and Lizette Salas beat Carlota Ciganda and Emily Pedersen 6-5; Brittany Lincicome and Brittany Lang overcame Florentyna Parker and Caroline Masson 3-2; and Stacy Lewis and Gerina Piller dispatched Charley Hull and Georgia Hall 2-1. The total: 4-0 for the United States, who finished the first day ahead.
The United States again outperformed Europe on day two
The American superiority was once again clearly evident on the streets and greens of Des Moines, where an enthusiastic public once again thoroughly enjoyed the performance of their pupils, who were visibly better, just as in the first round, during the fourballs.
If the day before Juli Insker's team had taken all four points in this section, on the second day the scoreboard showed, in this section, 3-1 in favor of the North Americans, thus registering a devastating 7-1 that the Europeans were unable to equalize in the foursomes.
Not surprisingly, these morning duels – in which Carlota Ciganda did not participate – ended in a draw, 2 to 2 as a result of an equality of forces distributed equally.
Cristie Kerr and Lexi Thompson, leading the charge, gave Jodi Ewart Shadoff and Caroline Masson no chance, defeating them by a resounding 5/3. The Americans won the first hole, the third… and from then on, their dominance only grew.
The duel between Paula Creamer and Austin Ernst against Mel Reid and Emily Pedersen was equally lopsided, ending with the same 5/3 score. It is true that the Europeans won the first hole, but it was nothing more than a mirage.
Fortunately, the European team capitalized on the two remaining matches. Anna Nordqvist and Georgina Hall took the initiative against Stacy Lewis and Gerina Piller, especially noticeable in the back nine after overcoming an American comeback on two consecutive holes (4 and 5). From then on, the Europeans managed their game well, playing solidly and securing a 2&1 victory.
The development of that match was almost identical to the last one of the morning between Catriona Matthew – Karine Icher against Michele Wie and Danielle Kang, who took the lead on the 3rd hole before the Europeans neutralized it on the 5th, the starting point of a solid performance that led to a 2/1 victory for Annika Sorenstam's pupils.
The 2-2 tie in the foursomes, however, had a dramatic continuation, four fourballs where the American superiority was once again overwhelming. Two birdies by Brittany Lang and Brittany Lincicome on the first two holes put the Americans ahead in the clash against Carlota Ciganda and Mel Reid, a small but, as the holes went by, incorruptible lead that the Europeans were unable to reduce despite their repeated efforts throughout the 18 holes before succumbing by 2up.
Meanwhile, Paula Creamer and Austin Ernst defeated Karine Icher and Madelene Sagstrom 2-1, while Cristie Kerr and Lexi Thompson did the same against Catriona Matthew and Georgia Hall, in this case 4-2 in two all-American clashes.
Only Anna Nordqvist and Jodi Ewart Shadoff saved European honor in a duel against Lizette Salas and Angel Yin that, this time, had no possible discussion before the Europeans won 4/2.
European and American Women's Circuit
The Solheim Cup (August 18-20)
Des Moines GCC (West Des Moines, Iowa, USA)
