Voice of Commonwealth

EUROPE WINS THE SOLHEIM CUP, WOMEN’S GOLF WINS IN TOLEDO

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The sights were familiar almost like Déjà vu and it was well-remembered by every golf fan from Gleaneagles two years ago: a victorious Captain Catriona Matthew hoisted aloft by her beloved Team Europe on the 18th green, chants of “Olé, Olé, Olé” ringing out in cacophonous celebration, and the Euros lifting the trophy overhead, once again having defeated Team USA.

But this victory was different for many reasons. To start with it was the second time in history that Team Europe has won the Cup on American soil, the only other time coming in 2013 at Colorado Golf Club. Also, the Euros led wire-to-wire never relinquishing their edge over the United States, looking unflappable in the face of the home team advantage. And, instead of a veteran being the hero as was the case with Suzann Pettersen in Scotland, it was a rookie that led the way for the blue and yellow and it was also a rookie that drained the final putt, sealing the deal and returning the Cup to Europe.

If anyone leaves Toledo, Ohio better off than when they came, it’s Ireland’s Leona Maguire. The 26-year-old was on a tear at Inverness, playing all five matches with a 4-0-1 record, far and away the MVP for the Euros. Call it beginner’s luck but the Irishwoman knew she was on the verge of something huge having played so solidly up to this point.

Maguire after her 5&4 victory over Jennifer Kupcho, a match that many expected to have a lot more fire “I’ve given it my absolute all this week, I couldn’t have given it anything more. I couldn’t have asked for a better week. I’ve been having a great year since June, since MEDIHEAL. I just tried to carry that through. Dermot has been a tremendous help to me. He’s been my caddie since MEDIHEAL, and he was a huge part of this week, keeping me calm, keeping me focused, hitting the right shots at the right moments. I had two phenomenal partners in Mel (Reid) and Georgia (Hall), as well, that just let me do my thing.”

Matilda Castren is another player who’s had a career-defining week and has effectively solidified her place in Solheim Cup history. She buried her par putt on the final green to secure the retention of the Cup for Team Europe beating American stalwart Lizette Salas 1-up. Having experienced so much heartache early in her professional career, it seemed unlikely that Castren would ever get an opportunity like this one, but as is becoming the norm for the Finn, she rose to the occasion when it mattered the most.

“I knew it was important,” said Castren. “I knew we needed that. I didn’t know exactly what it meant because I knew there were still matches on the course, but I knew we needed to make that putt. We read the putts really well and I’ve been rolling the ball really well all week. I figured, just trust it and trust the line and make a good stroke, and they just went in. It’s been amazing. It’s a dream come true for me. It’s just been an amazing experience, and to win my match today, this is all I could have asked for.”

However, it wasn’t just the rookies that made the difference for Team Europe. The grittiest half point of the day came from seven-time Solheim Cupper Anna Nordqvist—the reigning AIG Women’s Open champion—after she and Lexi Thompson waged a battle of the most epic proportions in the first match of Monday singles. The two traded punches all day, ultimately finishing in a tie after matching near-misses for birdie on the 18th. It says a lot about a captain’s faith in a player’s ability when they’re sent out first on the final day and that fact wasn’t lost on Nordqvist but rather something in which she relished.

“It’s a huge honor,” Nordqvist said. “I live for these moments, hitting first tee shots and being the first match, and it was a great honor to be put out first. Lexi is a tough competitor, but so am I. I feel like we fed off each other’s game and both played great, same as in 2017. I think we’re both happy with a halve. I thought it was a fair outcome. But overall, it’s been a great week. We’ve had good team chemistry. We’ve had a few European fans out here, and those meant a lot. All the family at home have been amazing. But we had to lean on each other this week, and I’m really proud of everyone for believing in themselves and for pulling through.”

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