Stacy Lewis raises the Solheim Cup into the blue Virginia sky. The light dancing through its gorgeous glass. Lexi Thompson, at the end of the road, and draped in the stars and stripes, hugs the trophy tightly with a huge smile on her face. What a way to end a glorious career. What a way to end another week of sensational Solheim drama. Hats off to Europe for making a proper go of it today; congratulations to Team USA for flatly refusing to buckle in the face of unexpected levels of stress and pressure. The hosts were the better team from the get-go this week, and fully deserved their victory. Congratulations to Team USA, commiserations to Europe, and thanks to everyone for reading this blog. See you in a couple of years for the 2026 Solheim Cup at the Bernardus in the Netherlands? It’s a date!
European captain Suzann Pettersen speaks to NBC: “We gave them a run for their money … I don’t think anyone expected us to be here at 2.30 and still have a chance … it’s kind of hard to believe we actually had a chance … we gave them such a head start … I had fun today … several times we thought we could get it done … happy for Stacy on her home turf … we’ll come back very hungry … I’ve truly enjoyed it, win or lose … it’s fun to win but a little more painful to lose … we’ve had a lot of fun and good laughs … moments I will cherish forever … Solheims, they’re the best!”
USA captain Stacy Lewis talks to NBC: “This is so cool … it’s so stressful to watch … it’s awful watching … I’m so proud of the players … it’s amazing how these things come down to half a point here and there … fortunately this time we were on the right side of it … it really could have gone either way … I was just hoping and praying … Lilia’s finish was unbelievable but what you expect from one of the best players in the world!”
6&4 Charley Hull v Nelly Korda
Emily Pedersen v Megan Khang 6&5
4&3 Georgia Hall v Alison Lee
Anna Nordqvist v Allisen Corpuz 4&3
Carlota Ciganta v Rose Zhang 6&4
Esther Henseleit A/S Andrea Lee
1UP Celine Boutier v Lexi Thompson
Maja Stark A/S Lauren Coughlin
Albane Valenzuela A/S Lilia Vu
1UP Madelene Sagstrom v Sarah Schmelzel
4&3 Leona Maguire v Ally Ewing
Linn Grant v Jennifer Kupcho 2&1
Madelene Sagstrom and Sarah Schmelzel trade two-putts on 18, and the last match to finish goes Europe’s way.
Madelene Sagstrom beat Sarah Schmelzel 1UP
1UP Sagstrom v Schmelzel (17)
USA 15½-12½ Europe
Birdie for Jennifer Kupcho at 17. She flew out of the blocks, winning the first three holes; Linn Grant came back hard with a trifecta of her own at 9, 10 and 11. But the former Augusta National and Dinah Shore champion bounces back to win the anchor match.
Jennifer Kupcho beats Linn Grant 2&1
1UP Sagstrom v Schmelzel (17)
Grant v Kupcho 2&1 (F)
USA 15½-11½ Europe
There are still two matches out there. Madelene Sagstrom, having won 17 to regain the lead in her ding-dong battle with Sarah Schmelzel, finds the back of 18 in regulation. Schmelzel chips close, though. Polite applause right now, because everyone, from victors to the vanquished, has been put through the ringer this afternoon. It’s been a lot closer today than anyone expected.
1UP Sagstrom v Schmelzel (17)
Grant v Kupcho 1UP (16)
USA 14½-11½ Europe
The USA team cavorts all across the course! Well, mainly at the 18th green, but Sarah Schmelzel and Jennifer Kupcho are also jigging around, despite competing in matches yet to finish. And who can blame them? Lilia Vu, who looks a little shell-shocked at becoming the player to bring the Solheim Cup back into American possession for the first time in four stagings, is asked about her amazing late surge to claim that crucial half-point by NBC. “I felt like I didn’t do my part this week and wanted to get something done … I said to my caddie on 16 I felt like I haven’t done anything for this team … on 16 I was in the back bunker and thought oh no … I ended up making up and down from the bunker and somehow birdied 17 and got it done on 18 to get the half point! … I knew [how important the match was] on the 18th hole, I thought oh shoot, I’d better birdie this, let me try my best!”
What a star!
… but like Esther Henseleit 20 minutes earlier, Valenzuela’s putt is dead on line but a few joules of energy short. Vu has a two-footer to win the Solheim Cup! In it goes, and the USA celebrations begin! A birdie-birdie finish for Lilia Vu, America’s hero!
Lilia Vu and Albane Valenzuela tie
Valenzuela A/S Vu (F)
Sagstrom A/S Schmelzel (16)
Grant v Kupcho 1UP (15)
USA 14½-11½ Europe
Lilia Vu may well have just won the Solheim Cup for the USA! A stunning wedge to kick-in distance on 18. It’s not immediately conceded, because Albane Valenzuela has a 30-foot putt for birdie and the match. It’s got to go in …
That really was an outrageous display of street-fighting brilliance by Maja Stark. Europe will probably go on to lose the Solheim Cup, but let’s take this opportunity for one last hoedown while it’s still there. All together now: ♫ Maja Stark, doo doo doo doo doo doooo, doo doo doo doo doo doooo, doo doo doo doo doo doooo, MA-JA STARK! ♪♫
What moxie, Maja Stark! She raps in the ten-footer to save her par, a putt as stunning as the one before was awful. That’s one of the all-time clutch putts, and Europe are still alive! Just. They can’t win the cup now, but they can retain it if they manage to win all three of the remaining matches. That’s the mother, father and extended family of all asks, though … especially as Jennifer Kupcho has just won the 14th against Linn Grant.
Lauren Coughlin and Maja Stark tie
Stark A/S Coughlin (F)
1UP Valenzuela v Vu (17)
Sagstrom A/S Schmelzel (15)
Grant v Kupcho 1UP (14)
USA 14-11 Europe
Lilia Vu sends a straight 12-footer for birdie into the cup at 17 to extend her match with Albane Valenzuela. But never mind that, because up on 18, Maja Stark sends a hysterical long birdie putt ten feet past the hole! Lauren Coughlin can’t make her birdie putt, but she’s in for par, and now Stark has to make her putt coming back, because otherwise Coughlin has secured the cup for the USA!
Maja Stark overcooks her approach into 18. Over the flag, 30 feet past. That opens the door for local hero Lauren Coughlin, who could record an all-time Solheim Cup record of 4-0-0 for a rookie if she wins this hole … and with it secure the cup for the USA. She doesn’t wedge close, though, short of the flag, but she’ll have a better look at birdie, uphill from 20 feet. But over on 15, par for Leona Maguire secures another point for Europe! She’s simply blown Ally Ewing away; with zero points, Ewing will want to forget this week.
Leona Maguire beats Ally Ewing 4&3
Stark A/S Coughlin (17)
2UP Valenzuela v Vu (15)
Sagstrom A/S Schmelzel (15)
4&3 Maguire v Ewing (F)
Grant A/S Kupcho (13)
USA 13½-10½ Europe
… and in it goes! Boutier wins four of the last seven holes to overturn Lexi Thompson’s three-hole lead. Boutier delighted, Lexi drained.
Celine Boutier beats Lexi Thompson 1UP
1UP Boutier v Thompson (F)
Stark A/S Coughlin (17)
2UP Valenzuela v Vu (15)
Sagstrom A/S Schmelzel (15)
3UP Maguire v Ewing (14)
Grant A/S Kupcho (13)
USA 13½-9½ Europe
You could hear grass grow as Lexi Thompson prowls around her birdie putt. It could be her last stroke in Solheim Cup … which it still might be, depending on what Celine Boutier does, but Lexi sends a dismal effort wide right of the cup, and there’s still work to do. Boutier from six feet to win the match …
Maja Stark rams home her birdie putt and her match with the irrepressible Lauren Coughlin remains tied as they head to the last. On 18, Lexi Thompson’s drive nearly ends up in some dude’s upturned hat, but he snatches his titfer from the ground before it causes a rules brouhaha. Thompson finds the green from there in two, and she’ll have a look at birdie from 15 feet, but Celine Boutier is in closer, having wedged spectacularly to six feet. Drama here!
Boutier A/S Thompson (17)
Stark A/S Coughlin (17)
2UP Valenzuela v Vu (15)
Sagstrom A/S Schmelzel (15)
3UP Maguire v Ewing (14)
Grant A/S Kupcho (13)
USA 13½-8½ Europe
Esther Henseleit hits her 15-foot birdie putt at 18 on the perfect line. If she hits it, it’s in, but it stops one turn short. Andrea Lee tidies up and fist-pumps the air, knowing just how crucial that half-point can be. Henseleit not so happy. She’ll feel she let that one slip, but Lee was simply relentless.
Andrea Lee and Esther Henseleit tie
Henseleit A/S Andrea Lee (F)
Boutier A/S Thompson (17)
Stark A/S Coughlin (16)
2UP Valenzuela v Vu (15)
Sagstrom A/S Schmelzel (14)
3UP Maguire v Ewing (14)
Grant A/S Kupcho (13)
USA 13½-8½ Europe
Andrea Lee sends a nice putt down the 18th green, but it’s never going in, and rolls three feet past. That won’t be conceded. Meanwhile on 17, the outstanding rookie Lauren Coughlin walks in a 25-foot birdie putt to turn the pressure back onto Maja Stark!
Esther Henseleit nearly holed out from 87 yards yesterday on 18. Today she’s wedging in from 100. She sends her ball straight at the flag, but 12 feet short. She’ll have a much better look at birdie, though, because from the rough, Andrea Lee couldn’t get any spin on her second, and only just held the green at the back. Meanwhile birdie for Leona Maguire at 14, and a stunning approach into 17 for Maja Stark, who will have a great birdie chance from four feet. The momentum this afternoon has been all over the shop!
Henseleit A/S Andrea Lee (17)
Boutier A/S Thompson (17)
Stark A/S Coughlin (16)
2UP Valenzuela v Vu (15)
Sagstrom A/S Schmelzel (14)
3UP Maguire v Ewing (14)
Grant A/S Kupcho (13)
USA 13-8 Europe
Birdie for Sarah Schmelzel on 14, and her match with Madelene Sagstrom continues to ping back and forth! Neither Celine Boutier nor Lexi Thompson can make their birdie efforts on 17, and they’ll be going down the last. Meanwhile on 18 it’s advantage Esther Henseleit, who finds the centre of the fairway, while Andrea Lee’s tee shot ends up in the thick rough to the right. And on 15, Albane Valenzuela nearly drains a long birdie putt for the win, but claims the hole anyway with Lilia Vu missing a 12-foot par putt.
Henseleit A/S Andrea Lee (17)
Boutier A/S Thompson (17)
Stark A/S Coughlin (16)
2UP Valenzuela v Vu (15)
Sagstrom A/S Schmelzel (14)
2UP Maguire v Ewing (13)
Grant A/S Kupcho (13)
USA 13-8 Europe
Celine Boutier gets a friendly bounce off the bank to the right of the 17th green. Her ball rolls to 20 feet. She probably deserved that break after coming so close with that putt on the previous hole. Lexi Thompson finds the dancefloor too, but she’s another 20 feet further back.
It’s right edge for Andrea Lee, just as it was for Esther Henseleit. It’s all about execution … and she pulls one wide left and three feet past. All of a sudden, the pressure has turned back on Lee! She does extremely well to gather herself, like Henseleit before her, responding to a careless mistake by tidying up. The pressures of Singles Sunday at the Solheim, ladies and gentlemen!
Henseleit A/S Andrea Lee (17)
Boutier A/S Thompson (16)
Stark A/S Coughlin (15)
1UP Valenzuela v Vu (14)
1UP Sagstrom v Schmelzel (13)
2UP Maguire v Ewing (13)
Grant A/S Kupcho (12)
USA 13-8 Europe
Esther Henseleit simply has to make the 15-foot par putt she’s carelessly left herself. Even then Andrea Lee will have a chance to make her birdie effort to win the hole. But she calms herself down and sends the gentle right-to-left slider into the middle of the cup. In the circumstances, that took industrial quantities of moxie. But Lee has the chance to go dormie from 12 feet with a very similar putt, and she’s had a great teach from Henseleit.
Despite her flagstick-hitting misadventures, Linn Grant has a short putt to win 12. It’d be her fourth hole in a row … but she pulls it carelessly wide left. A big let-off for Jennifer Kupcho. Celine Boutier’s birdie putt on 16 stops one dimple short of dropping. The small margins. Meanwhile Andrea Lee wedges to ten feet at 17, while Esther Henseleit can only find the back left of the green, a good ways from the flag. Her long birdie putt is seriously underhit, and this could be a huge gift for the USA, who can suddenly sense some momentum turning back their way!
Henseleit A/S Andrea Lee (16)
Boutier A/S Thompson (15)
Stark A/S Coughlin (14)
1UP Valenzuela v Vu (14)
1UP Sagstrom v Schmelzel (13)
2UP Maguire v Ewing (12)
Grant A/S Kupcho (12)
USA 13-8 Europe
The current projected score is USA 15-13 Europe. If Europe are to hold on to their treasure, they need to win all the matches they’re currently leading, and nick three of the four they’re currently tied. Linn Grant’s iron into 12 clatters the flagstick and rebounds 20 feet, but at least stays on the green; Celine Boutier is much closer at the par-three 16th than Lexi Thompson, who carves her tee shot a long way right of the pin … but at least that’s stayed on the green, too. This is something else.
Henseleit A/S Andrea Lee (16)
Boutier A/S Thompson (15)
Stark A/S Coughlin (14)
1UP Valenzuela v Vu (13)
1UP Sagstrom v Schmelzel (13)
2UP Maguire v Ewing (12)
Grant A/S Kupcho (11)
USA 13-8 Europe
Some much-needed momentum for the USA courtesy of Andrea Lee! She makes her left-to-right slider from ten feet for birdie at 16, and though that gives Esther Henseleit a read, the German can’t follow her in! These singles are outrageously dramatic. Good luck accurately predicting the outcome.
Henseleit A/S Andrea Lee (16)
Boutier A/S Thompson (15)
Stark A/S Coughlin (14)
1UP Valenzuela v Vu (13)
1UP Sagstrom v Schmelzel (13)
2UP Maguire v Ewing (12)
Grant A/S Kupcho (11)
USA 13-8 Europe
Madeline Sagstrom sends her second at 13 to three feet, and regains the lead against Sarah Schmelzel in a to-and-fro match. Celine Boutier meanwhile makes her ten-foot birdie putt on 15, and from three holes down, the French major-winner has tied the match up with three holes. to play. All of a sudden, there’s no red on the board, though the USA are still projected to win.
1UP Henseleit v Andrea Lee (15)
Boutier A/S Thompson (15)
Stark A/S Coughlin (14)
1UP Valenzuela v Vu (13)
1UP Sagstrom v Schmelzel (13)
2UP Maguire v Ewing (11)
Grant A/S Kupcho (11)
USA 13-8 Europe
Every match is on a knife-edge, and anything is possible. The tension is palpable. Lexi Thompson drives into a fairway bunker on 15 but is able to find the green with her second; Celine Boutier goes much closer, though. Andrea Lee and Esther Henseleit take turns to pepper the flag at the par-three 16th; putting competition from ten feet coming up. And on 14, Lauren Coughlin inevitably wins the hole after Maja Stark’s error, but only after hitting a hysterical putt 15 feet past the hole from the fringe, Stark nearly keeping her outside hopes alive but shaving the lip with her par putt. Stark concedes the hole.
1UP Henseleit v Andrea Lee (15)
Boutier v Thompson 1UP (14)
Stark A/S Coughlin (14)
1UP Valenzuela v Vu (13)
Sagstrom A/S Schmelzel (12)
2UP Maguire v Ewing (11)
Grant A/S Kupcho (11)
USA 13-8 Europe
A huge mistake by Maja Stark on 14. A mishit from the centre of the fairway, and she pulls her second into the drink. She wedges her fourth to 15 feet, but with Lauren Coughlin in the fringe at the back of the green in two, it’s serious advantage to the USA here. Stark was three holes up after 10.
Andrea Lee and Esther Henseleit trade magnificent blows on 15. They take turns to set up 15-foot birdie chances. Henseleit up first. She’s this close to draining the gentle right-to-left slider, but it turns left just as it looks like dropping. Lee’s effort from similar distance somehow stays up on the other side! Hole halved. Meanwhile back on 13, Albane Valenzuela sends a tramliner into the cup for birdie and the lead against Lilia Vu!
1UP Henseleit v Andrea Lee (15)
Boutier v Thompson 1UP (14)
1UP Stark v Coughlin (13)
1UP Valenzuela v Vu (13)
Sagstrom A/S Schmelzel (12)
2UP Maguire v Ewing (11)
Grant A/S Kupcho (11)
USA 13-8 Europe
Celine Boutier nearly steers in a big right-to-left swinger on 14 to level up her match with Lexi Thompson. It lips out. She looks shocked it didn’t drop. There are European celebrations on 11, though, as Linn Grant makes another birdie putt to win her third hole in a row against Jennifer Kupcho. It’s all tied up there!
1UP Henseleit v Andrea Lee (14)
Boutier v Thompson 1UP (14)
1UP Stark v Coughlin (13)
Valenzuela A/S Vu (12)
Sagstrom A/S Schmelzel (12)
2UP Maguire v Ewing (11)
Grant A/S Kupcho (11)
USA 13-8 Europe
Sarah Schmelzel has missed some teeny putts this week. But now she rakes an eagle putt from downtown to level up her match against Madelene Sagstrom! That’s two holes in three for the US rookie, and Solheim Sunday is really beginning to heat up now!
1UP Henseleit v Andrea Lee (14)
Boutier v Thompson 1UP (13)
1UP Stark v Coughlin (13)
Valenzuela A/S Vu (12)
Sagstrom A/S Schmelzel (12)
2UP Maguire v Ewing (11)
Grant v Kupcho 1UP (10)
USA 13-8 Europe
Leona Maguire fires a dart at the flag on 11, but misses the short birdie putt. These things could end up being very costly. Andrea Lee wedges her third to three feet on 14 and makes the birdie to halve her deficit against Esther Henseleit. And Linn Grant rattles a birdie putt in on 10 to get right back into her match with Jennifer Kupcho. She’s taken a while to warm up after the coldest of starts – three down after three – but now two holes on the bounce sees her right back in it!
1UP Henseleit v Andrea Lee (14)
Boutier v Thompson 1UP (13)
1UP Stark v Coughlin (12)
Valenzuela A/S Vu (12)
1UP Sagstrom v Schmelzel (11)
2UP Maguire v Ewing (11)
Grant v Kupcho 1UP (10)
USA 13-8 Europe
Celine Boutier nearly holes out from 100 yards at 13. It’s enough to take another hole off Lexi Thompson, who has a long history of allowing her nerves to consume her talent. Europe might need that to happen again here if they’re to have any hope of retaining their trophy. Meanwhile birdie for Albane Valenzuela on 12, and her match against Lilia Vu is all square again. The USA are so close … and yet still so far away.
2UP Henseleit v Andrea Lee (13)
Boutier v Thompson 1UP (13)
1UP Stark v Coughlin (12)
Valenzuela A/S Vu (12)
1UP Sagstrom v Schmelzel (11)
2UP Maguire v Ewing (10)
Grant v Kupcho 2UP (9)
USA 13-8 Europe
Anna Nordqvist needs to steer in a downhill left-to-right 20-footer for birdie on 15 to extend her match against Allisen Corpuz. It’s always staying up on the high side, and that’s another point on the board for the hosts, who now need just one-and-a-half more for victory!
Allisen Corpuz beats Anna Nordqvist 4&3
Nordqvist v Corpuz 4&3 (F)
2UP Henseleit v Andrea Lee (13)
Boutier v Thompson 2UP (12)
1UP Stark v Coughlin (12)
Valenzuela v Vu 1UP (11)
1UP Sagstrom v Schmelzel (10)
2UP Maguire v Ewing (9)
Grant v Kupcho 2UP (9)
USA 13-8 Europe
Esther Henseleit birdies 13 to extend her lead over Andrea Lee. But it’s a birdie for Lauren Coughlin at 12, and suddenly Maja Stark’s three-hole lead is chiselled down to one.
Nordqvist v Corpuz 4UP (14)
2UP Henseleit v Andrea Lee (13)
Boutier v Thompson 2UP (12)
1UP Stark v Coughlin (12)
Valenzuela v Vu 1UP (11)
1UP Sagstrom v Schmelzel (10)
2UP Maguire v Ewing (9)
Grant v Kupcho 2UP (9)
USA 12-8 Europe
Rose Zhang replicates Charley Hull’s stunning shot into 14! A majestic hybrid drawn into the heart of the green, making use of the backstop to bring her ball around to six feet! She’ll have an uphill putt for eagle. She won’t have to make it, though. Carlota Ciganda finds the green in two as well, but can’t steer in her 20-foot eagle effort, and doesn’t need to see Zhang’s effort in. What a display by the young star, who at 21 is five years younger than anyone else on the team! And to beat the beating heart of the European side too!
Rose Zhang beats Carlota Ciganda 6&4
Nordqvist v Corpuz 4UP (14)
Ciganda v Zhang 6&4 (F)
1UP Henseleit v Andrea Lee (12)
Boutier v Thompson 2UP (12)
2UP Stark v Coughlin (11)
Valenzuela v Vu 1UP (11)
1UP Sagstrom v Schmelzel (10)
2UP Maguire v Ewing (9)
Grant v Kupcho 2UP (9)
USA 12-8 Europe
It certainly doesn’t look as though Europe are going to turn around either of the matches in which Allisen Corpuz and Rose Zhang are dominating. Corpuz makes another birdie, this time at 14, and she’s dormie four. Meanwhile on 10, Sarah Schmelzel chips in again, this time from thick rough to the back of the green, to snatch a hole back off Madelene Sagstrom. This isn’t beyond Europe yet, but a lot of things have to go their way if they’re to stun the USA.
Nordqvist v Corpuz 4UP (14)
Ciganda v Zhang 5UP (13)
1UP Henseleit v Andrea Lee (12)
Boutier v Thompson 2UP (12)
2UP Stark v Coughlin (11)
Valenzuela v Vu 1UP (11)
1UP Sagstrom v Schmelzel (10)
2UP Maguire v Ewing (9)
Grant v Kupcho 2UP (9)
USA 11-8 Europe
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