Gainesville (United States) (AFP) – US captain Stacy Lewis could feel the tension rise as match after match the Americans struggled late on Sunday before finally capturing their first Solheim Cup since 2017. Two ties and two losses to Europe came and went before Lilia Vu landed her approach inches from the 18th pin and tapped-in for birdie and a Cup-clinching half-point in the US women’s 15.5-12.5 victory.
“That was the longest hour and a half of my life. I’m not going to lie,” Lewis said. “That last hour of matches on 16 and 17 and 18, it just felt like it was never going to end. Just really nerve-wracking. You felt pretty helpless. The last 30 minutes or so were pretty rough.”
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The joy of winning after Europe kept the Cup following last year’s 14-14 draw in Spain was worth the wait. “I’m so proud of this team,” Lewis said. “They fought through some adversity this week and played some unbelievable golf. I’m proud that they get this moment to celebrate.”
Lewis praised her players for tenacity and fortitude in tension-packed situations. “Grit. That’s what this event is about,” Lewis said. “It’s about toughness. It’s about grit. The golf is just so good on both sides that it’s one putt, one shot here and there, and that’s what brought us here.”
Lewis recalled crying on the plane ride home from Spain last year. “It didn’t really hit me until I got on the airplane,” Lewis said. “I just lost it and I started crying. I was like, we did all this work for these girls to play to a tie and that was literally the only moment. From that point on it was right back to work because I (didn’t) want that to happen again. To watch them celebrate and to see Lilia pull off that shot in that moment was just really special.”
A worried Vu birdied to win 17 and 18 to tie Swiss Albane Valenzuela. “I felt like in the middle of the match the wheels were kind of falling off,” Vu said. “Somehow birdied 17 and was able to hit it really close on 18.”
Top-ranked Nelly Korda, a six-time LPGA winner this year, got her first Solheim Cup triumph. “This was probably the most fun I’ve had on a golf course ever,” Korda said. “Just the team, environment, the caddies. Everyone was so incredible. We all vibed really well off each other. This is probably the most I’ve laughed and the most I’ve fist pumped ever on a golf course. It was just an amazing week and a dream come true.”
– ‘An absolute blast’ – Lauren Coughlin rallied from 3-down to tie Sweden’s Maja Stark and went 3-0 in foursomes and four-balls to equal the best US rookie effort. “I had an absolute blast,” she said. “It was a very special week.”
Lexi Thompson, who plans to retire at season’s end, got her third win in seven Cup appearances. “It was very special,” she said. “It meant the world to me just to be here and to be part of this team.”
Ninth-ranked Rose Zhang, 21, went 4-0 this week and echoed the good atmosphere. “I just felt so comfortable with everyone,” Zhang said. “It was good vibes all week.”
Megan Khang was 3-0 this week after going 3-0 with a draw in 2023. “To go undefeated for both Solheims, it has been incredible and a dream come true,” Khang said.
Lewis said it was strange to have her “unfinished business” over. “I don’t know what I’m going to do next week now,” she said. “I hadn’t thought past this moment. I’ve got to get my daughter back to school on Tuesday, but past that, I don’t know what’s next.”
Mindful of a celebration about to begin, Khang said, “But that’s Tuesday. And it’s Sunday.”
© 2024 AFP
