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US stages remarkable
comeback to snatch Solheim Cup after day of acrimony...
Team USA,
Solheim Cup
Laura Davies blasts former European
team-mate Suzann Pettersen after Solheim
Cup descends into chaos before US storm
back
Suzann Pettersen and Carin Koch should
be relieved that the United States
Solheim Cup team staged their very own
version of the “Miracle of Medinah”
here. Because, even though the
Scandinavian pair were unrepentant on
Sunday night, had there been blue and
gold flags waving triumphantly, the
cascade of criticism would have engulfed
Europe’s best player and captain.
They were calling it golfing karma,
although the remarkable Starred and
Striped fightback from 10-6 down to
prevail 14½-13½ for their first win in
six years could in fact be traced back
to something rather more tangible. Juli
Inkster, the visiting captain, was
certain that the motivation gained from
the early-morning controversy during
which Pettersen broke no rules but
ripped up sporting ethics was critical
in her team’s resurrection.
“I didn’t have to say anything to them,”
Inkster said. “After this morning, they
were all fired up and ready to go out
and win.”
Indeed they were and, as Melissa Reid –
the Englishwoman who did not deserve to
be on the losing side having won 3½
points from four – said, the US “went
out with fire in their bellies”. As well
as with conviction burning in their
hearts. Not even the Ryder Cup, that
team matchplay tinder-box, has had
final-day drama on this scale.
By 9.30am it had descended into
acrimony, recrimination and tears. In a
fourball match carried over from
Saturday, Pettersen – who as the world
No8 is Europe’s highest-ranked player –
and English teenager Charley Hull were
level with two holes remaining against
Alison Lee and Brittany Lincicome. With
a 12‑footer to win on the 17th Lee hit
it approximately 16 inches past the hole
and the rookie scooped it up.
The 20-year-old claimed to have heard
somebody saying “that’s good” and Hull
seemed to be walking off the green
towards the 18th. But Pettersen held her
ground, saying that it had not been
conceded and therefore had won the hole.
Confusion reigned.
Inkster struggled to contain her anger
on the 18th green, saying: “If that’s
the way you want it, let’s go.” As she
did so, Lee and Hull were in tears being
comforted by team-mates. Hull, 19, had
just won her fourth match in four games
but was in no mood to celebrate.
Inkster had not calmed down when she
appeared before a television camera.
“It’s just BS [b-------],” she said. “No
way they can ever justify that. It’s
just not right. You just don’t do that
to your peers.”
When asked if Europe should give the US
team the half point, Inkster replied:
“It’s a done deal and you know what, we
don’t want it now. I have never seen
anything like it in my career.”
Koch decided against instructing her
pair to concede the 18th after hearing
from Pettersen that she and Hull would
not have conceded the putt to Lee, even
though it was in tap-in territory.
Koch also pointed out that Lincicome had
shouted at Lee not to pick it up, but
was “too late”. Koch defended Pettersen,
calling the Norwegian’s actions
“completely within the rules” and
putting it all down to Lee making a
mistake.
Koch maintained that line afterwards
with Hull denying she was walking off
the green. For her part, Pettersen said
that she would do the same again and was
giggling and shrugging her shoulders
during the press conference.
Laura Davies, the veteran who has
appeared in a record 12 Solheim teams,
saw it rather differently. “I’m
disgusted,” the Englishwoman said on Sky
Sports. “Charley Hull has just won a
point and she is in floods of tears.
That tells you the wrong thing was done.
How Suzann can justify that I will
never, ever know. She has let herself
down and she has certainly let her team
down.
“I’m so glad I’m not on that team this
time. Pettersen will regret this. If the
US go on to win, there’s only one person
to blame.”
And so the poetic justice unfolded. For
the US there was the same requirement as
there was for José María Olazábal in
Chicago three years ago – 8½ points from
12 singles. Europe needed only four to
retain the trophy and, in the lead
match, Spain’s Carlota Ciganda missed a
four-footer on the 18th for the win
against Lexi Thompson which was to prove
so costly.
There were wins for Reid, France’s
Karine Icher and the Swede Anna
Nordqvist but down below, the scoreboard
was covered in red with lee bravely
bouncing back to beat Gwladys Nocera
3 & 1. Despite being three up after
four, Hull was beaten 3 & 2 by an
inspired Cristie Kerr. Caroline Masson
had a 12‑footer on the 18th which would
have guaranteed her team the tie but she
dribbled it miserably wide before Gerina
Piller nervelessly holed her 10-footer.
With Paula Creamer so far in front of
Sandra Gal, the only chance Europe had
was with Pettersen. But Angela Stanford
– who up to that point had lost nine
matches in a row – closed out golf’s
newest villain 2 & 1, on the green
where, six hours before, Pettersen had
caused Lee’s heartbreak.
“That’s what bothered me the most – what
they did to her,” Stanford said. “She
didn’t deserve that and that’s what made
me mad. This win was for her.” And
perhaps, even for golf itself.
Charley Hull (centre) was left in tears
after the row in Germany Photo: GETTY
IMAGES
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John Herlong, PGA
WebGolfClub Staff Writer
herlong@pga.com
September 20, 2015 |
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