Make it two in a row for Europe over the Americans in the Solheim Cup. But it was not without some drama.
Make it two in a row for Europe over the Americans in the Solheim Cup. But it was not without some drama.
Europe held a 9-7 lead heading into Monday’s singles matches and kept the momentum going by winning the first 3 ½ points of the day.
Leona Maguire struck first with a 5-and-4 win over Jennifer Kupcho. Maguire, the first Irishwoman to play in the event, went 4-0-1 during the week.
Madelene Sagstrom of Sweden then closed out Ally Ewing, 3 and 2, to give the Europeans an 11-7 lead. Moments later, France’s Celine Boutier knocked out Mina Harigae, 5 and 4, giving the Europeans 12 points, two shy of the 14 they needed to retain the cup.
Anna Nordqvist of Sweden, just 15 days removed from winning her third major at the AIG Women’s British Open, earned a half point in her match against Lexi Thompson, making the score 12 ½-7 ½.
The U.S. finally got on the board when Nelly Korda defeated England’s Georgia Hall, 1 up, cutting the European lead to 12 ½-8 ½.
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Austin Ernst earned a half-point for the U.S. in her match against Nanna Koerstz Madsen, making it 13-9, and leaving Europe just a point away from retaining cup.
Megan Khang then claimed a 3-and-2 win over Germany’s Sophia Popov to cut the U.S. deficit to 13-10.
Brittany Altomare then knocked out Spain’s Carlota Ciganda, 2 and 1, tightening things even further to 13-11.
Lizette Salas and Matilda Castren went to the 18th tied. Castren hit an amazing shot from the sand to set up a par putt, which she made to give the Europeans the crucial 14th point they needed to retain the cup.
Catriona Matthew, who led Europe to 14 ½ to 13 ½ win in 2019 at Gleneagles in Scotland, makes it two wins in row as captain. This is also the second time since the event started in 1990 that Europe won on U.S. soil. The first came in 2013 in Colorado.
The 2023 matches will be held in Spain for the first time, just one week ahead of the Ryder Cup’s first-ever stop in Rome.
In 2024, the Solheim Cup returns to the U.S. while shifting back to even years. The dates and location will be announced at a later date.
Everything you need to know for Monday’s Labor Day singles matches at the Solheim Cup.
TOLEDO, Ohio – Anna Nordqvist and Lexi Thompson will kick off what could be a sensational Labor Day finish at rockin’ Inverness Club. If their singles match four years ago in Iowa is any indication, Nordqvist and Thompson will deliver at the 17th Solheim Cup. They might have halved that lead-off match in Des Moines, but former U.S. captain Juli Inkster joked that it felt like six points.
The third match of the day on Monday at Inverness is a gift of the golf gods, with Leona Maguire and Jennifer Kupcho squaring off in what should be a roaring rookie showdown. Maguire, the only player in the event to go all five matches, is 3-0-1 in her Solheim debut while Kupcho is 2-0-1. The pair faced each other earlier this year in the Bank of Hope LPGA Match Play event and finished the match tied.
“You never know how you’re going to react in these situations until you’re put in them,” said Maguire. “This is what you practice for. This is what you prepare for. I love team golf. I love match play.”
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World No. 1 Nelly Korda looked out of sorts in her morning foursomes loss and sat out in the afternoon. She was embroiled in controversy in Saturday four-balls, and while she and Ally Ewing went on to win the match, it was emotionally draining and upsetting.
Korda defeated Caroline Hedwall in her singles debut two years ago.
Another one of Europe’s heralded rookies, Matilda Castren, will have her work cut out against Lizette Salas, who has never lost in singles with a 3-0-1 record.
On the European side, Spain’s Carlota Ciganda has the team’s best singles record of 3-0-1. She’ll face Brittany Altomare on Monday.
Mel Reid had her neck attended to in the middle of the round on Sunday afternoon. She said it happened at lunch, but that she’ll be fine. She faces rookie Yealimi Noh, who is riding a high after putting up her first Solheim Cup point in afternoon four-balls.
“The Americans have put something in our food, I think,” joked Reid. “The tiramisu is keeping us up at night and the spring rolls are giving us a bad necks.”
If it all comes down to the final match, rookie Emily K. Pedersen will carry the load for Europe against American Danielle Kang, who won the LPGA Drive On event at Inverness last summer. And just for fun, Pedersen’s boyfriend happens to be Kang’s caddie.
Europe needs five points to retain the Cup, and the Americans need 7.5 to win it back.
The final round of the Solheim Cup will be live on Golf Channel Monday, Sept. 6 from 12-6 p.m. EDT.
Singles matches (all times Eastern)
12:05 p.m. – Anna Nordqvist (EUR) vs. Lexi Thompson (USA)
12:15 p.m. – Madelene Sagstrom (EUR) vs. Ally Ewing (USA)
12:25 p.m. – Leona Maguire (EUR) vs. Jennifer Kupcho (USA)
12:35 p.m. – Georgia Hall (EUR) vs. Nelly Korda (USA)
12:45 p.m. – Celine Boutier (EUR) vs. Mina Harigae (USA)
12:55 p.m. – Nanna Koerstz Madsen (EUR) vs. Austin Ernst (USA)
1:05 p.m. – Matilda Castren (EUR) vs. Lizette Salas (USA)
1:15 p.m. – Carlota Ciganda (EUR) vs. Brittany Altomare (USA)
1:25 p.m. – Sophia Popov (EUR) vs. Megan Khang (USA)
1:35 p.m. – Mel Reid (EUR) vs. Yealimi Noh (USA)
1:45 p.m. – Charley Hull (EUR) vs. Jessica Korda (USA)
1:55 p.m. – Emily K. Pedersen (EUR) vs. Danielle Kang (USA)
“It always seems to come down to the singles. Every little half point here or there is going to be crucial.”
TOLEDO, Ohio – Patrick Cantlay took home $15 million on Sunday for winning the FedEx Cup, which is essentially what both the American and European teams have combined to make on the LPGA in 2021.
On Labor Day in Toledo, 24 women will play for pride and country in the 17th Solheim Cup on a major championship venue.
And it’s all setting up to be an epic showdown.
“We knew the Americans were going to come back fighting at us,” said European captain Catriona Matthew.
This marks the ninth time that Europe has held the lead going into singles; four times they’ve gone on from there to win the Cup.
Amidst of a sea of red, white a blue, a chant of “Ole, Ole, Ole,” rang out around the 18th green at Inverness late Sunday as Mel Reid knocked one close on the 18th to clinch a half point alongside Leona Maguire against Jennifer Kupcho and Lizette Salas. In one of the day’s most thrilling matches, Kupcho chipped in for birdie on the 17th hole to send the American fans in a frenzy.
Fans on the 17th hole during the Fourball Match on day two of the Solheim Cup at the Inverness Club on September 05, 2021 in Toledo, Ohio. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
“It was 136,” said Reid of her final approach into the 18th. “It was probably playing 10 into; I hit a three-quarter 8 (iron). I knew as soon as I hit it it was either going to be a little bit left and short or it was going to be good, so I was hoping for the good, and I almost willed that ball into the hole.”
Reid and Maguire just got to know each other this week and now have a 2-0-1 record together. The fearless Irish rookie is 3-0-1 on her own.
Maguire’s identical twin sister Lisa, a former player herself who know goes to dental school, was hoarse on Sunday after shouting all day. She’s the only supporter here for Maguire, though all of Ireland is back home supporting.
Maguire, the first Irish player to compete in the Solheim Cup, is the only player who will compete in all five matches this week.
“I think they’ve got to know each other,” said Matthew of the surprise partnership, “and they’ve kind of reveled in each other’s company.”
The 26-year-old Maguire spent 135 weeks as the top amateur in the world. The former Duke standout represented Europe in two Junior Solheim Cups, one Junior Ryder Cup and Great Britain and Ireland in three Curtis Cups.
“She knows how to play some amazing golf,” she said. “We’ve seen her do it college, she did it in her amateur days and I guess people are just now seeing what she can do on the big stage. It’s really impressive to watch.”
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Meanwhile rookie Kupcho has come up big for the Americans, going 2-0-1 in three matches alongside Salas.
“She doesn’t play like (a rookie),” said Salas, “and I never approached her like one, and she definitely doesn’t have a game like a rookie.”
Hurst said Kupcho’s and Salas’ success is a good example of the pod system at work.
“The way they’re playing and interacting with each other,” she said, “has been what we were looking for.”
Hurst looked like she might be taking a risk when she sent out a pair of rookies together in Mina Harigae and Yealimi Noh, who’d never scored a point, in afternoon four-balls. They handled a tight match against Celine Boutier and Sophia Popov down the stretch like steely vets, winning 3 and 1, to put the only full point on the board for Team USA.
“I think we were just ready to go more than anything,” said Harigae. “We were chomping at the bit watching the morning matches, especially their comebacks. I think that motivated us more.”
The host country has won the Solheim Cup 12 of the last 16 times. For the Americans to win, they’ll need their stars to come up big on Monday. So far, Nelly Korda, Jessica Korda and Lexi Thompson are a combined 2-6-0 at Inverness.
Europe needs five points to retain the Cup and the Americans need 7.5 to win it back.
“It’s going to be tight,” said Matthew. “It always seems to come down to the singles. Every little half point here or there is going to be crucial.”
The Americans are down just one entering Saturday afternoon.
TOLEDO, Ohio – With their backs against the wall, the Americans did what was needed, even with World No. 1 Nelly Korda looking out of sorts.
The Europeans were up in all four matches on a quiet Sunday morning, but Pat Hurst’s team came roaring back, winning three points in foursomes play to pull within one point of the Europeans.
Danielle Kang and Austin Ernst put the first point on the board for Team USA, turning around their match midway through the back nine and holding on to win, 1 up.
“It was huge,” said Ernst. “We needed to get a point for the team and get it turned early so they could see some red early.”
Lexi Thompson followed with a birdie bomb on the 17th hole that gave her and Brittany Altomare a 2-and-1 victory. It marked the first Solheim Cup win for Thompson without partner Cristie Kerr.
Thompson said they came into the day playing for Grace Godfrey, daughter of LPGA player Jane Park and Pete Godfrey, who fell critically ill earlier this year at the tour stop in Dallas. Grace turned 1-year-old on Sunday. Players on both teams wore happy birthday stickers on their hats.
Both USA and Europe teams wearing happy birthday stickers for Jane Park’s baby Grace, who turns 1 today. ❤️🙏🏻 pic.twitter.com/27BREjclrF
“We just wanted to keep a smile on our faces for her and keep her in our prayers,” said Thompson, “and came out today kind of with that attitude that we’re just blessed to be out here.”
Jennifer Kupcho ignited the crowd on the 17th with a long birdie putt to give her and Lizette Salas their second point of the week. They’ll go back out together in the afternoon four-ball session against Europe’s Mel Reid and rookie Leona Maguire, who are also 2-0.
Reid and Maguire delivered the only loss for Team USA, dispatching of Nelly Korda and Ally Ewing, 5 and 4. Korda, who was embroiled in a rules controversy on Saturday, hit a handful of shocking shots, including a bladed miss from the bunker on the par-4 fourth hole that found the hazard.
She’ll sit in afternoon four-balls while sister Jessica comes back out to partner with Megan Khang. Jessica sat out both the Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning sessions.
Maguire, the first Irish player to ever compete in a Solheim Cup, first got to know Reid earlier this week. She’s a perfect 3-0 thus far and will be the only player in the competition who plays all five matches.
“I think it was a pairing neither of us saw coming, but the captains obviously saw something in us that we didn’t see in ourselves,” said Maguire, “and I think we’re both fearless on the golf course, which is something you need to be in those matches, especially given the pairings we were up against.”
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Sunday Four-Ball Pairings
12:05 p.m. ET – Celine Boutier and Sophia Popov (EUR) vs. Yealimi Noh and Mina Harigae (USA)
12:20 p.m. ET – Carlota Ciganda and Nanna Koerstz Madsen (EUR) vs. Jessica Korda and Megan Khang (USA)
12:35 p.m. ET – Mel Reid and Leona Maguire (EUR) vs. Jennifer Kupcho and Lizette Salas (USA)
12:50 p.m. ET – Charley Hull and Emily K. Pedersen (EUR) vs. Danielle Kang and Austin Ernst (USA)
Jennifer Kupcho’s big year continues to get better ahead of her Solheim Cup debut.
TOLEDO, Ohio – Jennifer Kupcho comes into her first Solheim Cup on the highest of notes after getting engaged to Jay Monahan (not that one). The couple met at Superstition Mountain Golf and Country Club in Gold Canyon, Arizona, and have been together for a year and a half. Monahan now caddies on the LPGA.
“He took me to a really fancy, nice restaurant,” said Kupcho of the proposal, “and it came out on the plate with dessert, and on the plate it said it, ‘Will you marry me,’ so it was really cute.”
The 24-year-old Wake Forest grad qualified for her first Solheim Cup team via the Rolex Rankings and is in a pod with Danielle Kang, Austin Ernst and Lizette Salas, which means her pairings for the week will come from that trio.
“Yeah, I’m really excited, definitely overwhelmed,” she said. “The whole entire experience has been really special. These girls have made me feel very comfortable, as well as Angela, just to get me comfortable and get me ready for what’s about to come.”
Assistant captain Angela Stanford oversees Kupcho’s pod and said the former Augusta National Women’s Amateur champ is quite focused and organized for a rookie.
“A lot of times rookies are kind of looking around and checking things out,” said Stanford, “but she’s been very good about being very focused on what she needs to do. So I have to remind myself that she is a rookie because she hasn’t acted like a rookie.”
There’s plenty to look forward to this weekend at the 2021 Solheim Cup.
TOLEDO, Ohio – The 17th Solheim Cup begins on Saturday at the Inverness Club, an historic Donald Ross design that has played host to four U.S. Opens and two PGA Championships.
Home soil has been good to Team USA. The Americans have won seven of eight contests they’ve hosted. Of course, that one loss was a doozie: Europe won the 2013 contest at Colorado Golf Club by eight points, the biggest thrashing in Cup history.
Europe also won the last contest in 2019 at Gleneagles in dramatic fashion, with Suzann Pettersen draining the winning putt and then retiring on the spot. She’s back as a vice captain for Catriona Matthew, who will try to become the first European captain to win twice.
Here are five things to look for this week in Toledo.
2021 Solheim Cup captain, Pat Hurst, has selected Michelle Wie West to be an assistant captain for the event. Wie West, 30, recently gave birth to her first child, a daughter named Makenna, and has taken time off from competing on the LPGA Tour. Wie West has not competed in an LPGA event since the 2019 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, where she missed the cut. Having competed in five previous Solheim Cups, she hopes to help other players feel comfortable in the event. She has helped the U.S. Team win in 2009, 2015, and 2017. Wie West joins Angela Stanford as an assistant captain on Hurst’s squad. The 2021 Solheim Cup will be contested Sept. 4-6 at Inverness Club in Toledo, Ohio.
2021 Solheim Cup captain, Pat Hurst, has selected Michelle Wie West to be an assistant captain for the event. Wie West, 30, recently gave birth to her first child, a daughter named Makenna, and has taken time off from competing on the LPGA Tour. Wie West has not competed in an LPGA event since the 2019 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, where she missed the cut. Having competed in five previous Solheim Cups, she hopes to help other players feel comfortable in the event. She has helped the U.S. Team win in 2009, 2015, and 2017. Wie West joins Angela Stanford as an assistant captain on Hurst’s squad. The 2021 Solheim Cup will be contested Sept. 4-6 at Inverness Club in Toledo, Ohio.
After leading the Europeans to a thrilling victory at Gleneagles, Catriona Matthew was reappointed as captain, and to no one’s surprise.
Catriona Matthew will attempt to pull off something two years from now that no European Solheim Cup captain has ever done: She’ll try to become the first captain to successfully defend the cup on U.S. soil.
Indeed, the 50-year-old Scot will try to become Europe’s first multiple Solheim Cup-winning captain.
Matthew will once again lead the European team when she takes the trophy to Inverness Golf Club in Toledo, Ohio in 2021. She led Europe to a dramatic 14 ½ – 13 ½ victory at Gleneagles this year.
Matthew, who counts three victories in her nine appearances as a player, was on the only Solheim Cup team to win the match in the United States. That was in 2013 when Liselotte Neumann captained the European team. The 2009 Women’s British Open winner fully understands the enormity of the task at hand.
“Winning the Solheim Cup in Scotland was a dream come true but backing that up with a win in America would be even better,” Matthew said.
“It’s always harder to win on U.S. soil, but I’m honored to be tasked with the mission. I was lucky enough to be part of the first European team to win on U.S. soil at Colorado Golf Club in 2013 and so know what’s possible.”
Suzann Pettersen holed Europe’s winning putt at Gleneagles and then announced her retirement from competitive golf. She would have been in the frame to lead Europe in Toledo, but will probably have to wait until the 2023 match.
The Norwegian was originally meant to take the role of vice-captain at Gleneagles along with Laura Davies and Kathryn Imrie, but swapped places with an out-of-form Mel Reid. Matthew announced that Pettersen, Davies and Imrie will return as vice captains.
“I’m thrilled that Catriona is returning as captain,” Pettersen said. “She’s a class act and obviously inspires all the players and team members around her. She’s not only a Solheim Cup legend, but she’s also a great leader, friend and mother. She had the faith in me to choose me as a wildcard pick, for which I will forever be grateful and she deserves all the credit.”
Said Davis, “Catriona was such a great captain that she deserves the chance to go and get the trophy back again.”
