Charley Hull got the ball rolling as Europe’s big names finally came to the fore in Sunday’s singles as they wrestled the Solheim Cup back from the United States with a 15-13 victory at Bernardus Golf Club in the Netherlands.
Hull, who had garnered just half a point across the first two days in an unprofitable partnership with fellow Englishwoman Lottie Woad, led Europe out again on Sunday and claimed a 3&2 win over American livewire Megan Khang.
It delivered an immediate boost to Anna Nordqvist’s team in the format that they have been unbeaten in since their last home defeat in 2015.
Woad, who alongside Hull is ranked among the top 10 players in the world, also delivered, with her 2&1 win over fellow debutant Auston Kim sparking wild celebrations on the 17th green.
With Carlota Ciganda three holes up heading on to the 16th it assured the hosts of reaching the 14½-point tally required to triumph in the biggest team competition in women’s golf.
“It was the no-brainer to put Charley first,” said Nordqvist.
“We saw the stats and Charley and Lottie were actually top-four players that made the most birdies for the week. They just played really tough matches.
“People don’t understand how good all these players are and how good the golf has been in the past three days.
“So Charley was a no-brainer, and then finishing strong with Carlota. As we know, she’s done it in the past.”
Veteran Ciganda carrying her side over the winning line in the penultimate match against Jennifer Kupcho could not have been more fitting.
On Saturday evening Kupcho had hushed the crowd and yelled “vamos” as she drained a 91-foot putt on the 17th and then knocked in a 30-footer on the 18th green to steal a point from the Spaniard in the fourballs.
It felt like a moment that had turned the momentum of the match towards Angela Stanford’s team but fewer then 24 hours later, Kupcho and her US team-mates had little to cheer with all the euphoria draped around those wearing blue and yellow.
