U.S. dominates singles, takes third straight Solheim Cup
Published 5:00 am Monday, August 24, 2009
- Team USAs Paula Creamer, left, and Michelle Wie lead their teammates up the 18th hole after their singles matches at the Solheim Cup Sunday at Rich Harvest Farms in Sugar Grove, Ill. The USA team won 16-12 to retain the cup.
SUGAR GROVE, Ill. The United States didnt want to be called the favorites at the Solheim Cup.
Winners has a much better ring to it.
Morgan Pressel delivered the clinching point with her 3-and-2 victory over Anna Nordqvist on Sunday, and the Americans won their third straight Solheim Cup with a 16-12 decision over Europe. After Nordqvist missed an 8-footer to keep the match going, Pressels teammates, who had been watching at the side of the green, leaped up and started celebrating.
This is so important to us, Pressel said, wiping away tears. Its not about pride. Its not about money. Its about country. Its about our teammates.
Michelle Wie, whose 3-0-1 record was the best of any American this week, grabbed a U.S. flag and held it aloft to cries of Wheee! from the crowd. As the last three matches finished, there were shrieks of joy when the next American joined the party, and new rounds of U-S-A! U-S-A!
When the last match was done, they ran around the 18th green hugging each other and waving American flags. The fans at Rich Harvest Farms, so boisterous all week, serenaded the players with more chants and applause.
Most of the day, I didnt think it was going to happen, an emotional U.S. captain Beth Daniel said.
The Americans were heavy favorites this week. They had some of the top players in the world while four of Europes players were ranked 125th or lower. Annika Sorenstam, Europes anchor the last decade, is no longer playing. And the United States had won the last two Solheim Cups, and were unbeaten on U.S. soil.
But Europe captain Alison Nicholas pulled out every trick she could this week to inspire her team, including video messages from Seve Ballesteros and Jose Maria Olazabal, whose Spanish Armada was regarded as the greatest partnership in Ryder Cup history.
Midway through the afternoon, Europe was leading in six of the 12 matches.
Get that red on the board, get that red on the board, thats all I was thinking about, Wie said.
Angela Stanford gave the Americans their first boost, beating Becky Brewerton 5 and 4 to give the United States the first point of the day. Paula Creamer followed with a victory over Suzann Pettersen shortly after, and Wie rebounded to beat Helen Alfredsson 1 up.
Wie had been 3 up through six holes, but the former European captain made some clutch shots to even it after 11 holes.
But Wie showed again that when shes on, few can touch her. Her drive on the par-5 15th went 305 yards no, thats not a misprint and she hit an eight iron to 20 feet. She two-putted for the birdie, and Alfredsson couldnt make the putt to match her.
Wie went in heavy rough off the tee on 17 and had no choice but to punch out. She still had a chance to halve the hole, but her 20-footer stopped right at the edge of the cup.
I did not want to go to 18, Wie said, but it came to that.
She hit another booming drive, and was so amped up she started walking as soon as she hit it, leaving her tee stuck in the box. Her approach landed 25 feet below the hole, and she left it 2 feet short. Alfredssons 35-foot eagle putt was short, too, and Wie simply tapped in to win the match.
People have seen a different side of me, said Wie, saddled with the expectations of being the female equivalent of Tiger Woods since she was in grade school. This was just a lot of fun. Theres nothing to describe it.
The biggest shift came when Juli Inkster and Brittany Lang turned around matches that appeared to be going in Europes win column, scratching out critical halves.
Its very tough. Once you lose a few games, the momentum starts going the wrong way for us, said Catriona Matthew, who gave Europe one of its only two victories with a 3-and-2 win over Kristy McPherson.
Also on Sunday:
Moore wins in playoff
GREENSBORO, N.C. Ryan Moore won for the first time on the PGA Tour with a birdie on the third hole of a sudden death playoff to beat Kevin Stadler at the Wyndham Championship.
Moore who vaulted up the leaderboard with five consecutive birdies on the back nine had two chances to seal the victory after his approach on No. 18 landed in the middle of the green and rolled to 6 feet. He sank that putt for his first victory in his 112th event.
Stadlers second shot on the third playoff hole skipped off the back of the green. He chipped within 20 feet, but his putt drifted to the low side of the cup.
That cleared the way for Moore to pick up $918,000 and 500 FedEx Cup points for winning the final tournament before the playoffs start later this week.
Stadler, Moore and Jason Bohn forced the playoff after they were tied at 16-under 264 through 72 holes. Bohn was eliminated on the first playoff hole after he had trouble escaping the greenside bunker on No. 18 and his first shot rolled back into the sand.
Sergio Garcia blew a three-stroke lead midway through the final round, shot a 70 and finished at 265.
Dyson claims second KLM title
ZANDVOORT, Netherlands Englands Simon Dyson came from six shots back to win the KLM Open, beating Irelands Peter Lawrie and Swedens Peter Hedblom in a playoff. After six birdies in his first 12 holes, Dyson matched a course record with a 7-under 63 and then birdied the first extra hole for his second title at the KLM Open.