The Solheim Cup once again belongs to the Americans.
The U.S. team successfully wrapped up unfinished business from last year, reclaiming the cup for the first time since 2017. The final score was 15.5-12.5, marking the biggest gap since 2017 when the Americans secured victory with a five-point lead.
Lilia Vu played a crucial role in securing the clinching half-point. Trailing by one in her match against Albane Valenzuela, Vu made a remarkable approach shot on the 18th hole at Robert Trent Jones Golf Course in Gainesville, Va., bringing the crowd to a frenzy with a shot that landed just two feet away from the hole. Valenzuela missed her birdie putt, while Vu confidently sank hers, pushing the U.S. team to 14.5 points.
Covered in an American flag, Vu expressed her feelings to NBC, stating that she felt she had not contributed enough to the team throughout the week, but Sunday gave her the opportunity to make amends.
U.S. captain Stacy Lewis executed a winning strategy throughout the week, starting with dominating performances on Friday with the U.S. winning 3-1. Although the European team fought back to tie the U.S. in Saturday’s sessions, they remained four points behind, requiring a dramatic singles rally on Sunday that never materialized.
The Americans put forth a strong performance with key players delivering crucial points. Megan Khang, Rose Zhang, Allisen Corpuz, and Andrea Lee all contributed to the team’s victory, ensuring the necessary points were earned for the win.
After tense moments, Celine Boutier, Leona Maguire, and Maja Stark clinched important points for the European team, but it was not enough to overcome the Americans’ lead.
Last year’s Solheim Cup ended in a 14-14 tie, allowing the Europeans to retain the cup. This result motivated the Americans to come back stronger this year and secure the victory.
The event, typically held biennially, took place in consecutive years to avoid overlapping with the Ryder Cup schedule.
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(Top photo of Rose Zhang: Gregory Shamus / Getty Images)