The United States turned their fury at a controversial incident into a brilliant fightback to win the Solheim Cup and avoid an unprecedented third straight defeat on Sunday.
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Europe took a 10-6 lead into the final session at St Leon-Rot in Germany, but could only manage 3.5 points from the 12 singles to see the trophy slip from their grasp.
Victories from Karine Icher, Melissa Reid and Anna Nordqvist left the home side needing half a point from the remaining five matches, but none of those even made it to the 18th hole.
Charley Hull lost her 100 per cent record to an inspired Cristie Kerr, who fired seven birdies in eight holes after being three-down after four, while Caroline Hedwall was thrashed 6&4 by Michelle Wie.
Team USA wins the 2015 Solheim Cup. Unbelievable comeback from a 4 point deficit. Congratulations to all the players! pic.twitter.com/jVumBMbQlq
— The 2015 Solheim Cup (@SolheimCup2015) September 20, 2015
America’s Gerina Piller then holed from 10 feet on the 18th to beat Caroline Masson and keep the match alive, before Angela Stanford amazingly ended a run of nine straight defeats with a 2&1 win over Suzann Pettersen, who had earlier been at the heart of the controversy which left two players in tears.
In the final fourball match carried over from Saturday, Pettersen and Hull were all square with two holes to play against Brittany Lincicome and Alison Lee.
Lee missed a birdie putt to win the 17th and, after the ball finished two feet past the hole, scooped it up with her putter thinking it either had been, or was certain to be, conceded.
Hull gave that impression as she started walking across the front of the green towards the 18th tee, but Pettersen said they had not conceded the putt, this winning the hole.
European captain Carin Koch approached the match referee on the 18th to ask if there was anything she could do and was told they could concede the hole, but opted not to after Pettersen insisted she was not going to concede Lee’s putt.
Hull and rookie Lee were reduced to tears as heated discussions took place around the green, with visiting captain Juli Inkster wanting to lead some of her team in a chant of “Europeans suck”, before they opted for “Class, style, U-S-A”.
Asked if it was possible to change the result of the match, Inkster said: “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. It’s just not right. You just don’t do that to your peers. It’s disrespectful.
“Suzann kind of turned her back and then she said she did not give it to her (Lee).”
Laura Davies, a 12-time Solheim veteran, said she was “disgusted” by Pettersen’s behaviour.
“We have got our best player, Charley Hull, who has just won a point and she is in floods of tears. That tells you the wrong thing was done,” Davies said.
POLL: Who was in the right over the controversial Solheim Cup putt? Use #ssnhqeurope or #ssnhqusa pic.twitter.com/Zqf2cTdAQ8
— Sky Sports News HQ (@SkySportsNewsHQ) September 20, 2015
“How Suzann can justify that I will never, ever know. We are all fierce competitors but ultimately it’s unfair. We have to play week in, week out together and you do not do something like that to a fellow pro.
“I know (Pettersen) is angry and justifying everything, but she has let herself down and she has certainly let her team down. I am so glad I am not on that team this time.”
Speaking after her side’s comeback was complete thanks to Paula Creamer’s 4&3 win over Germany’s Sandra Gal, Inkster added: “I’m over it now. We’ve got the cup.
“I didn’t have to say anything to them after this morning, they were all fired up and ready to go out and play. The girls just played awesome today. They never gave up. Everybody did their job and I couldn’t be prouder of those girls.”
European assistant captain Annika Sorenstam said: “They played extraordinary golf in the singles. We pressed really hard to the end but today the US just outplayed us.”
