Solheim Cup Golf, Day Three - Pettersen putt wins for Europe by narrowest of margins

Europe won the last three singles matches to seal a sensational 14½-13½ Solheim Cup victory over the United States at Gleneagles.

Photo from Sky Sports

Wins in the last three singles matches for Europe saw them regain the Solheim Cup at Gleneagles, with Suzann Pettersen holing the winning putt at the 18th.

Bronte Law had won her match on the 17th, before sprinting up the fairway to celebrate with the Norwegian wildcard pick after Pettersen had holed from eight-foot.

Pettersen had taken time out of the game in 2017 to have a baby, and was originally selected as vice-captain for Europe.

But after returning to the game earlier this year, captain Catriona Matthew gave the world number 665 her ninth Solheim Cup appearance.

She repaid her captain's faith with an edge-of-your-seat win at the last.

Marina Alex had missed a 10-foot putt to halve her match with Pettersen that would have seen the USA to 14 points - enough to retain the trophy.

Pettersen - who later admitted she didn't know her putt was to win the cup - sized up her putt after Law was sealing the point to put Europe to 13½ points at the 17th hole.

That meant that Pettersen putt would seal the win all of a sudden, while a miss would have seen USA reach 14 points and retain the trophy, but the Norwegian held her nerve to spark wild celebrations, before confirming her reitrement from the game.

Photo from BBC Sport

Catriona Matthew won the Solheim Cup three times as a player, and the European captain's win represents the third home victory from three editions played in Scotland, and their sixth overall out of 16 Solheim Cups.
Europe led 4½-3½ after day one, but the USA won Saturday's matches by the same margin to leave the scores level at 8-8 coming into singles day with 12 points on offer.
Both Korda sister won their singles from behind, with the trophy looking likely to be going back across the pond.
Nelly Korda was three down after nine but four birdies on the back nine saw her win two up against Caroline Hedwall.
Jessica Korda hit three birdies in five holes from the 12th to complete a 3&2 victory over Caroline Masson to put her team 12-11 ahead.
England's Charley Hull was one up playing the last hole, before a poor chip cost her a win over Megan Khang, while Anne van Dam missed a putt on the last to hand Lizette Salas a point to move USA 13½-11½ ahead.
Sweden's Anna Nordqvist was four up against Morgan Pressel before halving the 15th to draw Europe within a point.
Law then won the 16th with a birdie and when Ally McDonald bogeyed the next, Europe went level.

Photo from BBC Sport

Carlota Ciganda picked up Europe's first point with a birdie at the last against Danielle Kang.
Georgia Hall and Celine Boutier both won 2&1 after they combined to win three points on the first two days.
Hall beat world number three Lexi Thompson and was embraced by Matthew and vice-captain Laura Davies after her victory.
Boutier was playing in the match behind, and thousands of fans celebrated around the green when the Frenchwoman also won.
Angel Yin was never behind in her 2&1 victory over Azahara Munoz, while Jodi Ewart Shadoff suffered a loss to Brittany Altomare who won 5&4 for another American point.

SCORECARD
Europe 14½-13½ USA

Day One
Foursomes
A/S Carlota Ciganda/Bronte Law v Morgan Pressel/Marina Alex A/S

2&1 Georgia Hall/Celine Boutier v Alexis Thompson/Brittany Altomare

Caroline Masson/Jodi Ewart Shadoff v Jessica Korda/Nelly Korda 6&4

2&1 Charley Hull/Azahara Munoz v Megan Khang/Annie Park

Fourballs
4&2 Suzann Pettersen/Anne van Dam v Danielle Kang/Lizette Salas

Anna Nordqvist/Caroline Hedwall v Ally McDonald/Angel Yin 7&5

A/S Carlota Ciganda/ Bronte Law v Jessica Korda/Lexi Thompson A/S

A/S Charley Hull/Azahara Munoz v Nelly Korda/Brittany Altomare A/S

Day Two
Foursomes
Anna Nordqvist/Anne Van Dam v Morgan Pressel/Marina Alex 2&1

3&2 Georgia Hall/Celine Boutier v Lizette Salas/Ally McDonald

4&3 Charley Hull/Azahara Munoz v Danielle Kang/Megan Khang

Carlota Ciganda/Bronte Law v Jessica Korda/Nelly Korda 6&5

Fourballs
Suzann Pettersen/Anne van Dam v Brittany Altomare/Annie Park 1UP

A/S Jodi Ewart Shadoff/Caroline Masson v Lexi Thompson/Marina Alex A/S

2UP Georgia Hall/Celine Boutier v Ally McDonald/Angel Yin

Carlota Ciganda/Azahara Munoz v Lizette Salas/Danielle Kang 2&1

Day Three
Singles
1UP Carlota Ciganda v Danielle Kang

Caroline Hedwall v Nelly Korda 2UP

2&1 Georgia Hall v Lexi Thompson

2&1 Celine Boutier v Annie Park

Azahara Munoz v Angel Yin 2&1

A/S Charley Hull v Megan Khang A/S

Anne van Dam v Lizette Salas 1UP

Caroline Masson v Jessica Korda 3&2

Jodi Ewart Shadoff v Brittany Altomare 5&4

1UP Suzann Pettersen v Marina Alex

2&1 Bronte Law v Ally McDonald

4&3 Anna Nordqvist v Morgan Pressel

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