SUGAR GROVE, Ill. (AP) -- The United States didn't 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, Pressel's 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. "It's not about pride. It's not about money. It's about country. It's 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 didn't 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 Europe's players were ranked 125th or lower. Annika Sorenstam, Europe's 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.
Solheim Cup Photos
SUGAR GROVE, IL - AUGUST 23: Christina Kim of the U.S. Team celebrates after winning the 14th hole during the Sunday singles matches at the 2009 Solheim Cup at Rich Harvest Farms on August 23, 2009 in Sugar Grove, Illinois. (Photo by Scott Halleran/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Christina Kim
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SUGAR GROVE, IL - AUGUST 23: Morgan Pressel of the U.S. Team hits her tee shot on the third hole during the Sunday singles matches at the 2009 Solheim Cup at Rich Harvest Farms on August 23, 2009 in Sugar Grove, Illinois. (Photo by Scott Halleran/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Morgan Pressel
Getty Images
SUGAR GROVE, IL - AUGUST 23: Paula Creamer of the U.S. Team hits her tee shot on the 13th hole during the Sunday singles matches at the 2009 Solheim Cup at Rich Harvest Farms on August 23, 2009 in Sugar Grove, Illinois. (Photo by Scott Halleran/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Paula Creamer
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SUGAR GROVE, IL - AUGUST 23: Paula Creamer of the U.S. Team celebrates her 3&2 victory over Suzann Pettersen of Europe on the 16th green during the Sunday singles matches at the 2009 Solheim Cup at Rich Harvest Farms on August 23, 2009 in Sugar Grove, Illinois. (Photo by Scott Halleran/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Paula Creamer
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SUGAR GROVE, IL - AUGUST 23: Christina Kim of the U.S. Team celebrates winning the 14th hole during the Sunday singles matches at the 2009 Solheim Cup at Rich Harvest Farms on August 23, 2009 in Sugar Grove, Illinois. (Photo by Scott Halleran/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Christina Kim
Getty Images
SUGAR GROVE, IL - AUGUST 23: Christina Kim of the U.S. Team celebrates after winning the 14th hole during the Sunday singles matches at the 2009 Solheim Cup at Rich Harvest Farms on August 23, 2009 in Sugar Grove, Illinois. (Photo by Scott Halleran/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Christina Kim
Getty Images
Team USA's Juli Inkster hugs Team Europe's Tania Elosegui of Spain after their singles match at the Solheim Cup golf tournament Sunday, Aug. 23, 2009, at Rich Harvest Farms in Sugar Grove, Ill. The USA team won 16-12 to retain the cup. (AP Photo/Mike Groll)
AP
Team USA's Kristy McPherson, left to right, Brittany Lincicome, Nicole Castrale and Morgan Pressel celebrate after their singles matches at the Solheim Cup golf tournament Sunday, Aug. 23, 2009, at Rich Harvest Farms in Sugar Grove, Ill. The USA team won 16-12 to retain the cup. (AP Photo/Mike Groll)
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Team USA captain Beth Daniel, left, and the team huddle on the 18th hole after their singles matches at the Solheim Cup golf tournament Sunday, Aug. 23, 2009, at Rich Harvest Farms in Sugar Grove, Ill. The USA team won 16-12 to retain the cup. (AP Photo/Mike Groll)
AP
Team USA captain Beth Daniel walks up the 18th hole during a singles match at the Solheim Cup golf tournament Sunday, Aug. 23, 2009, at Rich Harvest Farms in Sugar Grove, Ill. The USA team won 16-12 to retain the cup. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
AP
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,' that's 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.
"It was tough," Wie said. "Helen's the best. She's just so tough to beat."
Wie showed again that when she's on, few can touch her. Her drive on the par-5 15th went 305 yards-no, that's not a misprint-and she hit an eight iron to 20 feet. She two-putted for the birdie, and Alfredsson couldn't 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. Alfredsson's 35-foot eagle putt was short, too, and Wie simply tapped in to win the match.
She screamed "Yeah! Yeah! Yeah!" and pumped her fist before being bearhugged by Stanford.
"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. There's nothing to describe it."
The biggest shift came when Juli Inkster and Brittany Lang turned around matches that appeared to be going in Europe's win column, scratching out critical halves."It's 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.
Inkster, at 49 the oldest player and a captain's pick, hit a solid shot into 12 feet on the par-3 16th. Then Gwladys Nowcera missed a 6-footer for par on the 17th, squaring it up.
"I had a great time, and I'm glad Beth and Meg thought enough of me to pick me," said Inkster, who said after the match that this was her last Solheim Cup. "It's a great ride."
Davies was 3 up through 15 holes, and went to the 17th knowing the worst she could do was win a half point. But the four-time major champion, benched for the entire day Saturday, closed with back-to-back bogeys.
The United States won the singles 8-4, and Europe has won the singles matches only three times at the Solheim Cup.
"The girls have played well," Nicholas said, choking up. "It was good fun, but it's a disappointment."
By NANCY ARMOUR, AP National Writer
Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. Active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
8-23-2009 @ 5:19PM
geigergl said...
Congrats to the USA on it's Solheim victory, however, how about inviting teams from Asia, Mexico, and Australia to compete as well.
Reply
8-23-2009 @ 5:36PM
spitter2 said...
Because it is the Solheim Cup and that is USA vs. Europe. It is not an invitation to who YOU think should be there. As for the Asians,stay in Asia and let me know how much you make playing golf.
8-24-2009 @ 8:19AM
djlove11 said...
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8-23-2009 @ 6:11PM
Steve said...
hey, that's a Great idea to start a new Cup Tourney! how about it, golf fans? the first annual ladies' competition between USA and Asia, following the same general guidelines as the Solheim, regarding qualifications, venue, etc. (Michelle Wie, from Hawaii, already has a huge fan base across the Asian region.)
does anyone know who we could promote this idea to at the LPGA?
Reply
8-23-2009 @ 6:30PM
goodearth10 said...
Once again the Americans have proven that in victory they have no etiquette. I really thought that Michelle Wie and Christina Kim would throw their elbows out with all of the fist pumping they were doing. America is a joke. Line up the Asian's and lets see how much fist pumping the Americans do. A tourney against the far east players might not even make it to Sunday.
Reply
8-23-2009 @ 6:51PM
nsarmento said...
I say PHOEY! As a life long golfer, and former classmate of Beth Daniel's, I say that women's golf NEEDS a shot in the arm like Christina Kim. Tiger Woods pumps his fists in victory all of the time, but I don't see anyone critisizing HIM. Christina is an exhuberant golfer...especially in this team oriented format. BUT she is also a serious (and seriously GOOD) professional golfer. I say let's see some FIRE in these gals and start showing little girls it's OK TO COMPETE and CELEBRATE COMPETITION.
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8-23-2009 @ 7:17PM
Jim and Sandy said...
Michelle Wie was fantastic
Reply
8-24-2009 @ 9:53AM
bikininor said...
I couldn't agree more, Michelle fianally had the opportunity to show all the talent many has known was there for years. Hard to believe this is a 19 year old kid. The LPGA has a lot to look forward to when it comes to having a great american golfer who can compete every week. Many thought she shouldn't be there and yet without her 3.5 points, the cup may have well gone the other way. I am so tired of those who bash this young kid who showed this weekend she is on tough young lady!!!!
8-23-2009 @ 7:18PM
ed344mu said...
goodearth10,
You are a cretin! This was exciting to watch and very close. To pick on Kim shows that you're a zero with no life! Please get a clue before you respond again, or you have your nurse respond. You are so unintelligent that it leaves me breathless! Yet, you are only clueless!
Reply
8-23-2009 @ 9:19PM
Bill3JoanA said...
A President's Cup type event like the PGA is being discussed. Goodearth is an idiot, you have no clue how intense this event is for the teams. Best guess is you never made the neighborhood team let alone playing for country. The format makes for the excitement that medal play does not. Nice exit for a classy lady who will be back as a captain soon in Julie Inkster. And the rest of the gals were under 31, pretty young. Wie was terrific. And yes, USA had the much hotter team, even without hitting a ball. Thanks to all of them.
Reply
8-23-2009 @ 10:51PM
morelights said...
Christina Kim is a beyond lovely person. She showed immense class at The British Open playing aside Catriona Matthew in the final group as Catriona pulled away from the competition... she was her biggest cheerleader there. That is simply Christina's personality, enthusiastic, giving, lovely..... we are so fortunate to have her as an American. An beleive it or not, this is from an American who will always love Annika Sorenstam best.....
Reply
8-24-2009 @ 6:03AM
Lehane Family said...
This was my first time watching the Solheim Cup. It was SO exciting to watch. It was my brothers who were watching it and seeing how intense it was I joined in. We were all around the television cheering for the USA - it was like the Olympics! This match was such a tight race. The Europeans showed alot of class in defeat and the Americans were just outstanding. Thanks ladies, for making this American girl immensely proud.
Reply
8-24-2009 @ 7:51AM
dxxy4u said...
All these Cups leaves out the best players. There should be three Participants. Americans, Europeans, and ROW (Rest of the World). The ROW players would win every time. This is where those Korean players will come in, and South American players. And they KNOW this.
Reply
8-24-2009 @ 8:14AM
mstrunn400 said...
All these Cups leaves out the best players
Could not agree with you more DXXY, this was an exhibition, it was like leaving Usain Bolt out of the final, and someone posted, was like watching the Olympics, give me a break, the Olympics are about the best vs the best, the Europeans fought hard but were not the best, the LPGA is in trouble and know it, they have lost sponsors, and tournaments and more are to follow, the've reverted to sex appeal to have male viewers watch, pit the best vs the best, give others a chance or is the LPGA too afraid the'll lose?
8-24-2009 @ 10:16AM
gailgrprns3 said...
WHO CARES.!____A BUCH OF SICK LESZBOS.
Reply
8-24-2009 @ 10:58AM
golferbob37 said...
To address the comments about the US playing the ROW, you are correct, as currently, the Korean ladies would dominate, and there really should be a place for Lorena Ochoa. However, the Solheim Cup predates the relatively recent rise of the ladies from places other than US and Europe. It wold be cool if someone like Hyundai or Samsung would sponsor such a tournament. It would also help promote women's golf world-wide, as will the inclusion of the sport in the Olympics.
As a male American golfer, I am distressed by the generally poor coverage given wome's golf in mainstrwam media. Perhaps the emergence of Michele Wie as a winner this weekend will help boost the sport's profile and visibility. I certainly hope so.
Reply
8-24-2009 @ 12:35PM
dbrown4428 said...
While I don't watch too much women's golf, I watched this competition and I am glad I did.
It was uplifting to see the team spirit, sportsmanship on both sides and the sheer joy shown by all just to be there playing for their country.
There should be more competitions like this to spark interest in golf, both women's and men's.
Good job Team America. Congratulations
DB
Reply
8-24-2009 @ 12:48PM
denny said...
I spent 2 days following these girls around the course, and I must say, a real class act. I can see from some of the comments, some just don't get it. Too bad! Every day the crowds got large and larger, over 100,000 passed through those gates. Thank you, Mr. Jerry Rich, for a great track.
Reply