Europe thrash USA to win Solheim Cup

Brilliant Europe won the Solheim Cup in the United States for the first time with a crushing 18-10 victory in Colorado.

Needing just 3.5 points to retain the trophy, Europe got off to a perfect start with 17-year-old Charley Hull’s thumping 5&4 win over Paula Creamer.

Anna Nordqvist halved her match before Europe’s Carlota Ciganda and American Brittany Lang won their matches.

But impressive Swede Caroline Hedwall’s point retained the title and then the oldest player on Europe’s side, 43-year-old Catriona Matthew, secured the half that won the trophy.

As well as a first win on foreign soil, it was the first time Europe have retained the trophy since the competition was first played in 1990.

Hedwall, dubbed the “future of the team” by Suzann Pettersen in the 2011 victory at Killeen Castle in Ireland, became the first player in the history of the trophy to win all five of her matches when she beat Michelle Wie with a birdie on the 18th to give Europe an unassailable 14-7 lead.

And it then got sweeter for Europe when Matthew secured a par on the 18th to tie her match with Gerina Piller to earn an outright win.

The Scot said afterwards: “I was shaking. My knees were shaking. I knew if I got a half we would win it outright.

“It beats winning the Open in 2009 at Lytham. Any time you can celebrate with your 11 team-mates it makes it more exciting, more fun.”

Europe’s total dominance of the fourballs on Saturday to lead 10.5-5.5 left the United States looking to become the first team to come back from more than two points behind, and produce the kind of performance that Europe’s men achieved in last year’s Ryder Cup at Medinah to win the trophy.

As the singles progressed at times,there was plenty of red on the board; Meg Mallon’s USA team was up in as many as seven matches but they never looked like generating the momentum to pull off a shock and it took just five of the 12 singles matches for Europe to retain the title.

Hull set the tone for Liselotte Neumann’s Europe, winning five out of seven holes around the turn to overcome Creamer in comprehensive style. She was sensational.

The teenager only turned professional this summer and her youthfulness was summed up by her getting former US Open champion Creamer to sign her ball for a friend after the win.

Hull said: “I gave myself high hopes and I just wanted to prove people wrong. I’m 17 and people were wondering if I could perform under the pressure but I go out and enjoy it, which takes care of the pressure.

“Before the match I just thought ‘bring it’ because I beat her on Saturday and I’d try to do it again.

“This whole Solheim Cup has been wicked.”

Women’s British Open champion Stacy Lewis holed a nerveless putt on the 18th to tie a tight battle with Swede Nordqvist.

Spaniard Ciganda moved ahead on the ninth against Morgan Pressel and picked up a comfortable win to make it 13-6, only for Lang to beat Azahara Munoz 2&1 moments later to close the gap once again before play was delayed for almost an hour by the threat of lightning.

But Europe wasted little time after the break in wrapping up the win.

Hedwall’s approach to the 18th left her with less than five feet for a birdie and when Wie missed with her attempt, the Swede drained her effort to retain the title.

“This is definitely the biggest moment of my life golf-wise,” Hedwall said. “It’s awesome. I was part of it at Killeen too but this beats it by far.”

Veteran Matthew never led against Piller but pulled level with a par on the 17th and then another par on the final hole won it for Europe.

With the title already won, American Lexi Thompson completed a 4&3 win over Caroline Masson and Norwegian Suzann Pettersen missed a par putt on the 18th and halved her match with Lizette Salas.

Jodie Ewart-Shadoff overcame Brittany Lincicome 3&2 and Italian Giulia Sergas tied with Jessica Korda.

Beatriz Recari beat Angela Stanford 2&1 and Cristie Kerr and Karine Icher halved their match on the 18th.

And Neumman paid a huge tribute to her team and her six rookies, saying: “They played fearless golf and as a team the whole week. I couldn’t be prouder of them and to win for the first time on US soil is everything we dreamed and hoped for this week. It’s a wonderful feeling and the girls have been so great.”

Defeated skipper Mallon said: “I was worried when Lotte had six rookies in her side – and I was right to be. We got our butts kicked.”

The Solheim Cup will be played in two years time in Germany.

Singles Results

Stacy Lewis (US) tied with Anna Nordqvist (Eur)

Charley Hull (Eur) beat Paula Creamer (US) – 5&4

Brittany Lang (US) beat Azahara Munoz (Eur) – 2&1

Carlota Ciganda (Eur ) beat Morgan Pressel (US) – 4&2

Caroline Hedwall (Eur) beat Michelle Wie (US) – 1 up

Catriona Matthew (Eur) tied with Gerina Piller (US)

Suzann Pettersen (Eur) tied with Lizette Salas (US)

Giulia Sergas (Eur) tied with Jessica Korda (US)

Lexi Thompson (US) beat Caroline Masson (Eur) – 4&3

Jodie Ewart-Shadoff (Eur) beat Brittany Lincicome (US) – 3&2

Beatriz Recari (Eur) beat Angela Stanford (US) – 2&1

Karine Icher (Eur) tied with Cristie Kerr (US).

Caroline Hedwall was hugely impressive – winning all five points to set another record.

Here is a breakdown of her displays:

Day One: Playing with Anna Nordqvist, beat Stacy Lewis/Lizette Salas (US) 4&2 in the foursomes.

Playing with Caroline Masson beat Angela Stanford and Gerina Piller 2&1 in the fourballs.

Day Two: Playing with Anna Nordqvist, beat Jessica Korda and Morgan Pressel 2&1 in the foursomes.

Playing with Caroline Masson beat Michelle Wie and Jessica Korda 2&1 in the fourballs.

Day Three: Beat Michelle Wie, one up in the singles.