Europe, US tied at Solheim Cup
GLENEAGLES, Scotland – After a day of extraordinary comebacks, tense 18th-hole finishes, and some of the most brutal weather conditions in Solheim Cup history, still nothing can separate Europe and the United States at Gleneagles.
It’s 8-8 heading to the final-day singles and there’s no way of knowing which way this one’s going to fall.
It was just gone 7 p.m. local time on Saturday when Danielle Kang rolled in a long birdie putt amid the gloom to clinch the last match of the afternoon fourballs for the U.S. on the 17th hole, depriving the Europeans of the lead.
Kang hugged playing partner Lizette Salas, who was wearing giant ear muffs and a thick coat. They were congratulated by U.S. captain Juli Inskster, who was wearing three hats. Golf carts parked around the green had their headlights on.
It was one of those days when balls fell off tees and police officers roaming the course were seen holding onto their hats.
“I’m sure they’d love to be playing in Spain right now,” Inkster said of the players, “but this is where we’re at.”
It is the first time since 2011 in Ireland that Europe and the U.S. were tied going to the singles. The Europeans went on to lift the cup that year, and they are seeking to prevent a U.S. three-peat in women’s golf ’s premier team event.
After the morning foursomes were shared 2-2, leaving Europe with a 6 1/251/2 lead, Inkster made the bold decision to rest the three unbeaten players in her team for the fourballs.
Out went the Korda sisters, who had just swept to a record-tying 6-and-5 win, and also Morgan Pressel, who won seven of nine holes with Marina Alex to come from 4 down and secure a 2-and-1 victory.
Inkster went out of her “pod” system that has guided her selection and put her faith in fresher players to bring home the points in winds that reached 44 mph (70 kph).
The U.S. won the fourballs 2 1/2-1 1/2, with the match involving Kang and Salas – 2-up winners against Carlota Ciganda Annie Park of the United States celebrates after holing a putt during a Solheim Cup match against Europe on Saturday.
and Azahara Munoz – the only one not reaching the 18th hole.
Brittany Altomare and Annie Park had a 1-up victory in the top match over Anne van Dam and Suzann Pettersen, who left a putt short from 15 feet at the last that would have earned Europe a half-point.
Caroline Masson saw a curling putt from 8 feet lip out on No. 18 as her and European teammate Jodi Ewart Shadoff settled for a half-point against Alex and Lexi Thompson, the world No. 3 who still hasn’t won a match this week.
Then in the third match, Georgia Hall and Celine Boutier won the last five holes to recover from 3 down and claim
a 2-up victory for Europe against Ally McDonald and Angel Yin. Hall and Boutier have played together in three matches and won all of them.
“The weather was horrendous – could hardly stand up,” said Hall, last year’s Women’s British Open champion. “Back nine, we kind of switched on and played some really good golf.”
Slow play has been another feature and each of the matches in the fourballs took more than 51/2 hours. Ciganda and Salas were both warned for bad times by the referee and every match was put on the clock.
“We’re playing for our country and we’re playing in these kind of conditions, so we’re playing as fast as we can,” said Thompson.
PGA Tour
WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W.Va. – Joaquin Niemann shot a 2-under 68 to take a two-stroke in the A Military Tribute at the Greenbrier.
Trying to become the first player from Chile to win on the PGA Tour, the 20-year-old Niemann was 15 under with a round left in the season-opening event at the Old White TPC.
No third-round leader has gone on to win the tournament.
Nate Lashley, Richy Werenski and Robby Shelton were tied for second. Lashley and Werenski shot 65, and Shelton had a 70.
Adam Long and Scotty Scheffler were 12 under. Long shot 70, and Scheffler had a 71.
PGA Tour Champions
GRAND BLANC, Mich. – Jerry Kelly birdied the first five holes on the back nine and finished with a 7-under 65 to take a one-stroke lead into the final round of the PGA Tour Champions’ Ally Challenge.
Kelly had a 12-under 132 total at rainsoftened Warwick Hills, the longtime home of the PGA Tour’s defunct Buick Open. He won the American Family Insurance Championship in June in his hometown of Madison, Wisconsin, for his fourth victory on the 50-and-over tour.
European Tour
AMSTERDAM – Sergio Garcia and Callum Shinkwin shot 6-under 66s and shared the lead at 15 under after the third round of the KLM Open.
Playing together in the second-tolast pairing at The International on the outskirts of Amsterdam, Garcia and Shinkwin traded birdies all day. Garcia drew level on the par-5 18th, just missing a tricky eagle putt over a slope on the undulating green before tapping in for birdie, while Shinkwin could manage only a par after finding a bunker behind the green with his second shot.