Americans finish off Europe in Solheim rout
Lexi Thompson set the tone by rallying from four holes down. The rest of the Americans took it from there and restored their dominance in the Solheim Cup
“I was just, like, ‘I just have to go all in and go for it all,’ ” Thompson said.
Her U.S. teammates followed her lead and the Americans finished off their most-decisive Solheim Cup victory in over 20 years, beating Europe 161⁄2-111⁄2 on Sunday at Des Moines Golf and Country Club at West Des Moines, Iowa.
Cristie Kerr and Paula Creamer won key matches, and Gerina Piller sealed it with a birdie putt that put her 3 up over Florentyna Parker with three to play in a 4-and-2 victory.
“They just bonded. They believed in each other. They played for the person behind them and in front of them. And they played some amazing golf,” said Los Altos’ Juli Inkster, who joined Judy Rankin as the only U.S. captains to win the Solheim Cup twice.
The Americans are 10-5 in the biennial tournament after their biggest win since a 17-11 triumph in 1996 in Wales.
Kerr beat Mel Reid 2 and 1 for her record-extending 21st point in the competition, and Creamer edged Georgia Hall 1 up to raise her total to 19 1 ⁄2 — second on the U.S. career list.
Thompson ended up halving with Anna Nordqvist, and Angel Yin halved with Karine Icher as the teams split the 12 singles matches. Lizette Salas and Danielle Kang also won for the U.S. Salas edged Jodi Ewart Shadoff 1 up, and Kang beat Emily Pedersen 3 and 1.
For Europe, Catriona Matthew beat Stacy Lewis 1 up, Caroline Masson topped Michelle Wie 4 and 2, Charley Hull edged Brittany Lang 1 up, Carlota Ciganda beat Brittany Lincicome 4 and 3, and Madelene Sagstrom defeated Austin Ernst 3 and 2.
“We just got outplayed, no doubt about it,” European captain Annika Sorenstam said. “I’m just so proud of how hard they fought. What can I say? Just congratulate the USA because they played some awesome golf.” PGA Tour: Henrik Stenson won the Wyndham Championship at Greensboro, N.C., closing with a 6-under-par 64 for a one-stroke victory in the final event of the regular season.
The 2013 FedEx Cup champion finished at 22-under 258 at Sedgefield Country Club, breaking the course’s 72-hole record set by Carl Pettersson in 2008 and matched last year by Si Woo Kim. The Swede earned $1,044,000 and 500 postseason points for his first victory since the 2016 British Open.
Ollie Schniederjans shot a 64 to finish second.
The playoffs start this week at the Northern Trust for the top 125 players on the points list.
Geoff Ogilvy, who was at No. 125, finished at 11-under and earned enough points to move to No. 116. Martin Flores, who started at No. 139, jumped to No. 118 and made after a 63 highlighted by a hole-in-one on the par-3 16th. U.S. Amateur: Doc Redman, a sophomore at Clemson, rallied from two holes down with two to play and won the U.S. Amateur at Los Angeles’ Riviera Country Club, beating Doug Ghim on the first extra hole. Champions Tour: Scott McCarron birdied the final three holes to beat Sacramento childhood rival Kevin Sutherland by a stroke in the Dick’s Sporting Goods Open at Endicott, N.Y. McCarron closed with an 8-under 64 a day after shooting a 61. Sutherland also birdied the 18th for a 65.
John Daly (66) tied for third. European Tour: Spain’s Adrian Otaegui came from behind to beat home favorite Marcel Siem 2 and 1, clinching the Paul Lawrie Match Play at Bad Griesback, Germany, for his first European Tour title.