Gritty Europeans come up short as USA regain Solheim Cup

After a hard-fought showdown in the final day of singles matches at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club in Gainesville, Virginia, the United States emerged victorious in the Solheim Cup for the first time in seven years.

The competition was intense right up until Lilia Vu scored an impressive birdie on the 18th hole, securing the final half point needed to bring the total to 14 ½ points and clinch the Solheim Cup for the United States.

The final tally was 15 ½ to 12 ½, with America coming out on top.

The home team started the last day ahead by four points, leading 10-6, and managed to claim 5 ½ out of the 12 singles matches.

Winning captain Stacy Lewis expressed her excitement, saying, "This is incredible! It’s nerve-wracking to watch, honestly. It can be really tough to see. But I’m just so proud of the players. It’s remarkable how these competitions often hinge on just a half point. Luckily, we ended up on the winning side this time."

"It really could have turned out in any direction. The way everything happened at the end was wild. I was just wishing and hoping that it would work out in our favor."

"I'm really proud of the team, and Lilia's performance at the end was amazing. That’s exactly what you hope to see from one of the top players in the world."

European team leader Suzann Pettersen remarked, “We really put up a fight against them. I don’t think anyone thought we’d still be in the game at 2:30, having a shot at victory. It’s quite surprising considering how badly we started and how much of an advantage we gave them. Still, I enjoyed today. Sundays are always thrilling.”

"There were opportunities available, and on several occasions, we believed we could achieve our goals. It all came down to a few games. I'm really glad for Stacy, especially since it was on her home ground, but we'll return with a strong desire to succeed."

"I've had an amazing time with these girls. It's been a genuine pleasure. Winning is great, but losing can sting a bit more. Regardless, we've experienced plenty of small triumphs as a team this week. We've shared a lot of laughs and created memories that I'll hold dear forever. It's been an incredible journey, and I couldn't ask for a better group than Solheims."

Leona Maguire's week may end on a disappointing note, but she did manage to maintain her perfect singles record by securing a convincing 4&3 victory against Ally Ewing in the match just before the final one.

This brings her total for the week to one victory and one loss, as she has only participated in one of the four paired sessions.