Feeling hard done by, the US found the extra inspiration to win 8 1/2 out of 12 singles points.
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The incident was widely recognised to have been the key motivating factor for Inkster and her players, who had trailed 10-6 with the singles left to play. “The girls were awesome, everybody did their job”. Everybody did their job.
“But they should be so proud of themselves, they’ve done everything right this week”.
The cold, borderline offensive lack of self-awareness shown by Pettersen and her colleagues after the dust had settled in Germany reflected dreadfully on the European Solheim contingent. In the last three matches of the day, the US won by no less than Kerr’s 3-and-2 victory.
Opponent Charley Hull was already walking towards the final hole but Suzann Pettersen claimed Europe had not conceded the short putt that remained; the match referee intervened and Europe were awarded the hole. Pettesen was adamant that concession was not given and the USA lost of the hole and eventually the match. Pettersen will be roasted over her response, which is seen as less than gracious and sportsmanlike. More cynically, one might feel that considerations about her endorsement deals – or simply quelling the outrage directed at her – played an overriding role. “Suzann has let herself and her team down”.
After lifting the trophy, Inkster was ready to move on from the controversy.
“Just to clarify, I was wrongly accused of giving advice”, Sorenstam said. “I expected Carin to do something afterwards but she didn’t”.
“Sportsmanship is very important of course…but so are the rules”, said the Swede.
“This is a game and somehow we lose perspective in these matches”. Lee picked up her ball assuming an 18-inch putt had been conceded, but Petterson denied she had agreed to such a move.
The Harbor High alumna put serious thought into how she would handle her captaincy, all the way down to choosing her two captain’s picks. It broke the rules. We had a couple of chances to finish it off and win, and in the end it was their putts that win this.
Pettersen added that she had sought out USA captain Juli Inkster to say sorry in person.
Laura Davies, who has played 12 Solheim Cups for Europe, also condemned Pettersen. “We are all trying to win, to play golf. And I’m putting it behind me and moving on”.
“I don’t know if my team needed to be fired up anymore, but they were real fired up”, Inkster said.
The Norwegian added that she would do the same thing again if the situation presented itself. I wanted her to know that I am sorry.
“Speaking to some people they were saying it was really quiet before the singles and that’s odd, especially with a big lead, you normally have everyone bouncing around”. They just never gave up.
“To the fans of golf who watched the competition on TV, I am sorry for the way I carried myself”, Pettersen wrote on social media. “I feel like I let my team down and I am sorry”, Pettersen said.
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Her post continued: “To the US team, you guys have a great leader in Juli [Inkster], who I’ve always looked up to and respect so much”.
