Early in the day, the European side put loads of blue and yellow on the scoreboard, and visions of a Medinah-like collapse for the USA team were in the peripheral.
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They picked up seven out of eight points in the format, which more than made up for the slightly better European record in foursomes (alternate shot) matches.
The drama of Thompson’s comeback- “I’m exhausted and I’m speechless”, Nordqvist said of the match – wasn’t matched the rest of the day, but for the Americans, it didn’t have to be.
But then Thompson turned in one of the more remarkable nine-hole performances in team event history (men’s or women’s).
Sweden’s Nordqvist, who is recovering from a bout of glandular fever, has won all three of her matches this week.
With Lizette Salas guaranteed at least a halve from her match, the clinching putt fell to 18-year-old rookie Angel Yin, who was one of Inkster’s captain’s picks.
The United States beat Europe by five points to retain the Solheim Cup in Iowa on Sunday as the Americans continued their near invincibility on home soil. “I’ve never seen anything like it”.
Thompson followed with an eagle putt on the 15th hole, and a birdie on 16 put her ahead for the first time.
“I mean, it’s great”, said Thompson of the split point. Nordqvist was quick out of the blocks winning the first four holes in a row. “I knew that she was going to be a fighter. That’s all I could do”. “I just gave her the opportunities and she was just rolling the ball”. “To have them behind me and cheering me on even when I was four down just kept me going”. “Her chest turns with her hips, but she stays balanced, and her weight doesn’t move out over her toes”.
Beginning with Lexi Thompson’s drive off the first tee on Friday morning, the golf has surpassed my expectations. I’ve learned a lot the last 18 months. “It’s kind of nerve-wrecking, but I just love where my players’ heads are at right now”. “It’s been a great week”.
Shortly after 1 p.m., the Europeans led in six matches, the Americans led four, and the other two were tied up. “Juli captained her team very, very well”.
“The Europeans made it really close”. I really haven’t been nervous all week. “I hope people witnessed this because it was a real show”. “And I think that really helps for the confidence of the team”. They believed in each other.
US captain Juli Inkster started the week by handing each of her players a construction helmet, telling them to “get to work”. “And they played some wonderful golf”.
“I am not someone to look back”. Official figures are yet to be released, but early estimates peg the total at more than 20,000 people per tournament day.
A special hat tip: to Anna Nordqvist, who played brilliantly under the most hard physical circumstances; to Paula Creamer, who was passed over and then, when summoned, answered the call with grace and a willingness to give her very best; to Catriona Matthew, who stepped in at the 11th hour to fill a gap in the European roster when she’d charted another path.
Hull then gave her side hope with a deft chip from the greenside rough at 15 which found just enough of the cup to drop, but Lewis smote a delightful iron to four feet at the 17th and rolled in the putt to complete a ideal afternoon for Team USA.
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Maybe Inkster gets the three-peat.
