"Let's make history," Neumann said.
Although Team USA played some of its best golf of the three-day, biennial event in Sunday singles, the Americans couldn't climb out of the hole they dug Friday and Saturday with disappointing "doubles" performances in foursomes (alternate shot) and fourball (best score) — and the underdog Europeans made history indeed.
On its seventh try, Team Europe finally claimed a Solheim Cup on American soil, an 18-10 victory at Colorado Golf Club. The Euros began the day with a 10½ to 5½ lead — a commanding advantage by Solheim standards — and needed only 3½ points Sunday to bring the Cup back across the pond.
This marked the largest margin of victory in Solheim Cup history. The previous biggest blowout was a 17½ to 10½ Euro victory in 2003.
"We really got our butts kicked this week," U.S. captain Meg Mallon said. "But hats off to the Europeans."
It's a good bet the Cup, fashioned from fine Waterford Crystal but treasured for the competition it represents, won't be checked for the baggage compartment.
"I'm going to cry now," Spain's Azahara Muñoz said.
Europe still trails 8-5 overall in Solheim competition, which began in 1990. But Europe retained the Cup that it had earned in 2011 at the Killeen Castle course in Ireland. And the Euros would like to believe Solheim will never again become one-sided. Before 2011, Team USA had won three consecutive Cups.
"We ran into a buzz saw," American veteran Cristie Kerr said.
The future certainly looks bright for Team Europe, which featured six rookies on its 12-player squad. Charley Hull, a 17-year-old from England, dominated one of America's best, Paula Creamer, so thoroughly Sunday in singles play the match failed to reach
Photos: Solheim Cup
Playing like a veteran, Hull took dead aim at flag sticks. She also capitalized on balky putting by Creamer, an ailment that seemed to afflict the entire U.S. squad. The teen's 5-and-4 victory in the day's second match provided the Euros with their first point of the afternoon. And with Team Europe needing just 3½ points among the 12 available, that was huge.
Consider this: Hull has played professionally for only six months. Look out world. The daughter of a plaster craftsman in England, Hull plans to attempt to earn a 2014 LPGA Tour card this fall in the qualifying tournament.
"I was just relaxed," Hull said after her round.
Relaxed? At age 17? At the Solheim Cup?
"I didn't really feel that nervous, to be honest," she explained. "It's because this is how I always look at golf. I'm not going to die if I miss it. Just hit it, and find it, and hit it again."
After Hull shook hands with Creamer, the teenager in Hull finally came out. She asked for Creamer's autograph.
"For my friend back home; he's a big fan," Hull said.
If the youngest player in Solheim Cup history could feel that at ease, what did that say about the composure of her teammates, and especially of the other five Euro rookies? Plenty.
As any golf instructor would preach, a relaxed golfer will
Giulia
Sergas of Italy celebrates a birdie on No. 18 to halve her match with
Jessica Korda. The Europeans looked more comfortable from the start. (AAron Ontiveroz, The Denver Post)
For Europe it was: Check. Check. Check.
It would take a calculator to count the number of putts by U.S. players inside 10 feet that stopped — or turned — just short. Meanwhile, firmer putts by Team Europe reached the back of the cup.
"We realized when we got here the greens were fast," Neumann said, "maybe some of the fastest we've ever played. We talked about reading the putts. We had to read the speed."
Team USA could look back and attribute the loss to going 0-4 in Saturday fourball. Mallon said she reminded her players overnight that a Team USA "once earned 10½ points (actually a best of 10 points, in the 1996 Solheim Cup) so we were committed that we could do this."
But the odds of a Team USA comeback were astronomical, and not meant to be. And as it turned out, the only Sunday surprise was how quickly the Euros put it away.
Mallon had "front-loaded" her U.S. lineup for Sunday, to use her description, by placing many of her most talented players in the early groups — figuring the Americans, who needed to win a minimum of nine points (out of 12), absolutely had to come out strong in order to have a chance.
That was a sound strategy. But the Euros wouldn't have any of it. Team Europe lost only one of the first five matches — a victory by Team USA's Brittany Lang over Muñoz. Anna Nordqvist of Sweden tied Stacy Lewis, the No. 2-ranked player in the world, for a half point apiece in the opening match. Otherwise, Hull, Spain's Carlota Ciganda (over Morgan Pressel) and Caroline Hedwall earned early points.
The next Solheim Cup is in 2015 in Heidelberg, Germany.
"We'll be fired up and ready to go next time," Lewis promised.
SOURCE : http://www.denverpost.com/golf/ci_23890562/six-rookies-help-team-europe-get-first-win-u-s-soil
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