How Europe Retained The Solheim Cup in 2023

It was written in the stars that Spain’s Carlota Ciganda should be the player to hole the putt that meant Europe retained the Solheim Cup in 2023.

She knocked in a two-footer on the 17th to beat Nelly Korda 2&1 in a nerve-shredding finale at Finca Cortesin that meant the match finished 14-14. As holders, it meant that Europe retained the trophy.

Ciganda won all four matches she played in and was immediately hugged by her emotional captain Suzann Pettersen.

"I think it was meant to be. It came down to Carlota, in Spain, in her own hands," said Pettersen. "I walked with her down 16 and said, 'Is this how you wanted it? Because it's all in your hands in now.' And she was like, 'I'm up for it’."

Ciganda added: "I'm so happy just to do this for Suzann, for Spain. I'm just so proud. I'm so happy to do this for everyone here of the family, the Spanish crowd, this is just amazing.

"When I saw Suzann on 16, she told me a couple of things, and I was like, 'I'm just going to do this for her, because I love her and she deserves this’."

US skipper Stacy Lewis said it was "a cool finish" and "what a moment for Carlota and women's golf". She added: "My team played their hearts out. I'm so proud of the way they fought. I told them we didn't lose. It was a tie and there was so much to build off this week."

The teams were locked together at 8-8 heading into Sunday's 12 singles matches with defending champions Europe needing six more points to retain the cup. 

The US required 14½ points to regain the trophy they last won in 2017 and for large parts of Sunday looked like they were going to achieve their aim.

But a quite thrilling final hour saw Europe fight back, as they had been doing since losing the opening session 4-0 on Friday, to secure the first tied Solheim Cup in its 18th edition.

Caroline Hedwall produced a stunning turnaround, winning five of the last six holes to win her match against Ally Ewing from three down after 12. The Swede, one of Pettersen's wildcard picks, repaid her captain, holing putts on 16 and 17 as she secured a point in a match that looked lost.

"I would like to give extra credit to Caroline Hedwall," said Pettersen. "I feel like she had the crucial point and teed it nicely up for Carlota to bring it home."

That point dragged Europe to 13-12 behind but moments later, Ciganda and Maja Stark missed putts that handed the momentum back to the Americans.

Ciganda had led by three holes after eight, but world number three Korda was all square after 15. Stark, meanwhile, was one up with two to play against US Open champion Allisen Corpuz.

Korda further increased the pressure, hitting her second into the par-four 16th to six feet. But Ciganda responded, firing hers to two feet. Korda then missed her birdie putt while the Spaniard tapped to take back the momentum.

Meanwhile, Corpuz conceded a two-foot putt on the 17th that gave Stark a 13th European point and set the scene for Ciganda. And the Spaniard delivered. She almost holed her tee shot to the delight of the thousands that had surrounded the par-three 17th. A stunned Korda leaked her effort left and could only chip five feet beyond the hole. The American holed her putt, leaving Ciganda with a putt to win that crucial 14th point.

She was swamped by her team-mates, with Emily Pedersen and Lexi Thompson were waiting to play, with their match still in the balance.

Thompson, who came into the week under huge scrutiny given her poor form over the year, won 2&1 to end with three points from four matches and the second-best record of the US side behind Megan Khang who won half a point more.