2017 Solheim Cup: Team USA Cruises to Win Over Europe

Team Europe won the opening session of the 2017 Solheim Cup, but Team USA took off from there and cruised to a comfortable 5-point victory. With the win, Team USA took an all-time lead over Europe of 10-5 in Solheim Cup tournaments.

• Final Score: USA 16.5, Europe 11.5
• Dates: Aug. 18-20
• Site: Des Moines Golf and Country Club in West Des Moines, Iowa
• Captains: USA - Juli Inkster; Europe - Annika Sorenstam

Des Moines Golf and Country Club had hosted one previous major event in golf, the 1999 U.S. Senior Open. The golf course was one of Pete Dye's early designs.

2017 Solheim Cup Team Rosters

USA

Lexi Thompson
Stacy Lewis
Gerina Piller
Cristie Kerr
Paula Creamer-x
Danielle Kang
Michelle Wie
Brittany Lang
Brittany Lincicome
Lizette Salas
Angel Yin*
Austin Ernst*

Europe
Georgia Hall, England
Florentyna Parker, England
Mel Reid, England
Jodi Ewart Shadoff, England
Carlota Ciganda, Spain
Catriona Matthew, Scotland-y
Charley Hull, England
Karine Icher, France
Anna Nordqvist*, Sweden
Caroline Masson*, Germany
Emily Kristine Pedersen*, Denmark
Madelene Sagstrom*, Sweden

*captain's pick; x-Creamer named as injury replacement for Jessica Korda; y-Matthew named as injury replacement for Suzann Pettersen

How Team USA Earned the 2017 Solheim Cup Victory

The opening foursomes session on Day 1 went to Europe by a score of 2.5 to 1.5, but the Americans turned it around in the Day 1 fourballs, winning that session by a 4-0 score. At the end of Day 1, it was USA 5.5, Europe 2.5. And Europe would get no closer than three points afterward.

The European side was playing without one of its best players: A back problem forced Suzann Pettersen to withdraw days before the tournament started. She was replaced by 47-year-old Catriona Matthew, who had been picked as one of Annika Sorenstam's assistant captains. Matthew was one of the bright spots for Europe, though, going 3-1-0, including a singles victory.

For Team USA, Cristie Kerr went 3-0-1, becoming the American side's all-time leading point-winner in the process. Her career total of 21 points surpassed the 18.5 of her captain, Juli Inkster, who was the previous recordholder.

Lizette Salas, who beat Jodi Ewart Shadoff in the seventh singles match of the final day, provided the point that put Team USA over the top.

Day 1 Scores

Friday Morning Foursomes

• Mel Reid/Charley Hull, Europe, halved Lexi Thompson/Cristie Kerr, USA
• Danielle Kang/Lizette Salas, USA, def. Carlota Ciganda/Caroline Masson, Europe, 1-up
• Anna Nordqvist/Georgia Hall, Europe, def. Paula Creamer/Austin Ernst, USA, 3 and 1
• Karine Icher/Catriona Matthew, Europe, def. Stacy Lewis/Gerina Piller, USA, 1-up

Friday Afternoon Fourballs

• Michelle Wie/Danielle Kang, USA, def. Madelene Sagstrom/Jodi Ewart Shadoff, Europe, 3 and 1
• Angel Yin/Lizette Salas, USA, def. Carlota Ciganda/Emily Kristine Pedersen, Europe, 6 and 5
• Brittany Lincicome/Brittany Lang, USA, def.  Florentyna Parker/Caroline Masson, Europe, 3 and 2
• Stacy Lewis/Gerina Piller, USA, def. Charley Hull/Georgia Hall, Europe, 2 and 1

Day 2 Scores

Saturday Morning Foursomes

• Cristie Kerr/Lexi Thompson, USA, def. Jodi Ewart Shadoff/Caroline Masson, Europe, 5 and 3
• Paula Creamer/Austin Ernst, USA, def. Mel Reid/Emily Kristine Pedersen, Europe, 5 and 3
• Anna Nordqvist/Georgia Hall, Europe, def. Stacy Lewis/Gerina Piller, USA, 2 and 1
• Catriona Matthew/Karine Icher, Europe, def. Michelle Wie/Danielle Kang, USA, 2 and 1

Saturday Afternoon Fourballs

• Brittany Lang/Brittany Lincicome, USA, def. Mel Reid/Carlota Ciganda, Europe, 2-up
• Anna Nordqvist/Jodi Ewart Shadoff, Europe, def. Lizette Salas/Angel Yin, USA, 4 and 2
• Paula Creamer/Austin Ernst, USA, def. Karine Icher/Madelene Sagstrom, Europe, 2 and 1
• Cristie Kerr/Lexi Thompson, USA, def. Catriona Matthew/Georgia Hall, Europe, 4 and 2

Day 3 Scores

Sunday Singles

• Anna Nordqvist, Europe, halved with Lexi Thompson, USA
• Paula Creamer, USA, def. Georgia Hall, Europe, 1-up
• Cristie Kerr, USA, def. Mel Reid, Europe, 2 and 1
• Catriona Matthew, Europe, def. Stacy Lewis, USA, 1-up
• Karine Icher, Europe, halved with Angel Yin, USA
• Caroline Masson, Europe, def. Michelle Wie, USA, 4 and 2
• Lizette Salas, USA, def. Jodi Ewart Shadoff, Europe, 1-up
• Charley Hull, Europe, def. Brittany Lang, USA, 1-up
• Carlota Ciganda, Europe, def. Brittany Lincicome, USA, 4 and 3
• Gerina Piller, USA, def. Florentyna Parker, Europe, 4 and 2
• Madelene Sagstrom, Europe, def. Austin Ernst, USA, 3 and 2
• Danielle Kang, USA, def. Emily Kristine Pedersen, Europe, 3 and 2

Player Records

(Wins-Losses-Halves)

Europe
Georgia Hall, 2-3-0
Florentyna Parker, 0-2-0
Mel Reid, 0-3-1
Jodi Ewart Shadoff, 1-3-0
Carlota Ciganda, 1-3-0
Charley Hull, 1-1-1
Karine Icher, 2-1-1
Catriona Matthew, 3-1-0
Anna Nordqvist, 3-0-1
Caroline Masson, 1-3-0
Emily Kristine Pedersen, 0-3-0
Madelene Sagstrom, 1-2-0

USA
Lexi Thompson, 2-0-2
Stacy Lewis, 1-3-0
Gerina Piller, 2-2-0
Cristie Kerr, 3-0-1
Paula Creamer, 3-1-0
Danielle Kang, 3-1-0
Michelle Wie, 1-2-0
Brittany Lang, 2-1-0
Brittany Lincicome, 2-1-0
Lizette Salas, 3-1-0
Angel Yin, 1-1-1
Austin Ernst, 2-2-0