THE VICTORY shrieks that greeted Europe’s win in the Solheim Cup at Killeen Castle in Co Meath yesterday were of operatic, glass-shattering proportions, and – a bit like the winning team – the crystal trophy, the most famed in women’s team golf, proved indestructible.
On a day when the weather tried in vain to be a spoilsport, resulting in a number of enforced rain delays, Europe’s 15-13 win over the United States ended an eight-year drought. It gave Europe only a fourth ever victory in the match and their first success since Barseback in Sweden in 2003.
With US captain Rosie Jones referring to the “crummy weather” conditions, the match – despite the suspensions in yesterday’s singles – drew 28,000 spectators to the estate.
Europe’s win – on the back of a 7-5 success in the decisive singles – brought the trophy, originally created by Waterford Crystal, back home. “This is the best feeling, even better than Barseback . . . to win here, where the challenge was so big,” said world No 3 Suzann Pettersen, the Norwegian whose singles win over Michelle Wie was crucial. Pettersen finished with three birdies to defeat Wie.
Asked where she had found the closing birdies that enabled her to close out the match, she replied: “I found them on eBay this morning.”
Although the European team didn’t feature any Irish player, Europe’s captain, Alison Nicholas, praised the home galleries and described them as the “15th club” in the bag. The successful hosting of the tournament completed a memorable year for Irish golf.
“This has been a really great week. You couldn’t ask for a better experience, a better golf course. I think our gals played their hearts out, we couldn’t ask any more of them . . . . Europe just played better than us,” said Jones.
Taoiseach Enda Kenny was among the spectators at Killeen Castle and was by the 13th green when Europe’s Catriona Matthew claimed the first singles point. “This is a first for Ireland to have the Solheim Cup and it is self-evident the [crowd] numbers that have turned up here have been huge in comparison to other countries,” he said.