From the biggest mistake in golf to a celebrated home game hero: the Spaniard Carlota Ciganda not only won the singles against the American Nelly Korda on the Finca Cortesin golf course in Casares (Andalusia) on Sunday. Her 2&1 triumph (two more holes won with one still to play) against the Olympic champion and world number three secured the European team’s 14:14 draw in the 18th Solheim Cup against Team USA, the first in the history of this female version of the Ryder Cups.
The unusual turnaround by the 33-year-old professional golfer from Pamplona, who is ranked 28th in the industry rankings, ensured that the trophy stayed in Europe for another year after two victories. As in the Ryder Cup, which begins on Friday in Rome, a draw is enough for the last winner of the Solheim Cup to keep the trophy – and that’s why the only Spaniard in the team of twelve became frantic with shouts of “Olé” and “Carlota”. cheered.
With the Spanish King Felipe VI. Among the fans, this coup goes down as one of the unforgettable moments not only in the history of this transatlantic duel. It will also be remembered as one of the highlights of Spanish golf.
“It’s incredible. I had my family and many friends here. Playing a Solheim Cup here was just a great week. There is nothing like it. Playing in Spain and seeing my name being chanted was really amazing, very special. “That’s something I’ll never forget,” said Ciganda, describing the dream finale of her sixth appearance in the Solheim Cup.
The worst failure
Together with the thousands of fans who accompanied them throughout the round, she experienced unexpected ups and downs, just as often happens for both women and men on the final day of golf’s biggest spectacle. Ciganda appeared to have the 25-year-old daughter of former Czech tennis star Petr Korda under control for almost three hours.
But then she made the worst mistake in golf, a socket or shank. She hit the ball on the 15th hole with the so-called hosel, i.e. where the shaft connects to the club head – and was level with the American after the double bogey.
What followed demonstrated once again how unpredictable golf is in this team competition. “On the 16th hole, Suzann came to me and told me that I should win this match in my country and in front of my compatriots,” said Ciganda, describing how the Norwegian captain Pettersen had verbally strengthened her – so strongly that nothing got her out of the way afterwards . Korda hit the ball almost two meters to the flag from the next fairway, but had to see Ciganda put it much closer to the hole from 111 meters.
While Korda missed the birdie putt, Ciganda safely sank it – at a time when both knew that this match would decide everything. Ciganda hit another dream shot on the 17th hole: from 131 meters she missed the target by just sixty centimeters. Korda, on the other hand, didn’t even hit the green. Ciganda pushed the ball safely into the hole. The draw, which was the third win in a row for the Europeans, was perfect.
“A victory for the whole team”
But even if everything revolved around the local heroine in the end, a blatant outsider had previously made a fantastic turnaround. Caroline Hedwall was called into the team by captain Pettersen as 121st in the world rankings, one of the controversial “captain’s picks”. After 13 holes, the 34-year-old Swede was well behind Ally Ewing (3 down) before she shined on the last six holes.
Home game heroine: Carlota Ciganda’s biggest day: Image: EPA
After four birdies, her opponent gave up, giving her the putt for eagle on the 18th hole. “Now I realize how important this point was and I’m really proud that I was able to turn the game around,” said Hedwall afterwards, because without their 2&1 win, Europe would have given the away win to the Americans 13-15.
“It was a victory for the whole team, the best in history,” said Pettersen. The “Euros” were not impressed by a failed start on Friday. They made up the 0:4 deficit on Friday afternoon and Saturday, went into Sunday with an 8:8 tie and then defended the draw in the twelve singles.
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“I don’t want to sound like a sore loser,” said American captain Stacy Lewis, “but I’m proud of my team and think we can build for the next match with this draw.” That’s close to next year from Washington DC, as the Solheim Cup will be held again in even years in the future.
