Europe's Solheim Cup Comeback Falls Short as Pettersen Faces No Regrets
Captain Suzann Pettersen has stated she has "no regrets" despite Europe's 15½-12½ loss to the United States in the Solheim Cup, ending their five-year reign as champions, BBC reported. Europe faced a significant challenge after trailing 6-2 on the first day but mounted a strong comeback to win Sunday’s singles 6½-5½ and nearly reached the 14 points needed for a fourth consecutive title. However, Pettersen came under criticism for her decision to bench Ireland’s Leona Maguire, a prominent player from prior editions.
Pettersen defended her decisions, stating, "I’ve never lived my life regretting any decisions," acknowledging the complexities of team pairings in a 12-woman team. Although different selections might have altered the outcome, she emphasized the importance of trying their best without having regrets. Maguire, who had earned seven and a half points in her previous appearances, was benched for three sessions. Despite this, she delivered a notable 4&3 victory against Ally Ewing on Sunday, which helped maintain Europe's contention before the United States secured their win.
Maguire expressed her frustration at being sidelined, saying she felt she had been playing great golf all week and found sitting out hard to accept. Despite this, she emphasized her determination, saying, "I think I proved there’s more than one way to skin a cat – and I think I made plenty of birdies."
Pettersen, in her second term as captain, did not confirm if she would lead the team again in 2026. Still, she stressed that Europe’s players would return with equal determination. She highlighted the close nature of the competition despite the final score, attributing the loss to a poor start and a lack of successful putts, alongside the challenges of constantly trying to catch up. Confident that Europe will come back as eager as the Americans were after their win in Spain, Pettersen believes Europe's hunger for success will drive them in two years.
Earlier, SSP wrote that a record-breaking women's match finished at the US Open.