Joy for Europe as they draw 14-14 and retain the Solheim Cup

Europe made history and lifted the Solheim Cup for the third time in a row when they clinched the first 14-14 tie in the event's history in a heart-stopping finish in Spain.

For a while, it looked like Europe could win the trophy outright when Leona Maguire beat Rose Zhang 4&3 in the second match out.

Europe were projected to finish with 14.5 points but after the Americans stormed back in the middle of th order, Swedish wildcard Caroline Hedwall made an epic comeback to beat Ally Ewing two up before Spain's Carlota Ciganda beat Nelly Korda to win her fourth point from four outings and ensure Europe could not be beaten.

"I think the tears are gone, but I don't know, I think it's meant to be," European skipper Suzanne Pettersen said. "It came down to Carlota in Spain in her own hands.

"I walked with her down 16 and said, is that how you wanted it because it's all in your hands now. And she's like, I'm up for this. She's got it. Hedwall getting her point. We had no clue where it was going. It was coming down to the wire."

Pettersen added: "We have the best team. I'm so proud of them. They played with their hearts. There's no such thing as giving up, no matter what kind of challenges ahead.

"We got off to a rough start (losing the opening foursomes 4-0), but we don't look back. Sky's the limit.

"This is all for Carlota. This is one of the best things I've been a part of and what makes the Solheim so special. So it's gonna be one pretty good party tonight."

After a great start for Europe, things changed in the space of 90 minutes as the American strength in depth started to show.

Wins for Megan Khang over Linn Grant and Danielle Kang over Charley Hull cancelled out wins for Maguire and Anna Nordqvist, who got her first point with a 2&1 win over Jennifer Kupcho.

The overall score was projected at 14-14, with the US up in four and Europe up in four of the remaining eight matches.

Things started to turn when Georgia Hall, two up with four to play, halved her match with Andrea Lee.

When World number two Lilia Vu beat Madelene Sagstrom 4&3 and Angel Yin won four holes in a five-hole stretch from the 13th to beat Celine Boutier 2&1, the US were favourites.

They struck another blow when rookie Cheyenne Knight came back from two down with four to play to halve her match with Scottish rookie Gemma Dryburgh.

But veteran Caroline Hedwall came back from three down after 12 to beat Ally Ewing two up with four birdies in five holes followed by a conceded eagle at the last.

Europe were up in two of the last three matches, anything was possible.

With Lexi Thompson in control against Emily Pedersen in the bottom match, wins for Maja Stark and Ciganda would see Europe tie 14-14 and retain the trophy.

Ciganda double-bogeyed the 15th to go back to all-square against Nelly Korda. But she won the 16th with a birdie to go one up again.

Stark then beat Allisen Corpuz 2&1 to make it 13-13, leaving the Solheim Cup hanging on the last two matches between Korda and Ciganda and Thompson and Pedersen.

Ciganda went on to birdie the 16th to go one up and when she ripped her tee shot to two feet at the 145-yard 17th, she watched Korda narrowly fail to chip in and brushed in the two-footer to win 2& 1 and ensure Europe retained the trophy.

"I don't have many feelings right now," Ciganda said. "I'm so happy just to do this for Suzann and for Spain. I'm just so proud. I'm just so happy. Everyone here is a family. The Spanish crowd is just amazing."

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

"Amazing. I love my team. I love Europe. I love Spain. I love the Solheim Cup. It's been a great week and I'm just so happy to be here right now."

Europe still had a chance to get something from the final match and win outright but after waiting for the 17th green to clear after Ciganda was mobbed by her cheering teammates after winning four from four, Lexi Thompson made a clutch 12-footer for par to beat Pedersen 2&1.

European skipper Petterson was thrilled for her team, who won 14 of the last 20 points after losing the opening foursomes 4-0 and her opposite number Stacy Lewis was gracious and proud of her team.

"I mean, just what a moment for Carlota and women's golf," Lewis said. "I mean, such a cool finish there. My team played their hearts out. Just so proud of 'em, the way they fought. We played the back nine better all week, and they just hung in there and hung in there with every match.

"I just told 'em, we didn't lose. You know, it was a tie, and there was so much to build off this week. I think these rookies learned a lot, and that's what it's about."

It was a brilliant advertisement for women's golf and the good news is that they get to do it all again in 51 weeks' time at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club on Lake Manassas, just 35 miles west of Washington DC, as the event returns to even-numbered years after a reshuffle following the COVID 19 pandemic.

Earlier in the day Maguire completed another incredible Solheim Cup performance by hammering new US superstar Rose Zhang 4&3 to get Europe’s bid for a hattrick of wins off to the perfect start in Spain.

With the teams tied 8-8 overnight, skipper Suzann Pettersen put the Co Cavan star out in the second match of the day and she delivered her third point from five matches to put the first point on the board for Europe in today’s 12 singles at Finca Cortesin.

"It was just incredible,” said Maguire (28) who made four birdies in her first six holes but was just one up against the former world number one amateur.

"The Irish fans this week have just been phenomenal and it felt like I was playing at home and it was just the energy I needed for today.

"I mean, Suzann gave me a job this morning. I knew it's going to be tough. It's going be a tough day for the girls but important to get blue on the board early and let's see if they can bring it home

Zhang won the first with a birdie but Maguire hit back from 18 feet at the second before making two from three feet at the par-three third to go one up.

She three-putted the par five fourth to lose the hole to Zhang’s birdie four but birdied the fifth from 10 feet to regain the lead.

Maguire three-putted again from long range at the par-three sixth as Zhang got up and down for par to square the match again.

But the Ballyconnell battler moved up a gear and birdied the seventh, 10th and 11th to go three-up.

Zhang parred the short 12th to cut the gap to two holes but Maguire birdied the 13th, then drove the 14th and rolled in an outrageous 70-foot putt for an eagle two to go four-up.

She then safely two-putted for par at the 14th to win her singles for the second Solheim Cup running, having won four and a half points from five on her debut in Ohio in 2021.

After also winning her two fourball matches this week, her overall Solheim Cup record reads played 10, won seven, halved one and lost just two.