Wie wins 1, loses 1 in Solheim Cup as U.S. swept in afternoon play
United States' Michelle Wie, left, and Europe's Suzann Pettersen, of Norway, line up putts on the seventh green during a foursome match in the Solheim Cup golf tournament, Saturday, Aug. 17, 2013, in Parker, Colo. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)
Michelle Wie won her morning match with Brittany Lang, but lost with Jessica Korda as Europe swept all four fourball matches in the afternoon to take a 5 point lead in the Solheim Cup.
It was Wie’s first loss at the Colorado Golf Club.
Europe leads 10½-5½, matching the largest lead in Solheim Cup history. With only the 12 singles matches remaining Sunday, Europe only needs to win three matches and halve another to capture the cup away from home for the first time since this event began in 1990.
It also would be the first time Europe retained the cup.
Karine Icher’s putt was the final blow on a day filled with them for the Americans. Anna Nordqvist closed out a foursomes match in the morning with a hole-in-one on the 17th hole. And after the Americans thought they had momentum from a strong showing in foursomes, Europe came out firing with a pair of rookies.
Charley Hull, the 17-year-old from England and youngest player in Solheim Cup history, hit a 9-iron just over the bunker to 4 feet on the par-3 17th with her match all square. She finally felt nervous, and drained the putt for a 1-up lead. Jodi Ewart-Shadoff did the rest, smashing a tee shot some 30 yards by Lexi Thompson that left her only a 9-iron into the green. The birdie putt was conceded for a 2-up win over Thompson and Paula Creamer.
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Caroline Hedwall, the only player to go all four matches, teamed with Caroline Masson to beat Wie and Korda. The Spanish tandem of Carlota Ciganda and Azahara Munoz beat Angela Stanford and Gerina Piller, leaving the American duo winless for the week.
It was a devastating end for the Americans, hopeful of at least getting a halve from that final match.
No team has ever rallied from more than two points behind to win the Solheim Cup.
In Wie’s morning match the Americans were 2 down at the turn but went 1 up over the next three holes, highlighted by a 30-foot birdie putt that dropped for Lang on No. 10.
“Lang was a superstar today,” Wie said.
“Obviously, it was a very disappointing afternoon,” U.S. captain Meg Mallon said this afternoon. “We have our work cut out for us tomorrow. It can be done. It’s daunting right now but it can be done.”
