Cup of cheer as Pettersen's Euro battlers pass their Solheim test

SUZANN PETTERSEN has a propensity to grab the headlines when it comes to the Solheim Cup.

- Matt Majendie

In 2019, it was 'gimme-gate', in a row over an American putt that she refused to concede. At the last edition, she sank the winning putt in what proved to be her last-ever stroke in professional golf.

Yesterday, at Finca Cortesin, the captain rallied her players as they pulled off a stunning comeback to retain the cup with a nailbiting 14-14 scoreline. It included a pep talk with Carlota Ciganda on the 16th (right, celebrating holing her putt), as the local heroine held on to give Europe the point required to keep the trophy on the continent.

Norwegian Pettersen, however, deflected attention from herself, following a dramatic turnaround in which her side had been 4-0 down after the opening session on Friday morning.

"Does it get any better than this?" she said. "I mean, this is a dream come true. We had a massive challenge ahead of us today. We've created history yet again in the Solheim Cup, and these girls are legends."