As final acts go, this was quite the showstopper. In the jubilant aftermath of Europe’s flabbergasting victory over the USA in the Solheim Cup at Gleneagles last night, Suzann Pettersen announced her retirement from professional golf.
Handed a wild card by the European skipper Catriona Matthew, Pettersen, who had played just four events in two years prior to the Solheim Cup having become a mother for the first time, justified her selection with a match-winning display as she held her nerve on the very last green of the very last match to clinch a dramatic one point victory for the hosts.
“I think this is a perfect end for my professional career, it does not get any better,” said Pettersen, who had fought back tears as she hugged her 13-month old son Herman on the 18th green during wonderful scenes of frenzied celebration
READ MORE: Europe win thrilling Solheim Cup at Gleneagles
“I mean, can you ask for more? The last putt to win the cup, when it’s that close? History was just made, to win here in front of this crowd, I could never in a million miles dream it.
“I never thought I was going to be here four months ago. To have the confidence from Beany (Matthew) to give me a go, this is it. I am completely done. I don’t have any plans from tomorrow. I am pretty much closing it down.”
Pettersen only returned to action in July and partnered Matthew in a team event on the LPGA Tour in Michigan, where the pair missed the cut.
“I had faith in her all the time,” said Matthew, who rated Europe’s first win since 2013 above her Women’s British Open triumph a decade ago. “It was always going to come down to a putt here or there and for Suzann to get it, phenomenal.”
On a day of engrossing, fluctuating fortunes, it all came down to Pettersen as the destination of the cup remained on a knife edge right until the death.
With the USA requiring just a half point to retain the cup, her opponent, Maria Alex, had a putt of around 10-feet on the 18th to reach that mark.
When she missed it, Pettersen had to hole hers to ensure Europe plundered the full point required to win. Had she missed it, the Solheim Cup would have remained in American clutches for another two years.
Amid the tumult, the 38-year-old Pettersen admitted she was largely unaware of the magnitude of moment.
“I didn’t know it was for the win, I thought Bronte (Law) was behind me in the fairway,” Pettersen added of her European colleague who had crucially just won on the 17th moments before to keep European hopes alive.
How the @SolheimCupEuro team reacted to @suzannpettersen winning putt from behind the 18th 👀 🏆🇪🇺#TeamEurope pic.twitter.com/Qdc7Pq2nVd
— Ladies European Tour (@LETgolf) September 15, 2019
“It’s a dream come true to win this for Beany, here in Scotland.
“To see my son afterwards, it’s just surreal. Life’s changed so much for me over the last year. He’s obviously the biggest thing that’s ever happened for me. But now I know what it feels like to win as a mom. I’m going to leave it like that.”
Juli Inkster, the US captain, was philosophical in defeat. “We had a few tears but the sun is going to come up tomorrow and this will give you guys (her US team) fuel to get that cup back,” she said.
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