What about that then? If you happen to be in the upholstery business, then you could be in for a busy week. The breathless finale to the Solheim Cup yesterday made for such an edge-of-the-seat spectacle, those very seats will be worn to shreds. As for the fingernails? Well, they must’ve been nibbled down to calloused stumps.

A quite thrilling series of singles duels in the Spanish sunshine at Finca Cortesin ended 6-6 and led to a 14-14 draw. Team Europe didn’t quite manage an unprecedented third successive outright win over the USA but the share of the spoils ensured that Suzann Pettersen’s spirited side retained the cherished clump of Waterford crystal. Having been 4-0 down after the opening session on Friday, they would’ve taken that.

It was the first tied match in the history of the Solheim Cup and, given the closely fought nature of affairs over three days of gripping golfing combat, a draw was about right.

It was perhaps right too that Carlota Ciganda, the Spaniard playing on her home turf, earned the decisive point that meant the cup stayed in European clutches. Immense credit too has to go to Swedish stalwart Caroline Hedwall, whose never-say-die spirit was rewarded with a hugely important win over Ally Ewing just as it looked like the US were taking charge.

Ciganda’s stirring tussle with Nelly Korda, meanwhile, swung like an out-of-control pendulum but having surrendered an early three-hole lead, Ciganda stepped up to the plate with passionate pomp as the tie reached its last knockings.

All-square playing the 16th, Ciganda knocked a brilliant approach to three-feet. Korda, just outside her after a fine second shot of her own, never threatened the hole with her timorous effort and Ciganda was back in front. Vamos, indeed.

Buoyed by that, Ciganda then launched an absolute corker of a tee-shot into a couple of feet at the par-3 17th. Korda, who missed the green, gave her delightfully executed dink for a birdie every chance as it rolled agonisingly by the hole amid great gasps. Ciganda stepped forward and seized her moment, tapping in a birdie for a 2&1 win to spark unbridled European jubilation.

“I think it was meant to be,” said Pettersen after Europe were presented with the ultimate prize for an historic third time in a row. “It came down to Carlota in Spain, in her own hands. I walked with her down 16 and said, ‘is this how you wanted it because it’s all in your hands now?’. And she’s like ‘I’m up for it'."

There was nothing to separate the sides heading into the final session with Europe’s rousing rally getting them back to 8-8. The inspired Leona Maguire beat rising star Rose Zhang 4&3 to grab the first point of the day as Europe inched ahead for the first time in the whole contest.

In a high-quality clash packed full of birdies, Maguire eventually pulled away and when she trundled in a mighty putt of some 70-feet for an eagle on the 14th, the Irishwoman’s giddy leap in the air was as high as the peaks of the nearby Sierra Bermeja.

There was plenty going on further down the order as matches ebbed and flowed and the pressure became so intense you just about needed a bathysphere to cope with it.

Scottish rookie Gemma Dryburgh, two-up through 13 against Cheyenne Knight, was pegged back to all-square but had a birdie putt on the last to win. “The biggest putt of her career so far,” suggested Catriona Matthew of the importance of the moment. Dryburgh’s effort didn’t drop but her half-point added to the European tally. They needed more than half-points, though.

Step forward Hedwall. Three-down to Ewing after 12, the 34-year-old mounted a brilliant late offensive and birdied 13 and 14 to reduce the deficit before draining nerveless, fist-pumping birdie putts at 16 and 17 to move one-up.

When Ewing made a hash of the 18th, knifing one out of the bunker, Hedwall’s two-hole win was confirmed as affairs roared to a grandstand finish. Another Swede, the impressive rookie Maja Stark, then overcame US Women’s Open champion Allisen Corpuz by a 2&1 margin. That shifted the focus to Ciganda. The Spaniard would revel in the spotlight.

Lexi Thompson held on for a 2&1 win over Emily Pedersen in the final match to deny the hosts an outright victory but Team Europe didn’t care. This week’s Ryder Cup has a heck of an act to follow.