Norway’s Suzann Pettersen has been a champion golfer for nearly twenty years, and her ‘Captain’s Pick’ to be on the 2019 Solheim Cup team was a controversial one for Euro Captain Catriona Matthew. Suzann had competed very little during the past year and a half, due to pregnancy complications. Her doctors felt it would be best for her to stop golf and rest at home in Norway until her baby would be born. Although difficult at first for her to stop touring and practicing, it was the best decision, as she gave birth to healthy son Herman in the summer of 2018.
As the Solheim was still a possibility, she resumed practice in 2019 and competed in three events in North America prior to being selected to the team. She missed the cut in two of those events.
In Friday’s match, Suzann said she played OK but that her long-hitting partner Anne Van Dam played amazing to secure the win. By Sunday, Suzann had the competitive juices flowing, and her match vs. Team USA’s Marina Alex was coming down to the wire. The European team was closing fast but would need to win the final three matches to win back the Cup.
And close it was – Europe had dramatically won the two critical matches to come to this point: Tied 13 ½ – 13 ½, Europe must win this last match because IF the final match would end up in a tie, the Cup would be retained by the USA.
The stage was set… Coincidentally, the theme of this year’s Solheim Cup was: “It all leads to this MOMENT”…
The final match is tied going into the last hole. Gleneagles’ 18th hole is an uphill par 5, and there are thousands surrounding the scene and a million more watching on Golf Channel and BBC broadcasts. Both Suzann and Marina are on the green in three. Marina Alex putts her downhill 10-foot birdie – it just slips by. And you could hear a pin drop as Suzann Pettersen stood over her uphill 6-foot birdie putt……SHE MAKES IT!!!!!!!! Europe WINS THE CUP! Suzann goes crazy, the team rushes onto the green, one team elated, one team crushed. Final score: 14 ½ – 13 ½
Tremendous performances from both teams, and it seems that this was the “Defining Moment”. But there was actually one more…
In the press conference following, Suzann Pettersen shocked the golf world as she announced her retirement from golf, saying “Nothing will ever beat this.”
In my opinion, this was the best ‘Walk-off Sports Moment” ever.
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