The U.S. began the day with a 10-6 edge over European teams, a result that has boded ill for teams in the past.
Just ask the Europeans who played in the 1999 Ryder Cup, or the Americans who donned the red, white and blue at Medinah Stadium II in 2012.
The 2015 European Solheim Cup team also led 10-6 before losing that lead on Sunday in a brutal home defeat in Germany.
This year's U.S. team didn't join that infamous team on Sunday. They won the Solheim Cup for the first time since 2017, with Lilia Vu scoring birdies on the 17th and 18th holes to secure the championship points.
“I can't even put it into words. I felt like I didn't do my part this week and I wanted to accomplish something,” Vu said.
“I told my caddie on the 16th hole that I felt like I wasn't doing anything for this team. Then the 16th hole came around and I was in the back bunker and I thought, 'Oh no, I've got to go up and down.' She had one-putted on almost every green so I thought I was going to get a birdie on this hole too. But she didn't and I ended up going up and down out of the bunker and managed to get a birdie on the 17th hole and a half-point on the 18th hole.”
Vu found herself trailing 2 down with two holes to go, but managed to secure half a point and get the job done for the USA. In the process, she showed off her clutch genes.Her approach on the 18th hole landed inches from the hole, putting the American within 14.5 points of the threshold needed to win.
“I saw on the 18th hole, in the middle of the fairway, that we were up 14 points,” Vu said.
“Oh man, I've got to get a birdie. I was just trying to do my best.”
Her stunning shot sent the entire U.S. team into a frenzy as they claimed their first Solheim Cup victory since 2017.
“It's been an amazing week,” said Nelly Korda, who finally won the Solheim Cup in her fourth attempt.
“We all got on really well together. I had a lot of fun with the caddies and the players right from the start. It was a really magical week.”
Korda lost 6-4 to Charlie Hull in his opening match on Sunday, a shocking start to singles competition, but that didn't bode well for the American, who went on to beat his European opponent 15.5-11.5.
“It really could have gone either way,” captain Stacey Lewis said.
“I can't believe how it all unfolded in the end. I was hoping and praying that the game would go our way. I'm proud of the team and Lilia's finishing was incredible, what you'd expect from one of the best players in the world.”
Jack Mirko is a golf staff writer for SB Nation Playing Through. Follow For more golf articles, follow us on Twitter Jack Mirko In the same way.
