Europe vows to create Solheim Cup’s version of the Miracle at Medinah
Europe faces a daunting challenge in the Solheim Cup on Sunday, trailing the U.S. 10-6 with 12 singles matches left to play. To retain the cup, Europe will need to pull off a significant comeback. Despite the scoreboard, European assistant captain Laura Davies emphasized that her team’s effort and skill are not lacking. “They’ve got…
Europe faces a daunting challenge in the Solheim Cup on Sunday, trailing the U.S. 10-6 with 12 singles matches left to play. To retain the cup, Europe will need to pull off a significant comeback.
Despite the scoreboard, European assistant captain Laura Davies emphasized that her team’s effort and skill are not lacking. “They’ve got it all,” Davies said about Europe’s performance. “They’re trying so hard. It’s so crushing. Back there on the sixth hole, Carlota [Ciganda] made a lovely putt, but Lexi [Thompson] chipped in. Then on the next hole, Lexi hit an amazing shot and followed it up with another one. It’s just so hard to break away and secure a point because they’re playing so well.”
The U.S. team has delivered a series of spectacular moments that have kept them in command. Nelly Korda’s powerful drives, along with hole-outs and chip-ins from Allison Lee, Lexi Thompson, and Andrea Lee, have dazzled, while Rose Zhang has sunk long putts to keep the pressure on. European captain Suzann Pettersen believes it’s precisely these kinds of moments that her team has been missing.
“I really feel like we haven’t had any magic on the greens,” Pettersen said. “We haven’t had many momentum shifts in our favor.”
However, Pettersen and her team are not losing hope. History shows that such a comeback is possible. “We’re still in it,” Pettersen stated. “We need a massive day tomorrow. We need to repeat what’s been done before.”
Pettersen is referencing the 2012 Ryder Cup, famously known as the “Miracle at Medinah.” That year, Europe faced the same 10-6 deficit going into the singles matches but managed to win eight and tie one, achieving a stunning comeback to claim the Ryder Cup.
The European Solheim Cup team is drawing inspiration from that historic win, hoping to replicate the feat. “Twelve points, we can win all of them,” Ciganda said. “That’s what we’re going to try to do—everyone focus on their match. Why not? Medinah, the miracle of Medinah, it’s coming.”
It’s also worth remembering that the U.S. staged a similar comeback at the 2015 Solheim Cup in Germany, erasing a 10-6 deficit on the final day to take the victory.
Europe will need every bit of that same resilience and determination if they are to pull off another miracle on Sunday.