Vu wins first Solheim Cup for USA since '17

GAINESVILLE, Va. — Lilia Vu made a 2-foot birdie putt on the final hole and the United States won the Solheim Cup for the first time since 2017, defeating Europe on a thrilling Sunday at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club.

Megan Khang, Rose Zhang and Alisen Corpuz led the U.S. to the brink of victory, and the Americans got enough from the back half of their lineup to prevent Europe from capturing the Cup for a record fourth time.

Final score: USA 15½, Europe 12½, the largest margin since the Americans won by five points in Iowa seven years ago.

Europe trailed 6-2 on day one and entered the singles trailing 10-6. Captain Suzanne Pettersen said her team needed a “miracle” and while it never looked likely, the Europeans kept it interesting, denying the Americans the clinching point at the 18th hole in three straight matches.

It finally ended when Vu stuffed a wedge into the close on the par-4 18th and Alban Valenzuela came up short on his long birdie putt. Valenzuela didn't accept Vu's birdie, allowing the American to enjoy a tap-in that tied their match and gave the Americans the 14½ points they needed.

The United States improved its overall record to 11-7-1 in the competition, which began in 1990 with the financial support of ping golf club manufacturer Kirsten Solheim and his wife, Louise.

The win was validation for the steady, data-driven approach of U.S. captain Stacey Lewis, who made “unfinished business” her team's motto for this year after retaining the European Cup with a 14-14 draw with Spain last year.

During a week of perfect weather at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Club — a sprawling lakeside venue about 40 miles west of Washington, D.C., that has hosted four Presidents Cups — the Americans were slightly better than the Europeans in every phase.

Lewis got standout performances from standout Nellie Korda, 21-year-old Zhang, 31-year-old rookie Lauren Coughlin and veteran spark plug Khang.

Zhang, the best putter on both teams this week, went 6 and 4 over Carlotta Siganda. He became the first player in Solheim history to go 4-0 or better and never reach the 17th hole. He won 28 holes and lost eight for the week.

“I think the Solheim Cup rekindled my passion for the game,” Zhang said. “We're having so much fun, not just off the golf course, but even on it. It's been an incredible ride.”

Zhang's win puts 13th American points on the board. After that, the U.S. went almost an hour without leading in the last seven games.

But the Europeans still had little margin for error. Esther Henselit had a chance to beat Andrea Lee at the 18th hole but left her birdie putt short and Lee made a 4-footer for par to give the United States half a point in the first tie of the week.

That put Lexi Thompson in position to secure the winning point in her final Solheim Cup as a player, but she was denied by Celine Boutier, who hit her par-4 18th to 6 feet for birdie and a 1-up victory.

Coughlin, playing in his home state, came up short on the birdie putt to win the Cup, and Maja Starc parred from about 12 feet to tie their match and keep their European hopes alive.

Then it came down to Vu, the women's world No. 2, who hit a clean drive down the middle of the 406-yard 18th to set up her short approach to settle next to the hole. Bhu had a quiet first two days, going 1-2 in team matches.

Charlie Hull dusted Korda in a sizzling leadoff match, making three straight birdies early on the back nine — a stretch of holes that Korda dominated while going 3-0 in the team match — to build a 5-up lead.

He closed out Korda with an approach on the par-5 14th hole that rode a ridge, slowed to a near stop at the back end of the green and rolled down a 2-foot slope for a compliant eagle and a 6-and-4. victory

“I know I have what it takes to play Nelly,” Hull said.

It got Europe within 10-7, but the margin was larger than it appeared.

A few minutes later, Khang finished off a tired Emily Pedersen, 6 and 5. Khang went 3-0 this week when he wasn't hyping the crowd and his teammates, while Pedersen played every session and went 2-3.

“I totally enjoyed being involved with the crowd. My voice obviously fell victim to that,” Khang said. “But I want to do it a million times.”

Lewis and Pettersen repeated as captains along with the Cup for the first time since 2002-03. The move removes the Solheim Cup from the Ryder Cup after the pandemic-driven suspension of the men's team competition.

Next up for the Americans will be to try to win on European soil for the first time since 2015 in Germany. The Netherlands will host the 2026 edition.