Pettersen, Euros stun U.S.
The most sensational finish in Solheim Cup history went down to the final putt of the weekend by a veteran who many thought was lucky to even be selected.
Suzann Pettersen didn’t let Europe down.
By rolling in a left-to-right birdie from 6 feet on the 18th hole yesterday, the 38-yearold Pettersen regained the biggest team prize in women’s golf for the Europeans ina14 ½-13½ win against the United States at Gleneagles in Scotland.
“Just unbelievable. Never been a better moment,” said European captain Catriona Matthew, whose contentious decisions of Pettersen as one of her wild cards paid off.
The Norwegian was called up by Matthew despite having played just two tournaments since 2017, having had time off because of injury and after having a baby boy.
After being mobbed by her teammates on the 18th green, an emotional Pettersen held her son in her arms and kissed him.
“Coming down No. 18, (Matthew) said, ‘It’s why I picked you,’” Pettersen said. “In your wildest dreams, especially where I’ve come from, I never thought I was going to do this again.”
As an afternoon of tension-filled singles matches drew to a close, the Americans took the lead in the contest for the first time since Friday lunchtime, at 12-11. At 13½-11½, they needed just a half-point from the final three singles out on the course to guarantee retaining the cup but then came the European fightback.
Anna Nordqvist completed a 4-and-3 win against Morgan Pressel in Match 12 on No. 16. Then, on No. 17, Bronte Law sealed a 2-and-1 win against Ally McDonald.
By that time, Pettersen’s opponent, Marina Alex, had slid a 10-foot birdie putt wide on 18 that would have retained the cup for the U.S.
It was about 30 seconds after Law’s win was confirmed that Pettersen settled over her putt and made it . ...
Sergio Garcia won the 100th edition of the KLM Open by 1 shot in Amsterdam, holding his nerve for a par on the final hole to finish 18-under and leave Nicolai Hojgaard in second place.
Garcia kissed his young daughter Azalea and threw her up in the air on the 18th green after holing a short putt to seal his win with a 3-under 69 final round . ...
Joaquin Niemann became the first player from Chile to win on the PGA Tour, shooting a 6-under 64 for a 6-stroke victory in A Military Tribute at The Greenbrier in West Virginia . ...
Jerry Kelly played bogeyfree Sunday at Warwick Hills and closed with a 4-under 68 for a 2-shot victory at the Ally Challenge in Grand Blanc, Mich., his second victory this year on the Champions Tour.
Pac-12 on rise
California and Arizona State moved into the AP Top 25 college football poll to give the Pac-12 six ranked teams, the most for the conference in almost four years.
Clemson remains No. 1, with 57 of the 62 first-place votes, as the top nine held their spots. Alabama was No. 2, receiving five firstplace votes, followed by Georgia, LSU, Oklahoma, Ohio State, Notre Dame, Auburn and Florida.
Spain wins Cup
Marc Gasol basked in a championship celebration for the second time in three months — and this time, he did it for his country.
Tournament MVP Ricky Rubio scored 20 points, Sergio Llull added 15 and Spain won the World Cup for the second time by topping Argentina, 95-75, in Beijing.
Gasol scored 14 for the winners, who never trailed and added to their 2006 title. The Toronto center became the second player to win an NBA title and a FIBA world gold medal in the same year, joining Lamar Odom.
NHL drops puck
Max Pacioretty had a hat trick and an assist to help the Vegas Golden Knights beat the Arizona Coyotes, 6-2, in the NHL preseason opener in Law Vegas.
Cody Eakin, Reilly Smith, and Brayden McNabb also scored for the Golden Knights. They had five straight after falling behind 2-1 midway through the first period. Smith and McNabb scored shorthanded. Ilya Lyubushkin and Vinnie Hinostroza scored for Arizona.
Malcolm Subban played the entire game in goal for Vegas, making 29 saves. Coyotes starter Adin Hill allowed four goals on 23 shots in the first two periods, and Erik Kallgren made eight saves on nine shots in the third . ...
Karolina Pliskova overcame rain delays and an early deficit to beat Petra Martic 6-3, 6-2 in the final of the Zhengzhou Open in China . ...
Former ski jumper Primoz Roglic comfortably won the Spanish Vuelta for his first Grand Tour cycling title.
Aces, Sparks win
Dearica Hamby hit a shot from almost halfcourt with five seconds left to lift the Aces to a 93-92 win against the Chicago Sky in Las Vegas in the second round of the WNBA playoffs.
Chelsea Gray had 21 points and eight assists, Candace Parker added 11 points, 10 rebounds and six assists, and the host Los Angeles Sparks eliminated the defendingchampion Seattle Storm.