The Solheim Cup provided one of the greatest moments of Suzann Pettersen’s career, but it may have also led to one of the worst.
The 2015 Solheim Cup saw Team USA produce a truly incredible comeback, with Juli Inkster’s side trailing 10-6 going into the Sunday singles.
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But it was the away team who had all of the motivation heading into the final session in Germany, with European stalwart Pettersen making an extremely controversial decision.
How Suzann Pettersen inspired Team USA to an incredible Solheim Cup comeback
The match between the European pairing of Suzann Pettersen and Charley Hull, and American duo Alison Lee and Brittany Lincicome needed to be completed on Sunday morning.
On the 17th, Lee had a putt to win the hole and put Team USA 1 up with one to play.
She missed the putt and left herself with 18 inches. Lee went to pick up her ball and head for the 18th tee, with Hull and Pettersen seemingly already on their way.
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However, Pettersen then insisted that the putt had not been conceded. In truth, no one looked more baffled than her own teammate.
Both Lee and Hull were left in tears once Europe sealed the point on the 18th hole. Some felt that Europe should have conceded the last and ensured that the point was halved.
Photo by Stuart Franklin/Getty Images
However, Inkster’s team talk was done for her. She swiftly gathered her players on the 18th hole and issued the rallying cry ahead of the final session.
And speaking to the media, Inkster was extremely critical of Pettersen’s behaviour.
“I couldn’t believe it. I thought it was good, too,” she said.
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“I saw Charley walk off. I saw Suzann turn her back. And then Suzann said she didn’t give it to her. If that’s the way they need to play to win, we’ll just try to do our best out there today. They didn’t even have to do it, they were winning anyway, it was tied. They should have birdied 18. I don’t get it.”
Meanwhile, Morgan Pressel insisted that it inspired the American team to have the last laugh.
“I wasn’t out there, I heard about it, it definitely fired me up before I went out there. It’s quite sad, really,” she said.
“It’s unfortunate that that happened. And I heard Charley was quite upset about it, as well. Because I think she knows what happened out there and that’s not what the Solheim Cup is about. That’s not what we do out here. That’s not how we play. And that’s unfortunate, but that’s what happened.”
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Team USA definitely did make Pettersen rue her decision. They won eight of the 12 singles matches, including the final five games to regain the Solheim Cup for the first time since 2009.
It was a comeback every bit as impressive as the Miracle at Medinah three years earlier.
Suzann Pettersen was quick to apologise for the Solheim Cup controversy
In fairness to Pettersen, she soon issued an apology on social media. Writing on Instagram, the Norwegian said: ‘I’ve never felt more gutted and truly sad about what went down Sunday on the 17th at the Solheim Cup.
‘I am so sorry for not thinking about the bigger picture in the heat of the battle and competition. I was trying my hardest for my team and put the single match and the point that could be earned ahead of sportsmanship and the game of golf itself! I feel like I let my team down and I am sorry.‘
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Thankfully, Pettersen would have the opportunity to end her Solheim Cup and entire professional career in fairytale fashion four years later.
She was a contentious pick for Gleneagles having barely played a tournament for two years. However, it was Pettersen who holed the putt in the final match out on the course to secure Europe’s stunning 14.5-13.5 victory.
The greats always find a way to make the headlines.
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