Scotland’s Catriona Matthew held off a dramatic back nine charge from defending champion Suzann Pettersen to clinch a one-stroke victory in the Ladies Irish Open at Killeen Castle.

ALISON NICHOLAS would love to see the Solheim Cup return to Ireland – but she won’t even be captain when Europe look to win on American soil for the first time in Colorado two years from now.

EUROPE had the Solheim Cup victory in the cart after the second of two weather delays at Killeen Castle yesterday — an eBay cart.

VICTORIOUS European Solheim Cup captain Alison Nicholas was crowned the queen of Killeen Castle and the emotions flowed as freely as the rain and the champagne in County Meath yesterday evening.

Europe won the Solheim Cup for the first time in four renewals after a dramatic finish to the final day’s singles.

Europe and the United States will go into the final day of the 12th Solheim Cup all square following a fightback by the Americans in today’s afternoon session.

BLUE was the colour for Europe at Killeen Castle yesterday — and pacesetter Suzann Pettersen saw more than enough to fuel her belief that the home team can win the Solheim Cup for the first time in four attempts.

Europe built a one-point lead over the United States on the first day of the 12th Solheim Cup at Killeen Castle in Ireland.

SO far it’s been all cuddles at the Castle – this morning the Solheim Cup becomes more like the Ryder Cup’s famous War on the Shore.

SUZANN PETTERSEN, the second ranked female golfer in the world, yesterday declared at Killeen Castle that Europe are ‘here to win’ the Solheim Cup.

THE countdown to the first Solheim Cup on Irish soil is down to days and the man who invited the best lady golfers in the world to County Meath can’t wait.

SUZANN PETTERSEN struck a blow for Europe seven weeks out from the Solheim Cup with victory in the Ladies Irish Open at Killeen Castle yesterday.

A superb course-record round of 63 saw Suzann Pettersen snatch a share of the lead after the second round of the Ladies Irish Open today.

What a difference a year makes. November 18, 2009: it’s Ireland v France in front of a capacity crowd in Paris, playing for a place in the finals of the World Cup and giving birth to a global controversy eclipsed only by Saipan in the annals of Irish football infamy.

Shay Given established a new Republic of Ireland record when he won his 109th senior cap against Norway this evening.

Yani Tseng has won the first women's golf Major of the year, winning the Kraft Nabisco Championship as overnight leader Karen Stupples faded over the final round in California.

Suzanne Pettersen carded a four-under-par round of 68 to open up a one-stroke lead at the Kapalua LPGA Classic yesterday.

LADIES representing a dozen Irish golf clubs will tee it up alongside the world’s best in the AIB Ladies Irish Open Pro-Am at Portmarnock Links on July 10.

Norway’s Solheim Cup star Suzann Pettersen is looking forward to a new experience as the defending champion at the Michelob Ultra Open in Williamsburg which starts tomorrow.

Rookie Yani Tseng, from Taiwan, shot a fantastic eight-under-par 64 to soar into the lead at the halfway stage of the Ginn Open at the Reunion Resort in Orlando, Florida.

Suzann Pettersen made a birdie putt on the second play-off hole to edge out Lorena Ochoa to win the Longs Drugs Challenge on Sunday.

America’s golfers followed last week’s successful defence of the amateur Walker Cup with a brilliant display to keep hold of the Solheim Cup at Halmstad in Sweden today.

Two great escapes and a moment of huge relief today kept alive Europe’s hopes of winning back the Solheim Cup in Sweden.

For the first time since 1998 the United States lead Europe after the first day of the Solheim Cup – but not by anything like the margin they had hoped for at Halmstad in Sweden.

Holders America had the chance to pull well clear of Europe on the opening day of the Solheim Cup at Halmstad in Sweden.

Holders America made the start they were hoping for in the Solheim Cup in Sweden today – and Europe’s players had only themselves to blame for a large part of it.

World number six Suzann Pettersen gave a golfing master class to her home fans during the first round of the SAS Masters in Norway.

Annika Sorenstam, Suzann Pettersen, Catriona Matthew and Sophie Gustafson have made the European Solheim Cup team as the top four Europeans on the Rolex World Rankings not already qualified from the European points’ standings.

Laura Diaz claimed the lead at the Scandinavian TPC in Sweden as one of two players to manage successive sub-par rounds.

Annika Sorenstam begins the defence of her own tournament in Sweden tomorrow hoping to salvage a difficult season.

Wales’ Becky Morgan had her best result of last season at the Wegmans Rochester International and the Welsh golfer again showed her liking for the Locust Hill course in New York with a two under-par 70 in today’s storm-hit first round.

Norway's Suzann Pettersen threw away a chance to win the first major of the year but made amends with a final-round 67 to claim the McDonald’s LPGA Championship at Bulle Rock in Maryland.

Na On Min, an 18-year-old South Korean rookie, was the shock third round leader in the McDonald’s LPGA Championship after she shot a magnificent seven-under-par 65 at Bulle R

Norway’s Suzann Pettersen grabbed the lead with a super 67 and Scots Mhairi McKay and Catriona Matthew are also well in the hunt after at the halfway stage of the McDonald’s LPGA Championship at Bulle Rock in Maryland.

Following a busy March and April schedule Loren Ochoa has taken a firm grip at the top of the Women’s world rankings.

American teenager Morgan Pressel became the youngest winner of a women’s major when she shot a final round 69 at the Kraft Nabisco Championship in California.

Mexico’s Lorena Ochoa claimed her 10th career title with a final round 68 at Superstition Mountain in Phoenix, Arizona.

JUST one in 200 people working in the childcare sector in Ireland are men, a conference heard yesterday.

EUROPE reeled in a rampant American side with a stunning comeback and claimed the opening series of foursomes 3-1 in the Solheim Cup at Crooked Stick in Carmel, Indiana, yesterday.

Annika Sorenstam admitted it might be “rude” to win your own tournament but it did not stop her trying at the Scandinavian TPC at Barseback Golf Club in Sweden.

EUROPE’S women golfers brilliantly won back the Solheim Cup in Sweden yesterday - and wasted little time doing it.

Scottish pair Janice Moodie and Catriona Matthew, winning Curtis Cup team-mates nine years ago, took Europe nearer a third Solheim Cup victory in Sweden this evening.

MOTHER-TO-BE Patricia Meunier-Lebouc and Suzann Pettersen, the baby of the team, kept Europe in front after day one of the Solheim Cup match in Sweden yesterday.

Mother-to-be Patricia Meunier-Lebouc and Suzann Pettersen, the baby of the team, kept Europe in front after day one of the Solheim Cup match in Sweden today.