Europe meet little US resistance

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

Needing five points from the 12 singles, they achieved them from the first seven games to add the trophy to the Ryder Cup won last year a professional double which has never been done before - and the Walker Cup retained by Britain and Ireland's amateurs last week.

Scot Janice Moodie led the way, then Swede Sophie Gustafson and Iben Tinning added the next two points.

World number one Annika Sorenstam looked as if she might fittingly be the match-winner on her home turf, but by beating Angela Stanford on the 16th she allowed Scot Catriona Matthew to take Catrin Nilsmark's side over the line.

Matthew, left out of the last two matches, beat Rosie Jones three and one to give Europe only their third victory in eight contests.

As the celebrations started four games still out on the course decided to join them. First Norway's Suzann Pettersen, one down with three to play, conceded to Cristie Kerr, denying herself the chance to become the first player in the event's history to win a maximum five points.

Then Americans Meg Mallon, Beth Daniel and Kelly Robbins conceded to Laura Davies, Mhairi McKay and Patricia Meunier-Lebouc respectively, giving a final scoreline of 17 1/2-10 1/2 that was Europe's biggest-ever victory.

With the first game teeing off at 8am to fit in with afternoon television coverage of the men's Lancome Trophy in Paris it was all over by lunchtime a fact that Sorenstam did not think much of.

"It's just very sad, I think," said the 32-year-old, who finished with four points out of five like Pettersen.

"We're showcasing the best women's golf and when we don't get a good slot it doesn't feel right. TV is important and we've got to do that, but one of these days I hope we get the respect and get prime time.

"To make it a successful tournament you want everybody here. You have to be a die-hard fan to come out at seven in the morning. It's just unfortunate that we have to do this."

Asked if television dictates to the organisers she said: "It seems so.

"Even if you birdie every hole I don't know what it's going to take. We can just do our best and hopefully fans, sponsors, media, everybody realises that and we can change it."

Moodie got the ball rolling immediately by making a 30-footer on the first against Kelli Kuehne and went on to win three and two. She finished with 3 1/2 points out four.

"I was up for it," she said. "Catrin knew I was playing well and it was good getting those blue numbers up for the rest of the team to see."

By then Juli Inkster had already thrashed Carin Koch five and four, but the momentum was with Europe and after Gustafson beat Heather Bowie five and four Tinning, the one Dane in the side, saw off Wendy Ward two and one.

Michele Redman got another point back, defeating Ana Belen Sanchez, but while Sorenstam was always in control against Stanford, Matthew had to come back from losing the first two holes.

A superb iron to 10 feet on the 17th settled things, but afterwards the 34-year-old from Edinburgh admitted: "I was just so nervous coming down the hole.

"I knew it was kind of down to my game and I was trying to hit the green. The first few matches winning just made it a lot easier for the rest of us."

She was hugged by Nilsmark, who had captained the side from a specially-adapted buggy after suffering a ruptured disc in her back a month ago.

"I'm going to throw my crutches in the bunker now," she joked. "It's been a fantastic week and I'm so happy.

"I'm proud of Sweden. The fans lifted us to this victory." The match was a sell-out 25,000 on the first two days and 30,000 for the singles.

The crucial moments actually came late on Saturday evening. Sorenstam made a 22-foot birdie putt to prevent herself and Pettersen going one down with one to play against Robbins and Diaz, then Diaz missed from under five feet on the last and Pettersen holed from 10.

Instead of being only a point behind, as seemed odds-on, the United States were three behind.

It was too big a mountain to climb.

On the way the match finished American captain Patty Sheehan said: "It seemed to go into instant chaos. I've never seen anything like that before and it didn't feel quite right it was weird."