Team USA wins 2009 Solheim Cup

"The cup stays here!", the crowd cheered at the Rich Harvest Farms. It was an energy-packed day at Sugar Grove, Ill. where Team USA beat Team Europe, 16-12, to win the 2009 Solheim Cup. Sunday started on an even playing field as both teams were tied at 8 points each. The Americans won 8 of the 12 singles matches today, winning the cup for the third straight time.

Vigilantly watching the Solheim Cup, 5 Americans stood out (1) Morgan Pressel for delivering the point that secured Team USA the win after defeating Anna Nordqvist on the singles match, (2) Paula Creamer for displaying leadership and delivering when it counts, (3) Captain's pick Michelle Wie for playing great golf, proving to all the skeptics that she was truly deserving to be part of the team, (4) Christina Kim for playing well and for being everyone's cheerleader, pumping the crowd up, and (5) Cristie Kerr for being a solid and steady player the team could depend on. The Golf Channel created a poll on their website asking golf fans who they think was the "Woman of the Match" from the Solheim Cup 2009. Michelle Wie dominated the poll with a whopping 73% as I write this post. She was spectacular the last few days, giving Team USA the most points at 3.5. This could be the "new beginning" we are waiting for.

It was a lost opportunity for Team Europe. They played really well and put up a good fight. Though it was expected by many that it would be a sure-win for Team USA, I don't think anybody expected that the match would be this close especially after they battled back on Day 2 with the obvious absence of superstar Annika Sorenstam.

During the closing ceremony, captain Beth Daniel said, "It's awesome, especially since it was such a hard fought battle. They had to dig deep, they really had to dig deep to win this, and I am so proud of each and every one of them."

Here are the 2009 Solheim Cup Player Records:

TEAM USA

W-L-H---POINTS--PLAYER

3-0-1------3.5--------Wie

3-1-0------3.0--------Creamer

3-1-0------3.0--------Kim

2-1-1------2.5--------Kerr

2-0-1------2.5--------Pressel

1-0-2------2.0--------Lang

2-2-0------2.0--------Lincicome

1-1-1------1.5--------Gulbis

1-2-1------1.5--------Inkster

1-2-1------1.5--------Stanford

1-3-0------1.0--------McPherson

0-3-0------0.0--------Castrale

TEAM EUROPE

W-L-H---POINTS--PLAYER

3-0-1------3.0--------Nocera

2-1-2------3.0--------Hjorth

2-2-0------2.0--------Brewerton

1-1-2------2.0--------Matthew

2-2-0------2.0--------Nordqvist

1-0-1------1.5--------Luna

1-1-1------1.5--------Moodie

1-3-0------1.0--------Alfredsson

1-2-0------1.0--------Elosegui

1-3-0------1.0--------Gustafson

1-4-0------1.0--------Petterson

0-1-1------0.5--------Davies