Proud Neumann celebrates history
Beatriz Recari © Ladies European TourEuropean Solheim Cup Captain Liselotte Neumann admitted she was “excited, proud and happy.” No wonder. Her side had just achieved an historic first away win by a record 18-10 margin and reduced the overall score to 8-5 in the USA’s favour, writes the Ladies European Tour.
After the most memorable three days at Colorado Golf Club, Neumann, who made history when she became the first Swede to win a major at the 1988 US Women’s Open, summed up her emotions.
“It’s an amazing feeling,” she said. “Everybody contributed and the whole team put in a huge effort. I was proud of the youngsters and my Captain’s picks. Everybody played extremely well.”
Germany’s Caroline Masson had extra reason to celebrate. Europe will defend the Cup in her country in 2015 at St. Leon-Rot.
“I will do everything I can to be on the team again in two years time,” said the rookie who contributed 2 ½ points. “I hope we can retain the Cup in Germany.”
Neumann acknowledged that the 4-0 whitewash in the Saturday afternoon fourballs was the key to success – but she also had to keep the team’s feet firmly on the ground on the eve of the 12 singles – Europe needed 3 ½ points on the final day to retain the trophy.
“I was in the team in 1996 when we led by four points going into the last day so I knew what could happen,” she said. “We were pretty calm and I just told them that they had to focus on every match and put pressure on the US team.”
For USA Captain Meg Mallon it was a tough outcome. “But my players kept fighting to the end,” she said. “But the Europeans played better and putted better. But I knew before the start that a young team with nothing to lose would be really dangerous.”
And so it proved.
Team USA - Captain Meg Mallon, Paula Creamer, Cristie Kerr, Brittany Lang, Stacy Lewis, Morgan Pressel, Michelle Wie
Team Europe - Captain Liselotte Neumann, Caroline Hedwall, Suzann Pettersen, Beatriz Recari, Anna Nordvist, Catriona Matthew, Charley Hull, Caroline Hedwall, Azahara Munoz, Giulia Sergas
Team Europe Press Conference
THE MODERATOR: My very great pleasure and honor to introduce the victorious European Solheim Cup Captain Liselotte Neumann and her winning team.
(Applause.)
THE MODERATOR: European team made history today, both coming‑ the first European team to win on U.S. soil with a record eight point margin of victory. Lotta, can you summarize what this win means for you?
CAPTAIN LISELOTTE NEUMANN: It’s just obviously, just an amazing feeling to be sitting here as the captain of this winning team, and I’m just super excited, proud, happy, all the emotions that you can have. And they all just played so great this week. We just came together as a great team, and with Annika and Carin here, I think that we did a great job with some of the pairings. And it was just really just a total team effort, and I think we’re all just extremely proud and happy right now.
THE MODERATOR: This is possibly one of the best days for the Ladies European Tour and women’s golf in Europe. What do you think this will mean for women’s golf in Europe going forward?
CAPTAIN LISELOTTE NEUMANN: I think this is obviously a big step in the right direction, and hopefully this will mean that the European Tour will have a bright future, and hopefully with lots of more golf over there. Many more tournaments and better prize money and so on.
THE MODERATOR: Open it up for questions, please.
Q. For Lotta, you were the first Swedish woman to ever win a Major back in 1988, and now you’re the first captain. Does it ‑‑ I know this is a team thing, but does it feel pretty special to have your name in the record books for both of those things?
CAPTAIN LISELOTTE NEUMANN: Well, of course, yeah. No, it’s wonderful. It feels, yeah, I did a little bit of history back in ‘88 and now it feels like we’re making history again. So it’s a wonderful feeling.
THE MODERATOR: Caroline, you went 5‑0 winning all your matches. Can you summarize your feelings about winning the tournament and winning all your matches as well? It must be awesome.
(Laughter.)
CAROLINE HEDWALL: Yeah, it is pretty awesome. I mean, it’s just an incredible feeling. And just winning five matches was a lot of fun and great moments here, and it’s been a great week.
THE MODERATOR: Caroline, we’re going to Germany in two years. What does it mean for you to be here a part of this winning team?
CAROLINE MASSON: It’s just been an awesome week. I’m very very proud that I could be a part of this team. Its been very special, so I’m just going to try everything to be on that team in two years. This has been awesome, but playing at home, it’s probably just ‑‑ I mean I can’t even describe it. It is my dream to play at home, in Germany, and as I said, I’m just going to try everything to make it on the team, and I just hope we can keep the cup in Germany then.
Q. For Annika and for Lotta. We all know that Carlota’s a great player, but obviously, struggled a little bit on the first day, and I know you worked with her on the range. Can you both talk about the turn around that she had?
CAPTAIN LISELOTTE NEUMANN: Yeah, she won the prize to go to Annika’s academy.
(Laughter.) She got 50 percent off of it, I guess.
(Laughter.)
Q. Talk about her turn around. Obviously, she played great here after that session.
ANNIKA SORENSTAM: She played amazing. I really didn’t do much, I was just there to support, like I supported all the players. And it’s just great to have her on the course and, no, it was just fun, she doesn’t need much coaching. I just stood there and said well done, and that was about it.
(Laughter.)
Q. Charley, did you ask for any other autographs this week and can you just summarize your week as a whole.
CHARLEY HULL: Honestly, it was for my friend. He just, he deserves it. He’s like can you please get Paula Creamer’s autograph and I said, okay, then, so.
(Laughter.)
So, I was just like, I got it. But anyway, it’s been a really good week. And I actually remember that hitting a shot today and I was behind a tree, and I hit this massive draw around it, and I said to my caddie I was like, that was a shot like Carlota would do you know. Because, no, no, like Seve, you know not Seve, like Carlota, She’s really good at recoveries. No, not that she hits offline a lot, but just like.
(Laughter.)
Q. Charley, did your friend ask you for this autograph before you teed off this morning or before you got here for the week?
CHARLEY HULL: No, this was last night. When the draw came out.
Q. Lotta, can you talk about last night, how you kept your feet on the ground, you know obviously, the 4‑0 yesterday afternoon. What did you say to them last night to make sure they didn’t get carried away with yesterday’s result?
CAPTAIN LISELOTTE NEUMANN: Well, we were, I mean seriously, I’ve been on a team before where we actually only needed four points, and I think we didn’t make it back in ‘96. So I knew it wasn’t over yet. So we were actually pretty calm last night. We had a great time, we had a little gift giving and listening to music, eating, watching some videos. Charley had ‑‑ did a couple of speeches and you had a problem with your belly button. What was it? I don’t know.
(Laughter.) Anyway, so, no, but we were just talking about how we needed to be serious and come out this morning and just really focus on each match and not celebrate in advance.
So trying to keep everybody ‑‑ just to go out there and focus on their own match. Don’t look too much at the board, just play one shot at a time and try to put some pressure on the U.S. team. And for everybody to go out there and make a point and just really go as deep as we could.
Q. Lotta, the Saturday night four‑balls. Of all the Solheim Cups you’ve been a part of, how would you rank that performance and how pivotal was it to the result, final result?
CAPTAIN LISELOTTE NEUMANN: It was, I mean definitely one of the best afternoons the European team has had. So, winning four points like that, that was obviously crucial. It put us in a great position before single matches.
Q. Suzann, if I heard you right on TV, you said this was one of the best teams, if not the best team, you were a part of because of some of the atmosphere that the youngsters brought. Can you expand on what the youngsters on this team brought to the team?
SUZANN PETTERSEN: I don’t know, I think this is the best team I’ve ever been a part of. I think I talked to Annika, I said this is a new generation coming up. To sit and watch the kids, I call them the kids, the girls, Charley thinks I’m old, to sit and watch them perform the way they did, yesterday afternoon, it was almost more fun watching from the sidelines than actually playing yourself. And fantastic team effort, and I think all the rookies did a fantastic job.
Q. Lotta, I lost my voice this week.
CAPTAIN LISELOTTE NEUMANN: I think we all did.
(Laughter.)
Q. How did you prepare the caddies and the players for these amazing greens out here, the speed? Obviously you putted lights out, your team. What did you do on Tuesday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday to get ready?
CAPTAIN LISELOTTE NEUMANN: No, actually, we did talk a lot about the speed. I think that as soon as we got here we obviously realized that they were super fast and probably faster, some of the fastest greens we have ever played on. And we were just talking about it just like working on speed and I think that a lot about like reading the greens, just really you have to read the speed into the putts. So a lot of times after our practice rounds a lot of the girls went actually out on the golf course instead of just standing on putting green, they went out on the course, so they get to really get a more feel of the whole undulations of the greens and everything.
So, but, yeah, it was big discussions obviously about the speed. How quick they were.
Q. CAROLINE HEDWALL, when you were here in July and you had your practice session, you left earlier than you were anticipating. What did you do between then and now to kind of mentally prepare and get rested and those kind of things after you left here in July?
CAROLINE HEDWALL: I just needed to rest a little bit. I started my season in January and I have been on the road for a long time. So I just felt like I needed to take a week off from golf.
That helped a lot.
Q. Follow‑up for Caroline, how conscious of you, were you coming down the last couple of holes about wanting to win all five matches and inward just your match and the whole team performance.
CAROLINE HEDWALL: Well, I always look at the score boards. I know what the standings was.
CAPTAIN LISELOTTE NEUMANN: I told you not to.
(Laughter.)
CAROLINE HEDWALL: Sorry.
CAPTAIN LISELOTTE NEUMANN: You never listen to me.
(Laughter.)
CAROLINE HEDWALL: Well and I was told yesterday that no one had won five matches before, so I knew everything. But it was just a great moment and a lot of fun.
Q. When you told them not to watch the score boards, I’m curious, how did you think in your head how this day was going to unfold from the start and did it turn out anyway the way you thought it would?
CAPTAIN LISELOTTE NEUMANN: Yeah, pretty much. I don’t know if you know that every player that has won on the European team, the one that had made the winning putt, their name starts with a C, so I was trying, we talked about and we just tried to put all the players that their names start with a C close together. And it worked out really good. That was the strategy. Did you get that? Did I lose you.
Q. No. I wanted to know who did that research?
CAPTAIN LISELOTTE NEUMANN: Mark did that research.
(Laughter.)
Q. Beatriz, maybe I’ll ask you this, I asked the American players about, it felt like this week really shows how much I think the public loves this team format and golf and you guys are having a new event next year that’s going to have the top eight countries, obviously with Spain’s contribution to this I’m just wondering what your thoughts are about that the international crown and what that’s going to bring to women’s golf.
BEATRIZ RECARI: To be honest with you I haven’t really thought about it. I’ve been so focused on this week and I think that the key for the success was not only that we’re great golfers, but that we have bonded as a team and we were just encouraging each other from the beginning. Even the caddies, I mean we are not 12 here and assistant captains and Lotta, we were like 30 people every day just like supporting each other and pumping each other up. And the International Crown is going to be a great event and I’m sure we’re going to start thinking about it now, but we have shown, I mean I’m talking from Spain, we have shown great golf, so I think we’re going to be a tough team to beat, right? Yes.
Q. Suzann, you’re a part of those teams, the European teams that were where Europe lost like three in a row and there were questions about whether this competition was still relevant and were the Europeans worthy of it. Can you talk about how it felt hearing than a how rewarding that makes this now?
SUZANN PETTERSEN: We don’t two in a row, so why not make it three in a row?
Q. Was that motivating when you were hearing all that back in that spell?
SUZANN PETTERSEN: We liked it mostly when it was so quiet out there. We kind of like it peaceful and quiet. When the crowd when quiet, we knew we were doing well.
Q. Lotta, do you talk a little bit about Charley? You had a lot of confidence for her for making her a pick but an impressive singles victory today over Paula and a 2‑1 record.
CAPTAIN LISELOTTE NEUMANN: I think when I picked Charley I had, I mean my first two picks when I did my captain’s pick was Jodi and then Caroline and in my mind and I was thinking of players that I could pair them with and who would be my next picks. And Charley was definitely in the thinking there.
So she’s been, she was on my junior team two years ago and she’s just a special girl. And she has a special game and she brings a lot of energy to our team and she’s just a terrific player. She plays fearless and it was just awesome to have her on our team and I think we all love Charley.
(Laughter.)
Q. Lotta, is it nice that the fact that every single person contributed at least half a point to the overall score?
CAPTAIN LISELOTTE NEUMANN: No, that’s obviously great. That’s why I think that we were such a great team. Everybody just contributed and also when you do your captain’s pick you always want all your picks to play well and prove that you have done the right choice and that they fit into the team and bring something to the team. And they all did. Everybody in this team did something great and it was just really just a fantastic week.
Q. Lotta, to sort of feed off that, I believe you have eight countries represented on this European team. And I wonder if you talked before the Solheim Cup about how that reflected the growth in the individual countries of women’s golf. Now having won this cup do you feel like that’s going to just help the growth in all of the individual country, not just Europe as a whole but in Spain, being inspired by the Spanish players and such?
CAPTAIN LISELOTTE NEUMANN: Oh, absolutely, I think so. The more countries you have represented and obviously with the media and TV and all the countries back in Europe that gets the feed from here and they’re watching it, so the game is growing over in Europe and I think obviously it means a lot for the future of women’s golf. And golf overall in Europe.
Q. Quick question for Caroline Hedwall. Did I say that right? Is that close? Caroline, your club and yardage on the 18th? What club did you hit?
CAROLINE HEDWALL: Nine iron.
Q. Do you remember the yardage?
CAROLINE HEDWALL: 138 meters.
Team Europe, Liselotte Neumann
Q. Try and describe the sense of achievement. You made history today.
LISELOTTE NEUMANN: It’s a fantastic feeling. I just can’t tell you how proud I am of all of them. They all really played so well. It was all, it was really great this week.
Everybody has done something great for the team, including Annika and Carin. They really helped out with putting our pairings together, and just being out here, being on the golf course. Just being there for the players. And also our staff, the whole tour, everybody, it’s just been fantastic. Just everything. We just wanted the players to be out there and just focus on their game and they have been able to do that. And they just played brilliant.
Q. What was your best decision of the week?
LISELOTTE NEUMANN: I think probably to rest some of the girls yesterday, putting Charley and Jodi out there. We felt like it was a good move and to play Caroline Hedwall five times. To play her, she’s the only player that we played in every match. And she managed to win all five matches.
Q. You made history with six rookies on the team. How do you explain that?
LISELOTTE NEUMANN: When I was over in England doing my captain’s picks, I was really looking at if I picked this player, who would I pair her with. And I was pretty much set on Caroline Hedwall and Jodi. And when I picked Jodi it sort of made it automatic to pick Charley. So I already then, had a few of the pairings sort of in my mind. And it was just amazing, both those girls are playing so well.
(Singing in the background, audio unintelligible.)
Q. You’re a very modest lady, but everybody is saying what a fantastic job that you’ve done. Where does this rank for you?
LISELOTTE NEUMANN: Oh, it’s definitely one of the highlights for me. Obviously, being on the team and as a player and winning, it’s, it ranks right up there with that.
Q. How are you going to celebrate this win?
LISELOTTE NEUMANN: We’ll see. I’m sure we’ll go have a drink or two and maybe some good food and do some dancing and singing tonight.
Q. What a moment for you.
LISELOTTE NEUMANN: Yeah, Solheim Cup, so proud of these girls. It’s amazing.
Q. What’s it like to finish on the 18th green with all the European fans all around. A special moment?
LISELOTTE NEUMANN: Yeah and it was really fun to see Caroline get her fifth point this week, making some history on the team. Winning here for the first time, making more history.
Q. And a word for your rookies. Talk about them.
LISELOTTE NEUMANN: Oh, absolutely, they made me proud. All of them. It was just a total team effort. Everybody’s been playing well, everybody’s been really helpful. We have had a great effort from Carin and Annika as well, and everybody on our staff.
Q. Give your self a pat on the back as well, because yesterday your pairings ‑‑ some would have questioned them, but they turned out to be perfect.
LISELOTTE NEUMANN: Yeah, I had a gut feeling about it and I stuck with it. And I thought it was important to rest some of the players for today’s singles, and it really worked out and I’m so happy.
Team Europe, Beatriz Recari
Q. (No Microphone.)
BEATRIZ RECARI: I didn’t know what to expect coming into this week because it’s such a different experience, it’s such a different experience, that I could never imagine that it was going to be this amazing.
It’s been ‑‑ I don’t have words. I mean, even if you interview me in Spanish, I still wouldn’t have words. I could not have words. I mean we have bonded as a team since Sunday, and this has been one of the most wonderful experiences of my entire career. Being part of this team and how we bonded, this is such an individual event, but I tell you, this week was beautiful. It was such a good team and I’m just so proud of each other.
Q. Beating Angela Stanford, how proud do you feel right now?
BEATRIZ RECARI: I feel really proud of myself because she’s a top player, she’s always up there. And last night when we finished we were like, okay, we have 12 points, let’s set a new record. And let’s just focus on winning each match. And I did my job and I’m just really happy, I’m very happy with my game, I take a lot of positives out of this week.
I have some things I still have to work on, but I feel like I’m improving every week, which is what I want and I’m just so happy and I can’t wait to celebrate.
Q. I don’t know if you’re going to be working on your putting. You putted absolutely fabulous and putted the lights out. How do you feel about your putting?
BEATRIZ RECARI: No, you’re right. My putting has been one of the best, if not the best weeks, that I’ve ever had. So I’m very happy there. But I always want to improve, and I always want to make some more putts. So you can’t set yourself low, you got to keep improving.
Q. What do you think this means to European and also Spanish golf, so many of you on the team, it must just be so fantastic to have so many Spaniards with you on the team.
BEATRIZ RECARI: Yeah, it was definitely an advantage. We have known each other since we were nine, you know, so we definitely helped bonding the team and we played great.
Team Europe, Suzann Pettersen
Q. Can you talk to us about your thoughts now, this is the first victory on U.S. soil. How big is that for you, how big is that for Europe?
SUZANN PETTERSEN: It’s massive for women’s golf, it’s massive for Solheim Cup, for us to be historical and win on American soil, in Colorado, in front of pretty much an All‑American crowd. We took it to them and they couldn’t answer.
Q. Talk to us about those rookies, because you’ve made a lot of their importance within the team and what they have done?
SUZANN PETTERSEN: Our rookies, I don’t even think we can call them rookies, even though Hedwall is still in her teenage period, but, I mean, she’s one of a kind. And what she’s brought to the team this year, it’s just fantastic humor and just no worries, no hesitation, and it’s priceless.
Q. A word on the belief. Because Lotta had a belief in herself and in the team from day one. And she kept that quiet, but she had a confidence, didn’t she?
SUZANN PETTERSEN: I want to give Lotta all the credit for having the guts to actually pick all the rookies, to pick the youngsters, to pick Charley. I mean, that could have been very controversial if she wouldn’t deliver. And for her to do it and for Charley to step it up.
I just think Lotta, she’s a fantastic player, she was one of my role models growing up. She was the first one of the Swedes to really come through. And getting to know her even better now in person, she’s a fantastic person and I’m so glad we could help her win this.
Q. Hedwall, what she was able to do this week, going 5‑0. You know how tough it is to go five matches. How impressive is that?
SUZANN PETTERSEN: Oh, it’s fantastic. She’s just so much fun. She’s unbelievable.
Team Europe, Giulia Sergas
Q. (No Microphone.)
GIULIA SERGAS: I was down the whole match and I actually, I have to say, Jessica is such a competitor. She’s so nice and she’s my favorite American player.
So I was lucky to be paired with her. So I had a fantastic time with her and she’s a great player.
Q. I guess the key was yesterday afternoon really, wasn’t it?
GIULIA SERGAS: Oh, of course. I mean my teammates. I was the cheerleader, I was the best cheerleader. No comparison to any of these Americans cheering, I mean I was the best cheerleader there is.
Q. It was a proud moment for you and a proud moment for Europe as well
GIULIA SERGAS: Of course. Of course.
Team Europe, Azahara Munoz
Q. Hard fought match. Tell me about your thoughts on who you were playing today.
AZAHARA MUNOZ: Don’t really know what to say. I made a couple of mistakes on the front nine and I lost the third, which I should have won it. And that was pretty big.
And then on five, I hit a really good shot and I went over and from there it was impossible. And I lost the hole. But after that, I played a little bit better, but it was kind of a little bit too late, because she played really good at the end. She putted really well all day, she made every putt she had. So it was really tough to get holes back. But she played great, so all I can say is congratulations to her.
Q. Have you been watching the leaderboard as you’ve been going along?
AZAHARA MUNOZ: Yeah, at the beginning it was looking pretty bad. I was looking at it. So I’m just going to go out there and support my teammates now.
Q. What would it mean for you guys if you could pull this off and win on U.S. soil for the first time?
AZAHARA MUNOZ: I’m going to cry now.
It would mean everything. We have never won here, and it’s really tough with the crowd, and I just want to do this for Lotta and my teammates. And I’m really upset that I lost because I really wanted to get my point for Europe. But there are few matches out there, and I’m just going to go out there and support them.
Q. First win on U.S. soil for the Europeans. How does it feel?
AZAHARA MUNOZ: It feels amazing. We all knew we could do it, but one thing is thinking that you can, and another thing is to win it. And it is just amazing.
Obviously, it’s really tough to win here with the crowds and everything, that’s why it’s never been done, but we have got it, we are so happy to be able to do it.
Q. What was the biggest motivation for your team? Was it keeping the cup, beating the U.S. in the U.S.? Something else?
AZAHARA MUNOZ: I think it was everything. We wanted to keep the cup. We wanted to win on U.S. soil since we never won it. But I think the most important thing is we all wanted to win for Lotta. I mean, Meg is amazing, but for us, Lotta is too. She’s so nice to be around, she’s made us feel so comfortable. So she really, really deserved it, and we were all talking about it and we wanted to do it for her.
Q. Having three Spaniards on the team, all of whom played pretty well. How does that feel for you?
AZAHARA MUNOZ: It’s amazing. I mean they have been showing this live on the Golf Channel in Spain, and a lot of people have been watching it. And hopefully it’s going to improve women’s golf in Spain. And it’s just nice to have the whole country supporting us.
Team Europe, Catriona Matthew
Q. Try and explain what is going through your mind standing here.
CATRIONA MATTHEW: Well I was kind of shaking. They told me coming up, so I knew that if we get a half there, we would win it outright. But I’m still shaking, I think.
Q. Where does this rank in your list of achievements? You’ve won Major Championships.
CATRIONA MATTHEW: Any time you can celebrate with your 11 teammates and all the other helpers, caddies and everything, it makes it far more exciting and more fun.
Q. You were a couple down with a handful of holes to go, how deep did you have to dig?
CATRIONA MATTHEW: I played well. She made some good birdies on 13 and 14, and then I made two poor putts for me, on 15 and 16. And I made a good par on 17 and a great long ‑‑ I like these little five footers on the last.
Q. History is made, obviously it’s the first time it’s been won in the United States, you played here three times and lost. What was the difference this week?
CATRIONA MATTHEW: I think the rookies. The rookies played really well. That 4‑0 yesterday really set us up. We really couldn’t lose today, if we would have lost today that would have just been a disaster. So 4‑0 yesterday really set it up.
Q. Talk about the contribution of your captain for us.
CATRIONA MATTHEW: Lotta has been great all week. She just kind of inspires us, and gives us such confidence.
I think that was all ‑‑ we don’t need much motivation to go out and play in these, but she’s obviously got the pairings right.
Team Europe, Caroline Hedwall
Q. You’re the first person in Solheim Cup history to win five points out of five, and you have retained the Solheim Cup for Europe in America for the first time. How does that feel?
CAROLINE HEDWALL: I don’t know what to say right now. I’m just shaking. It’s unbelievable. It’s such a good feeling.
Q. And the atmosphere here, this is something you sort of dream of, isn’t it?
CAROLINE HEDWALL: Oh, yeah, for sure. This is really what you practice for, to be part of this moment. It’s unbelievable.
Q. Your sister was in Ireland this week, and she was playing over there, what are you going to say to her when you speak to her?
CAROLINE HEDWALL: Well, I don’t know. I don’t know what to say. I can’t believe this.
Q. Is this the most exciting moment in your career?
CAROLINE HEDWALL: Oh, yeah, for sure. It is. It is.
Q. When you came here in the beginning of the week, you thought this golf course would suit you, but there’s no way in your wildest dreams could you ever imagine you’re going to win five points on the final hole the putt for Europe to win in America for the first time.
CAROLINE HEDWALL: Yeah, I don’t know what to say. I’m still shaking here. It’s just amazing. It’s so great. There are no words, to be honest.
Q. Were you tired playing every single match?
CAROLINE HEDWALL: I was really pumped up on 17 and then when they blew the horn I said, oh, no.
But I went in there and gave a little talk to myself, and I went out there, and I was just as pumped as I was before. And I kind of took right off.
Q. How about that second shot?
CAROLINE HEDWALL: Well, I don’t know what to say.
Q. Tell me how you’re feeling when you’re walking around reading that putt on the last green.
CAROLINE HEDWALL: Well I was shaking and I was just ‑‑ because I wasn’t really sure of the line, and then just decided that I wanted to hit it inside the left and I did. And it went right in. I don’t know what to say.
Q. Well Europe played really well this week, what was the mental approach that you guys had, starting from Monday when you arrived here?
CAROLINE HEDWALL: Well I think that we could just ‑‑ we knew that we could win here.
(Singing in background and audio is unintelligible.)
Team Europe, Anna Nordqvist
Q. First European win on home soil or on U.S. soil. How does it feel?
ANNA NORDQVIST: It feels unbelievable. We had such an incredible week and it’s such a great team.
So I feel like it couldn’t happen at a better time.
Q. What do you think was the biggest motivation for you guys? Was it keeping the cup, was it beating Americans on home soil, or was it something else?
ANNA NORDQVIST: I got to go, sorry.
Charley Hull
Q. Only one other person has ever beaten Paula in singles. You didn’t beat her, you crushed her. Tell us how that feels.
CHARLEY HULL: It feels good. We both played great today. We both missed a few short putts, but, no, it was really good. I really enjoyed it.
Q. Describe your emotion as that match is unfolding and hitting all these incredible shots?
CHARLEY HULL: I always take it one shot at a time. I wasn’t really thinking what she was doing too much, and I just played my own game.
And that last hole is great, where she hit it in the bunker, and then I hit it to like three feet, and then she holed the bunker shot. That was just a real good memory that I’ll always have.
Q. When your friends back home ask you, how was the Solheim Cup, how will you describe it?
CHARLEY HULL: Wicked.
Q. You just asked Paula to sign a ball for you. You’re still a fan, aren’t you?
CHARLEY HULL: Yeah, I’m still a fan. And I’m going to give it to my friend, James, because he’s a big fan.
Q. Did you feel nervous at any point throughout that match?
CHARLEY HULL: I didn’t really feel too nervous. Probably on the putt on the hole before, because she holed a really good bunker shot.
Q. And before today how were you feeling? Because I heard you weren’t feeling too well.
CHARLEY HULL: No, I felt sick, like at dinner. I got a bit hot on the range. I really didn’t drink enough water, I guess.
Q. But you got over that pretty quickly and stayed focus.
CHARLEY HULL: Yeah.
Q. How did it feel when you started moving ahead and ahead and ahead? Did you feel at any point, that you thought that you had this in the bag?
CHARLEY HULL: Yeah, well, I mean I made about five birdies, so it was good.
Q. 14, you hit a great tee shot. Just tell me what club you hit.
CHARLEY HULL: I hit a 3‑wood, and I pitched it like eight feet left of the flag, and it just rolled up and didn’t roll all the way down.
Q. So you were looking good for eagle?
CHARLEY HULL: Yeah, but it was just such a hard putt. Putts in the practice rounds were easier, but it was hard.
Q. Obviously, Paula Creamer is another top American player. Does this feel extra special to beat her?
CHARLEY HULL: Yeah, it feels really good.
Q. And what are you going to do now? Go out and cheer on your teammates this afternoon?
CHARLEY HULL: Yeah.
Q. What do you think about the overall score line?
CHARLEY HULL: I haven’t really looked at it too much. But we just got to keep pushing.
Q. And this morning, Liselotte Neumann gave you some advice and some support when you went out. What was the feeling, what was the message?
CHARLEY HULL: It felt really good. It was nice to have Annika watching as well.
Q. That was a fantastic round of golf. From the sixth hole on, you never really let Paula Creamer feel like she had a chance to get back in the match. Did you feel this kind of a match coming yourself?
CHARLEY HULL: I felt like I’ve been playing good the first few weeks into this season, and then I’ve just kind of let myself go.
And after the first day, I really got used to the golf course and I just relaxed and made quite a few birdies over the past few days.
Q. A lot of players talk about pressure in Solheim Cup play, all the hoopla, a lot of cheering. You seemed totally unaffected by that. How do you actually feel inside?
CHARLEY HULL: I didn’t really feel that nervous, to be honest. Because this is how I always look at golf. I’m not going to die if I miss it. Just hit it, and find it, and hit it again.
Q. So what was with the autograph there? Did you not have a Paula Creamer ball yet?
CHARLEY HULL: My friend at home, he’s a big fan. So I thought I might as well get one.
Team USA, Meg Mallon
Q. So Meg, just sum up I guess how you feel at 7 p.m. on Sunday.
MEG MALLON: Yeah, it’s not the result that we wanted, obviously. And we still felt like we had a chance to win it today, even when we had the rain delay.
The team gathered around and we felt like they could turn around all their matches and win this. So I just really appreciate the effort that they gave and they fought hard until the end.
But, unfortunately, today was a European day, for us, but they played some great golf this week and really deserved the win.
Q. Anything stand out to you this week? Something, a player, something you would have changed, anything in your mind right now?
MEG MALLON: Not really. I think that we, the way we played 16, 17 and 18, I think really is what made the difference. It wasn’t for lack of preparation, because we played this golf course quite a bit. So it wasn’t like it was a surprise for us, it was just a matter of who dropped the putts on those holes and unfortunately it was the Europeans.
Q. What can you say about a player like Caroline Hedwall who went 5‑0, the first time, there’s nothing you can do to stop that.
MEG MALLON: No, she played some great golf. Obviously she may call this course her home now, because she really played some spectacular golf. But what you’re seeing is the future of the Solheim Cup, which is in really good hands. And it is one competitive in any event. And you’re going to see a lot of these young players going at it for a long time.
Q. What will you say to your friend Lotta Neumann, who you’ve known forever?
MEG MALLON: Yeah, you know what, I’m glad I talked her into being captain. I knew that she would have the best experience of her life and I’m happy for her and I’m proud of her.
Team USA, Paula Creamer
Q. (No Microphone.)
PAULA CREAMER: I just didn’t bring it today. This Solheim Cup brings the best and worst out of you.
But I just couldn’t hit a fairway on the front nine, and it’s just, when you’re going against someone that’s putting it close and you’re struggling, it kind of gets to you.
But we fought hard. I really tried as hard as I possibly could, and I can’t tell you how great these fans are out here. It’s amazing. Everybody’s saying “we believe”. And we all do. We all believe out here. And it was unfortunate, but now I’ve got to go be the best cheerleader I can be for my team.
Q. No doubt you guys talked a lot about strategy, and how you wanted to approach the day today. You knew you needed to get off to a fast start. Tell us about what it was like in that team room last night.
PAULA CREAMER: That was awesome. It was one of the best experiences that I’ve been a part of. We were just so fired up, so much just encouragement. But it was a pretty aggressive approach and I think that’s what we needed. We needed a little bit of a wakeup call in a sense. We have played good golf. They have just played better. We haven’t made as many putts as they had or whatnot, but that’s golf and you can’t let it gets down. You just had to go out and win your one point. I didn’t do that right now, but like I said. I’m going to go be a good cheerleader and last night was awesome.
Q. I know it’s another tough loss, what kind of was the difference do you think this week for you guys?
PAULA CREAMER: I hate to ever say it was tough breaks here and that, and putts fell, putts didn’t fall, but it kind of was like that this week. We had some bad breaks, but that’s golf and we just got to kind of pull it together, we’re a great team, we got along so well.
If it comes to team bonding, this was the epitome of that. And going into Germany we have got two years to sit on this and four years since we have won the cup and I can tell you we’ll be ready to go.
Q. When you see a player like Caroline Hedwall, how she played this week, to make the birdie putt on 18, to go 5‑0, how impressive is that?
PAULA CREAMER: As an athlete, as a player, I’ve played five matches several times and to go undefeated, that’s awesome. Good for her. As an athlete, that takes, that’s a lot of respect to her. She played great, she played strong, and to finish with a birdie, that’s pretty good. You can’t really say anything other than that. And that kind of sums up the week.
Q. You guys had four rookies on your team, and they got a lot of experience and seemed to really kind of be tough in their matches today, even if they didn’t necessarily come out with points. How much does that say for the future of this team?
PAULA CREAMER: We all know what it’s like. U.S. soil is a completely different thing than European soil. And I know this is the first time we have ever lost here, but they got to see what it was like to have just so many people behind you. And when we go to Germany it’s going to be the opposite and we’re going to be ready. But we’re going to be tough and we’re going to be strong and who knows, maybe that’s what we need right now.
Team USA, Stacy Lewis
Q. A roller coaster day for you. What an incredible up‑and‑down after all you went through today. How did you find the energy to stay positive out there?
STACY LEWIS: I looked at that board and saw those red flags, and I had to get a half a point. I couldn’t let a blue one go up.
But, I don’t know how I got that up‑and‑down. Paula was pretty amazed there. But I had to get that half a point. We both played great all day and we both deserved a halve.
Q. You both did play great, but on the greens it was a story of missed opportunities. Yet, you had to still stay, I guess, positive. You had to stay optimistic.
STACY LEWIS: Yeah, I was hitting good putts, they were just lipping out. That’s just golf for you. You have to stay patient, stay positive. I hit a lot of really good shots. And I feel fortunate to get the halve.
Q. What will you do now?
STACY LEWIS: I got to get out there and cheer on my teammates.
Q. Being the first out, when Meg told you that, how did you feel?
STACY LEWIS: I was excited. We, Paula and I, talked about it. We wanted to go 1, 2 and we wanted to get us off to a good start. I like this position, I like having the cameras and the eyes on me, I want to be here. So I was just glad to put some points on the board.
Q. If there was something you could change today, some shot you could take back, what would it be?
STACY LEWIS: Maybe some of those putts, but a lot of the putts, I hit exactly where I wanted to. So I had at least three lipouts today, but that’s golf and you just keep grinding away.
Q. So Caroline holed out to retain it. First loss on home soil. Just sum up how you feel.
STACY LEWIS: Well it was pretty disappointing. Obviously, yesterday afternoon hurt us a lot. We just couldn’t get any good momentum going early and it’s disappointing. But they holed putts when they needed to and hit the shots.
Q. Just for a captain like Meg, who everybody adores, and even on the other team, how do you think she will handle it? What do you think she will say to you guys tonight?
STACY LEWIS: I think she will be fine. She will have a smile on her face, I’m sure. She had one on her face last night.
She never gave up on us, and we never gave up on her, and this team bonded better than any team has ever before. So I think that we have all learned a lot from this and we’ll all be okay.
Q. Did you feel throughout the week, that there was extra pressure on you guys, just because Europe was coming with the cup?
STACY LEWIS: Well there’s always pressure to win, whether we’re ‑‑ whether we won it last year, whether we didn’t, whether we’re home, whether we’re away. There’s always pressure and they’re a great team.
They’re getting better every year, and they’re making this what it should be. So it’s good for the event, it’s good for women’s golf. We saw a lot of good, close matches this week. But we’ll be fired up and ready to go next time.
Q. What will you take away from this week personally?
STACY LEWIS: I learned a lot playing with Paula yesterday. How to play in these matches. And it definitely helped me today. Anna played great and we were back and forth all day, and that’s what helped me get that half point. So I learned how to manage these rounds and play at a Solheim Cup, and I think it’s going to help me going forward.
Team USA, Brittany Lang
Q. Big point for the U.S., talk me through the match. I know it got closer towards the end. You had kind of a bigger lead, and then were able to close it out on 17.
BRITTANY LANG: Yeah, I started off very shaky. I was really amped up and nervous and excited. I hit some very uncharacteristic shots. But I settled down on, like the late, on the front nine, and got some confidence. And I was fortunate that Azahara wasn’t playing as good as she normally does. I got lucky there.
But, towards the back nine I was starting to hit my shots. I was hitting it good, I was rolling it good, so I was extremely confident. I was nervous coming into these last two, but I know I’m playing well, so I just tried to stay with it.
Q. 16, your shot on the green seemed to be a critical one. Kind of going down that stretch were you thinking, if could I win this hole, especially where Azahara was in front of the green, it would be pretty big?
BRITTANY LANG: Well, she hit a great chip and a great putt. I’m thinking, yeah, if I can make birdie here, I can be dormie and she nearly made that. I couldn’t have ran over there fast enough to pick up her ball, I thought she had that. So I got fortunate there she didn’t birdie. But that was crucial birdieing that hole being dormie, yeah.
Q. How much have you been paying attention to the leaderboard, or were you kind of focused on the match?
BRITTANY LANG: I looked at it a little bit. I saw a lot of red early. I looked at it a little bit, but I had ‑‑ I knew I just had to get a full point for my team. So that’s what I was focused on.
Q. What was the mood like last night when you guys were in the team room and talking about what kind of, was ahead of you today? What was the mantra that you guys came up with?
BRITTANY LANG: Yeah, you know, we have had some things kind of not go our way this week, and we haven’t played as well as we would like to. And they have played very well, they have played great golf. And we said, we don’t have anything to lose. Just go out there and have fun, take care of your match. Meg told us just try to get your point, take care of your match, focus on what you’re doing. And she said it doesn’t matter, win or lose, we’re going to have class and have fun and it’s just golf.
Team USA, Michelle Wie
Q. (No Microphone.)
MICHELLE WIE: I love my team. I wish we did better. We have two years to get ready for Germany and we’re going to get that cup back.
Q. Tough fought match for you, I know it came right down to the end, I know it wasn’t how you wanted to finish, but can you be proud of how you played this week?
MICHELLE WIE: She birdied the last hole to win. There’s nothing really I can do about that. I played my heart out today. And that’s what happens. There’s nothing more I can ask for. I hung in there, I stuck it out, I played tough. And they played great this week. And there’s nothing you can do about that.
Q. Just, I know it’s always hard when you lose, but just the way this team, you saw some of the rookies step up, play well, what do you guys say about the future heading into the next two years?
MICHELLE WIE: Well, I’m really excited for Germany. I’ve never seen such chemistry on a team before. And I think it’s just going to make us stronger for sure.
Team USA, Lexi Thompson
Q. Talk about your match. You didn’t really let her get close to you at all.
LEXI THOMPSON: Well, you know we both ‑‑ I mean I shot probably around 2‑under or something. It was close. I just made a few birdies on her.
But she played consistent, she was making pars, and overall she’s a great player. And we knew whoever we were going to get in singles, it was going to be a good match.
Q. I’m sure you’ve seen the leader board, Europe just won their 14th point. What are your thoughts and feelings about it?
LEXI THOMPSON: I didn’t know they did.
Q. Caroline Hedwall just made her putt on 18 to beat Michelle Wie. So 14 points to now 8 for USA. Talk about your feelings about that.
LEXI THOMPSON: Yeah, it’s rough to go through a loss, but overall we had an amazing team. We have been playing great, we knew that we had good competition to play against.
It’s unfortunate we lost, but we were such a great team, with bonding and everything, and how our games matched up, so we wouldn’t change anything.
Q. Your rookie year, your rookie experience. Just talk about playing on the team for the first time.
LEXI THOMPSON: It was amazing. It was a dream come true. This was one of my goals for the last two years, to make this team. Because I love representing my country, there’s nothing like wearing red, white and blue. And to have a captain like Meg Mallon, it’s an honor to play on her team and be playing with the best players in the world on your side.
Final Results:
Day One Results
Foursomes: (Europe first):
Anna Nordqvist and Caroline Hedwall beat Stacy Lewis and Lizette Salas 4 and 2.
Suzann Pettersen and Beatriz Recari beat Brittany Lang and Angela Stanford 2 and 1
Catriona Matthew and Jodi Ewart-Shadoff lost to Morgan Pressel and Jessica Korda 3 and 2
Azahara Munoz and Karine Icher beat Cristie Kerr and Paula Creamer 2 and 1
Europe 3 USA 1
Fourballs: (Europe first):
Suzann Pettersen and Carlota Ciganda beat Stacy Lewis and Lexi Thompson one hole
Caroline Hedwall and Caroline Masson beat Angela Stanford and Gerina Piller 2 and 1
Anna Nordqvist and Giulia Sergas lost to Brittany Lincicome and Brittany Lang 4 and 3
Catriona Matthew and Charley Hull lost to Cristie Kerr and Michelle Wie 2 and 1
Europe 5 USA 3
Day Two Results
Foursomes (Europe first):
Anna Nordqvist and Caroline Hedwall beat Morgan Pressel and Jessica Korda 2 and 1
Azahara Munoz and Karine Icher lost to Stacy Lewis and Paula Creamer one hole
Catriona Matthew and Caroline Masson halved with Brittany Lincicome and Lizette Salas
Suzann Pettersen and Beatriz Recari lost to Michelle Wie and Brittany Lang 2 and 1
Europe 1 ½ USA 2 ½
Fourballs (Europe first):
Jodi Ewart-Shadoff and Charley Hull beat Paula Creamer and Lexi Thompson two holes
Azahara Munoz and Carlota Ciganda beat Gerina Piller and Angela Stanford one hole
Caroline Hedwall and Caroline Masson beat Michelle Wie and Jessica Korda 2 and 1
Beatriz Recari and Karine Icher beat Cristie Kerr and Morgan Pressel one hole
Europe 4 USA 0
Overall: Europe 10 ½ USA 5 ½
Day Three Results
Singles: (Europe first)
Anna Nordqvist halved with Stacy Lewis
Charley Hull beat Paula Creamer 5 and 4
Azahara Munoz lost to Brittany Lang 2 and 1
Carlota Ciganda beat Morgan Pressel 4 and 2
Caroline Hedwall beat Michelle Wie one hole
Catriona Matthew halved with Gerina Piller
Suzann Pettersen halved with Lizette Salas
Giulia Sergas halved with Jessica Korda
Caroline Masson lost to Lexi Thompson 4 and 3
Jodi Ewart-Shadoff beat Brittany Lincicome 3 and 2
Beatriz Recari beat Angela Stanford 2 and 1
Karine Icher halved with Cristie Kerr