US captain admits tears were shed and calls for Solheim Cup playoff after draw

Team USA captain Stacy Lewis has suggested that the Solheim Cup should consider a “play-off” format after Europe retained the title following a 14-14 tie. The 13-time LPGA Tour winner, and two-time Solheim Cup winner, believes that a new format would be more entertaining for both golf fans and players in the future.

Europe were crowned the Solheim Cup winner courtesy of Spain’s Carlota Ciganda who narrowly defeated Nelly Korda in a tense finale. The action-packed tournament at Finca Cortesin in Spain ended in a 14-14 draw, giving Suzann Pettersen’s team the win.

Despite this year’s event ending in a draw, it was Europe who were named the champions as the current holders of the trophy. The team won the previous 2021 tournament at Inverness Club in Toledo, Ohio.

Although this tradition has been held since the first tournament in 1990, it is something that USA captain Stacy Lewis believes could be worth reconsidering in the near future. “We were talking about whether, when it is a tie, should it be a play-off, should it be ‘retain the Cup’,” she said.

“I don’t know. I mean, it obviously would be better TV. It would be a better experience for the fans if there was a team play-off or something like that, I think that would be pretty cool.”

Despite falling just short of their first Solheim Cup win since 2017, Lewis is proud of the USA team and admits to making the players cry with a passionate speech. “The whole week in general feels like a win,” she said.

“These girls played their hearts out. They just kept fighting and kept fighting, and they literally did everything I could have asked of them this week. I made them all cry, which was not my intent. I just told them how proud I was of them and just the fact that, I don’t want to sound like a sore loser, but it was a tie.

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“I think that’s a lot for this team to build off of, especially coming over here, into this environment with five rookies, a very young and inexperienced team, this week was really good for them. You look even today how many matches went down to 17, to 18. Things really could have been quite a bit different with one or two shots here and there.

“Fortunately, we only have to wait another year to go get this thing back. We’re moving in the right direction and I’m really excited about the future of this US team.”

USA will be able to take their revenge on Europe at the Ryder Cup which starts on September 25 at the Marco Simone Golf & Country Club in Rome, Italy.

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