Fired-up U.S. storm back to win after starlets left in tears over putt controversy

Golfers from both teams were left in tears as the Solheim Cup was mired in controversy on Sunday – but it only seemed to inspire the U.S. who produced a stunning fightback to reclaim the trophy. American rookie Alison Lee and English starlet Charley Hull were reduced to tears as heated discussions took place around the 18th green over a conceded putt. It left the US trailing 10-6 in the match and Europe needing a seemingly straightforward four points from the 12 singles matches to keep the trophy. But the U.S. stormed back to claim eight of the afternoon matches to win for the first time in three attempts.

Disgusted. We have got our best player, Charley Hull, who has just won a point and she is in floods of tears. That tells you the wrong thing was done.

12-time Solheim Cup player Dame Laura Davies

The tournament was overshadowed by the incident on the 17th green when Lee, 20, missed a birdie putt from 10 feet and picked up her ball thinking the tap-in would be conceded. But her European opponents, 19-year-old Hull and Norwegian partner Suzann Pettersen, said that with the match deadlocked going into the final hole, the shot was not conceded. US captain Juli Inkster was overheard to say: “If that’s the way they want to play, let’s go,” with Stacy Lewis adding: “Let’s use this to motivate ourselves,” before leading several of her team-mates in a chant of: “Class, style, U-S-A.” Former players and commentators lined up attack the Europeans for breaking the spirit of the game.

After this morning they were all fired up

US captain Juli Inkster

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