AUCHTERARDER, SCOTLAND – SEPTEMBER 15: Team Europe celebrate winning the Solheim Cup during the final day singles matches of the Solheim Cup at Gleneagles on September 15, 2019 in Auchterarder, Scotland. (Photo by David Cannon/Getty Images)

Sunday 15 September, 2019 – Europe won The Solheim Cup for the first time since 2013 after an incredible finish to the final day singles, which ended with Suzann Pettersen holing the decisive putt on the 18th green to send the thousands of fans into raptures.

Team USA looked set to retain the trophy when they needed a half point from any of the final three matches, but Europe won all of them to secure a sensational victory.

With Anna Nordqvist closing out a 4&3 win over Morgan Pressel and Bronte Law beating Ally McDonald 2&1 in the final two groups in the minutes preceding, Pettersen and Marina Alex were both on the 18^th green and with makeable putts for birdie.

Alex missed and Pettersen, one of Captain Catriona Matthew’s wildcard picks, stepped up and rolled in an eight-footer to give Europe the point they needed to get to the all-important 14½.

Team Europe went wild; the Americans were stunned.

All day the momentum swung either way, with Carlota Ciganda beating Danielle Kang on the last in the top group followed by Nelly Korda putting some red on the board with a two-hole win over Caroline Hedwall.

The next two points went to Europe, Georgia Hall defeating world number three Lexi Thompson and Celine Boutier seeing off Annie Park 2&1. Devastating as a pair, Hall and Boutier showed they could produce the goods individually too as both secured their fourth point from four matches this week.

The middle order matches all went America’s way and put them on the brink of a triumph which would have been Juli Inkster’s third in a row as Captain. First Angel Yin beat Azahara Munoz in the fifth match, then Meghan Khang won the 18^th hole to claim a half from Charley Hull.

Next up was Lizette Salas who downed Anne Van Dam by one hole, and there were easy wins for Jessica Korda, 3&2 against Caroline Masson, and Brittany Altomare, 5&4 over Jodi Ewart Shadoff.

Team USA, on 13½ points, were preparing to pop the champagne corks on the 18^th green, but a dramatic finish then ensued as the final three Europeans completed a remarkable comeback.

Pettersen, whose selection by Matthew last month raised eyebrows because of her lack of competitive action since having her son at the end of 2017, struggled to hold in the emotion after winning the Solheim Cup for her team.

“Can you ask for more?” she said.  “The last putt to win the Cup, when it’s that close? History was just made, to win here in front of the Scottish crowd, to be here most of all. I could never in a million years dream of this.

“I mean, to hole the winning putt, to win the Cup. Nothing beats The Solheim Cup in my career.

“I honestly didn’t know when I stood over the putt that that was to win it. It was left centre and I couldn’t have hit it any better. I’m on the best team ever.”

USA Captain Juli Inkster was philosophical after the narrow defeat, saying: “The Europeans played great. You tip your hat.

“We had a few tears. And I said it’s okay. But the bottom line is we had a great week, the Europeans played great and we’re going to have a great party.

“The sun’s going to come up tomorrow. This will give them the fuel and fire for another two years to work at their game, to be on that team, to try to get that Cup back. I just said, ‘Hold your heads up because you should not be disappointed’.”

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Packed crowds gather at Gleneagles for the opening day of the Solheim Cup 2019. Image credit: Getty Images

Europe edged a thrilling opening day of The 2019 Solheim Cup which ended 4½-3½ after a tense afternoon fourballs session at Gleneagles on Friday.

On a day which began with the biggest and loudest first tee ever seen at a Solheim Cup, Europe claimed the opening session 2½ points to 1½ and shared the spoils in the afternoon as the fourballs ended 2-2.

It could have been a larger margin were it not for Lexi Thompson holing a putt from 18 feet to win the 18^th with Jessica Korda and grab a half from Carlota Ciganda and Bronte Law, and then Nelly Korda and Brittany Altomare snatched an unlikely half against Charley Hull and Azahara Munoz.

Team Europe’s Bronte Law and Carlota Ciganda take a 1/2 point in the afternoon fourball. Image credit Getty Images

The English-Spanish duo had been up since the fifth hole but their lead – they were four up after 14 holes – was eroded as they lost the last three holes.

Earlier in the afternoon, Ally McDonald and Angel Yin inflicted the heaviest ever Solheim Cup fourball defeat on Anna Nordqvist and Caroline Hedwall, a 7&5 drubbing to level the match.

Europe restored their advantage when wildcard pick Suzann Pettersen and rookie Anne Van Dam delivered a 4&2 win over Danielle Kang and Lizette Salas. In doing so, Pettersen equalled Laura Davies’ record for Team Europe of nine fourball wins.

But the momentum was undoubtedly in favour of the Americans, who at one stage looked likely to lose three of the four afternoon matches.

USA Captain Juli Inkster said: “No one really ever talks about the half point. I have to say those two half points at the end were huge. For two rookies to be four down with five holes left and to come back and tie, you can’t teach that. It’s just in your belly. I’m just so impressed with them.

Thompson and Korda high five for Team USA on day one of the Solheim Cup at Gleneagles. Image credit Getty Images

“We’ve just got to keep the Europeans in our rearview mirror, so we can see them. You don’t want to get too far down. It was looking like we could be two and a half points down, but you keep gnawing a half a point here and there and it adds up. You look at all the golf today and we’re only a point down, so I’m very pleased with where we’re at right now.”

Catriona Matthew, the European Captain, said: “I’d be lying if I said it was what we were looking for. But I think you have to take the positives and we’re leading. We’re a point up. If we’re leading at the end of each day, that would be great.

“I think everyone’s a little disappointed, but Charley had a great putt on the last, it was just a little firm. Brittany holed up and made a great birdie. It’s not as if we lost it with bad play; the others birdied it. We’re pleased with going in with a one-point lead.”

In the morning session, having been sent off down the first fairway of the PGA Centenary Course by a deafening crowd, Ciganda and Law, in the first group, finished all square with Morgan Pressel and Marina Alex. Ciganda holed a brilliant putt for a two on the par three 17^th and then finished off an excellent up-and-down on 18.

Just behind them in match two, Georgia Hall and Celine Boutier won 2&1 against Thompson and Altomare, but the Korda sisters – Jessica and Nelly – put some red on the board with a thumping 6&5 win over Caroline Masson and Jodi Ewart Shadoff.Ei

In the final match of the session, Hull and Munoz closed out a 2&1 victory over Megan Khang and Annie Park after a tense back nine.

Solheim Cup 2019 Day 2 – Saturday Foursomes. Image credit Getty Images

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love.golf guests enjoy their introduction to golf, in sight of the iconic Gleneagles Hotel. Image credit Kenny Smith

On the eve of becoming host venue of The 2019 Solheim Cup (September 9-15), Gleneagles, the world-famous Scottish hotel and sporting estate, has staged a hugely successful launch session of love.golf, a pioneering social group coaching programme exclusively for women.

As part of Gleneagles’ ongoing commitment to make its world-class facilities more accessible to everyone, beginner through to aficionado, it invited 20 enthusiastic females, many of whom were first-timers, to be part of an introductory session on the award-winning hotel’s Pitch and Putt Course.

Overseen by Head PGA Golf Professional, Andrew Jowett, and guest love.golf coach from West Kilbride Golf Club, Linzi Dye, participants embraced the engaging approach, which is based on the academic study of award-winning Fellow PGA Professional and love.golf founder, Alastair Spink.

By adding social group coaching to the many routes golfers and enthusiasts can experience the game, Gleneagles continues to lead the industry by offering a range of innovative coaching programmes and events.

Fun, camaraderie and golf, in action. Image credit Kenny Smith

This is headlined by The Gleneagles Foundation, in its fourth year, that supports young and aspiring elite players. From six-years-old and upwards, the 850-acre Perthshire estate also stages Wee Eagles Camps in school holiday periods to inspire boys and girls into the game. These initiatives are supported by sell-out Junior and Women’s Open competitions, the latter attracting over 150 participants at each event.

Following the love.golf session, Andrew Jowett, Head PGA Golf Professional at Gleneagles, commented: “While many non-golfers may perceive golf to be difficult to learn, by using the love.golf approach, this introductory session was able to demonstrate how inclusive, informal and engaging golf can be when shared with friends or colleagues.”

Alastair commented: “love.golf is about learning together and getting out onto a golf course as soon as possible, not spending hours hitting golf balls on the range. Research shows that women who participate enjoy a sense of togetherness, a relaxed format, unexpected enjoyment and a boost in confidence.

Gleneagles’ Pitch and Putt Course played host to the event, that combines social experience with learning. Image credit Kenny Smith.

“We are proud to introduce this concept to Gleneagles at a time when the female game is in the spotlight, and the Perthshire Estate gets set to welcome the biggest women’s golf team event in the world.”

Gleneagles, celebrating 100 years of golf this year, plans to stage a series of love.golf sessions from the Autumn onwards and create a lasting legacy of introducing women to the game following its hosting of The Solheim Cup.

For further information about Gleneagles, visit: www.gleneagles.com

To learn more about love.golf, visit: www.love.golf

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Custom-made golf buggies will go on a tour of the UK before the contest at Gleneagles in September

Scotland, 3 May 2019 – Carryway, an Official Supplier to The 2019 Solheim Cup, today unveiled the Captains’ Cars, the golf buggies which will be driven by the Team Captains at Gleneagles in September.

Catriona Matthew and Juli Inkster, who will lead the European and American teams respectively, will be cruising around the PGA Centenary Course in style in their custom-made Club Car buggies designed in traditional Solheim Cup colours.

For more than 15 years, Carryway have partnered with Club Car, the world’s leading manufacturer in golf buggies, offering petrol and electric vehicles to the UK golf industry. Carryway will be responsible for the coordination, delivery and support activities related to the supply of more than 200 Club Car golf and Club Car utility vehicles at The Solheim Cup. The fleet will consist of 14 team buggies for players and caddies, and the bulk of the vehicles will offer transport solutions to the vital support teams.

Carryway’s Club Car golf buggies are a vital cog in the large operations wheel that is a world-class sporting event, where around 100,000 spectators are expected, and will ensure teams such as Security, Medical, Support and Media can get around Gleneagles efficiently.

Sarah Black, Managing Director, Carryway (MTS Group), said: “Carryway are delighted to be providing its Club Car golf buggies and utility vehicles to The Solheim Cup at Gleneagles. Without a doubt the tournament will be one of the biggest sporting events of 2019 and we can’t wait to see our event fleet in action both on the course and behind the scenes.”

Ross Hallett, Senior Vice President, Golf, IMG Events, said: “We are thrilled to have Carryway on board as an Official Supplier for The 2019 Solheim Cup. They are the best in the business and have a huge depth of experience in providing golf vehicles at large-scale events.

“The Captains’ Cars look fantastic and we can’t wait to see them in action with the captains and teams at Gleneagles in a few months’ time.”

In the build-up to the event, the Captains’ Cars will go on a tour of the UK, appearing at prestigious sporting events such as the AIG Women’s British Open at Woburn in August.

The full list of 2019 Solheim Cup partners, sponsors and suppliers:

PING – Founding Partner & Official Apparel Supplier
Rolex – Global Partner
VisitScotland – Global Partner
Scotland, the Home of Golf – Official Host Destination

Aberdeen Standard Investments – Global Partner
Gleneagles – Official Partner: Host Venue
John Deere  – Official Sponsor: Golf Course and Turf Maintenance Machinery Event Partner
Ricoh – Official Sponsor: Office Equipment
Arnold Clark Car & Van Rental – Official Supplier: Car / Rental Car
Highland Spring – Official Supplier: Hydration
Carryway – Official Supplier: Golf Cart Providers
Arena – Official Supplier: Structures
Aggreko – Official Supplier: Temporary Power Supplier
Abacus – Official Supplier: Team Europe Apparel Supplier

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Calum Hill (pictured) joins Hannah McCook and Paul Lawrie OBE, in representing Gleneagles on the global stage.

Gleneagles, the world-famous hotel and sporting estate, has welcomed young Scottish golf tour professional Calum Hill as a new brand ambassador.

Calum joins fellow young Scot, Hannah McCook, and former Open Champion and Scottish golf legend, Paul Lawrie OBE, as representatives of ‘The Glorious Playground’ on the global stage.

Calum (24), who lives in Crook of Devon, Perthshire, just 12 miles from the 850-acre estate, returned to Scotland after completing a scholarship in America, where he obtained both Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees.

During his time at the University of Western New Mexico his golf game blossomed, and in 2017 won the San Juan and Arizona Opens, victories that were his springboard into the professional game.

Calum has subsequently gone on to compete in the 2018 US Open at Shinnecock Hills, win the Galgorm & Spa Northern Ireland Open in the same year, and now plays on the European Challenge Tour.

He commented: “Gleneagles is not only an iconic destination for golfers around the world but it also holds a special place in my heart, being so close to my family home, and a venue where I continue to practice.

“To have the support of the only venue in Europe to stage both The Ryder Cup and the forthcoming Solheim Cup, and during the Centenary year of The King’s and The Queen’s courses too, is invaluable as I continue to develop my career.”

Gary Silcock, Director of Golf at Gleneagles, added: “Calum is definitely one to watch, he has a very bright career ahead of him. Our country is producing some exciting prospects right now, and with Calum and Hannah representing us, supported by Paul Lawrie at home and on the Champions Tour in the USA, the Gleneagles name continues to reach golfing audiences worldwide.”

www.gleneagles.com

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Judy Murray and Nicola Sturgeon – at the 2018 ASI Gender Summit

Nicola Sturgeon, First Minister of Scotland, today welcomed the announcement that Aberdeen Standard Investments will host its 5^th annual Diversity Summit during the week of The 2019 Solheim Cup. The biennial women’s golf tournament, which this year is funded by the Scottish Government, is contested by teams representing US and Europe, and will take place at Gleneagles in Scotland, from 9^th to 15^th September. The Solheim Cup promises to provide a unique and inspiring backdrop for the global investment company’s annual Diversity Event.

The announcement was made at a reception in New York to promote the event as part of the annual Scotland Week celebrations where messages of support from US Captain Juli Inkster and European Captain Catriona Matthew were played to a hosted audience alongside a display of the Solheim Cup trophy itself.

Aberdeen Standard Investments is the title sponsor of both the Men’s and Ladies Scottish Opens and this association with The 2019 Solheim Cup further demonstrates their commitment to equality. The partnership provides the unique opportunity during the week of The 2019 Solheim for the Company to hold its annual Diversity Summit at Gleneagles which, in previous years, has attracted high profile speakers from the worlds of politics, business and sport.

Lynne Connolly, Global Head of Diversity and Inclusion at Aberdeen Standard Investments, said: “We are delighted to play our part in one of the world’s biggest sporting events. The themes of equality, innovation and experience are extremely important to the culture of Aberdeen Standard Investments and will be at the heart of the Solheim Cup. It is therefore a natural fit for us to host our Diversity Summit, a forum we are committed to and one that continues to go from strength to strength.”

Nicola Sturgeon, First Minister of Scotland said: “We are delighted at the incredible support we have received to host The 2019 Solheim Cup. I’m particularly pleased that Aberdeen Standard Investments has come on board to host their annual Diversity Summit during The Solheim Cup week.  They share Scotland’s commitment to raising the international profile of women’s golf and addressing the inequalities that continue to exist across society.”

Catriona Matthew, European Solheim Cup Captain said: “As a long standing Aberdeen Standard Investments ambassador I’m delighted they have chosen to host their annual Diversity Summit during the tournament week. Over the past 4 years the event has grown and evolved, with a range of inspirational speakers exploring how we tackle the inequalities that exist across society. As Captain of the European Team, but also as a professional female athlete, I have the utmost respect for ASI’s unwavering support of the women’s game.”

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