Rose Zhang and Nelly Korda. If asked who is the real MVP of the week, there are certain doubts. By result, it’s clear: Rose Zhang. The Stanford player has won all four matches she has played and has made a strong statement in case anyone was starting to doubt a player who has barely been a professional for a year and a half. In her first Solheim on home soil, she has become a total leader.
At Finca Cortesín she paid the rookie fee and barely scored half a point in three matches. No trace of that. The course has suited her wonderfully. As Stacy Lewis has said, if Rose had to design a course to her liking, it would be very similar to Robert Trent Jones Golf Club. 3y2, 3y2, 5y4 and 6y4, have been her results. She has not had to reach the 17th hole in any of her matches. Tyranny. She has only lost eight holes all week. Anthological performance.
On the other hand, there is Nelly Korda. It is true that on Sunday she took a severe corrective from Charley Hull, but if the United States has reached Sunday with such a wide margin, it is also thanks to her brilliance. Friday and Saturday she nearly got top marks in all facets, but what she putted on Friday is for her to put on loop.
However, the aspect that has attracted the most attention in Nelly has been without the clubs in hand. Animated, very funny and far from other more apathetic Nellys focused on their own. She has also been number one with the rest of her teammates. The pair with Allisen Corpuz is already Solheim history. They accumulate four consecutive victories in foursome, something never seen before in the competition. The duo she has made with Megan Khang has also been one of the most fun of the week, both on the field and in the role of team cheerleaders. Nelly seemed different. However, once the work on the field was finished, in the final press conference she returned to her usual role. Discreet second row and without needing to be seen excessively.
Closing the American podium is Lauren Coughlin. The American dream in its purest form. She arrived at her first Solheim at 32 years old and in her native Virginia. Who said pressure, the American has scored three and a half points in four matches. However, she will dream the rest of her days with that four-meter putt she did not convert and that would have given the definitive point to the Americans. It would have been Oscar-worthy. That putt should not tarnish an unforgettable week. Almost climbing to the podium is Megan Khang with an immaculate 3-0 record and contributing a lot of team spirit.
In the European section, without a doubt the player who has shone the most has been Charley Hull. The Englishwoman did not start well, losing the Friday morning session and resting in the second session. Since then she has chained three consecutive points that have allowed to dream of a historic comeback. On Sunday she managed to inflict a 6&4 on a Nelly Korda who had embroidered golf in the two preceding days. Charley’s drive on Saturday at hole 18 to seal the victory in the last match of the day and keep the Europeans alive was anthological.
Results aside, within the European team the English player has been seen much more integrated, much calmer and making more of a team. Still in the retina were the scenes from last year when, injured, she barely celebrated the European team’s victory. Point for the captain who has managed to recover for the cause the controversial player.
We do not forget Carlota Ciganda. The Spaniard has not signed her best Solheim. It is true that in her first two matches the pairs did not accompany her. Grant did not appear and Pedersen, at times, was not very fine on Friday morning. However, a key putt from Carlota on Saturday morning at hole 16 could have reversed the fortunes of a session that was vital for Europe. It did not go in, things happen. Beyond that, she performed at a more than acceptable level the first two days. On the decisive day she was overwhelmed by an unstoppable Rose Zhang. However, she did not lack commitment and willingness to sacrifice for the team.
In search of Linn Grant. In this edition she has only appeared for an hour on Sunday and it has not even been enough to win the individual. She takes a painful partial of four defeats in as many matches. She arrived as one of the team’s standard-bearers and returns with a serious corrective on her back. The best button was her first match with Carlota Ciganda. Every shot she had to play short went long and when she had to play long she fell short. Grant is vital for Europe and the team has noticed it, a lot.
The captains deserve a separate chapter, but Lewis is clearly the big winner of the week. Last year she already showed a lot of mettle and good work in this competition. She deserved this victory more than any other. She was a great captain in defeat and has shown even more class in victory.
