A perfectly executed wedge by American Alison Lee in the Solheim Cup on Saturday has prompted one of the wilder celebrations seen in international golf.
It was sparked by Lee’s ability to deliver on a wager which led to caddies Jack Fulghum and Taylor Takada ripping their shirts off and celebrating with glee in the competition between the United States and Europe.
And rather than being outraged by the exuberance of the antics in the prestigious competition, European captain Suzann Pettersen responded by saying; “Sex sells. Go for it.”
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With America trying to end Europe’s recent dominance in the teams event, a wager between caddies Fulghum and Takada and US representatives Lee and Megan Khang was considered a way to ease tension.
It has been reported by the Golf Channel’s Kay Cockerill that Fulghum proposed that he and Takada would stump up $500 (A$750) should either of the golfers manage to hole out during their fourball against Swedish duo of Anna Nordqvist and Madelene Sagstrom.
Cockerill reported that Lee immediately countered with an alternate proposal as they were waiting to tee off on the second hole.
“No, if we hole out, you guys (the caddies) take your shirts off,” Lee said.
Not only did the duo pull off a celebration to remember, they also clinched the four-ball 4&3 to gain a critical point for the US, with the stage set for an enthralling final day in Virginia as the Americans seek to break Europe’s winning streak of three in the Solheim Cup.
The US started the second day with a four point advantage after world No.1 Nelly Korda’s heroics on Friday and maintained the buffer on a tense afternoon at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Club to lead 10-6 heading into the last day of competition.
The first American to win both opening day outings by at least three shots in a competition first played in 1990, Korda extended the US lead when clinching the opening point of the morning in partnership with Allisen Corpuz on Saturday.
They trailed Carlota Ciganda and Linn Grant two-down midway through the round but were able to grind another victory before American captain Stacy Lewis gave her star the afternoon off.
“It’s great playing with Allisen,” Korda said.
“I have so much fun with her and she’s so solid. She said that I played great today, but she did, as well, and we make a really good team, and it’s so much fun playing out here with her this week.”
Korda will again be off first in the 12 singles to finish off the Solheim Cup when she plays English star Charley Hull.
Pettersen, the European captain, believes the tourists are capable of overcoming the deficit with a strong performance in the singles competition.
A reference point is the 2012 Ryder Cup performance when Europe overcame a similar deficit to pull off the “Miracle at Medinah” by winning eight matches and halving another.
“We’re still in it. We need a massive day tomorrow. We need to go another record singles series again. It’s been done before,” Pettersen said.
“There’s hope. Absolutely. We have a chance. I’m so immensely proud. 10-6 is do-able. We need to digest today, refresh, recharge.”
Europe retained the Solheim Cup a year ago when squaring with the US 14-all in Spain, while Europe won 15-13 in Ohio in 2022 and 14 ½ to 13 ½ at Gleneagles in Scotland in 2019, with the competition reverting to every even year from this year onwards.
America overcame a 10-6 deficit to win the 2015 Solheim Cup in Germany but Lewis, the US skipper, said that the host nation would look to secure early points in order to “go get this done”.
“This was a great day for us. It was like when you shoot 62 (on the opening day) and how you come back. The Europeans played better today and it showed,” Lewis said.