“PRO” FILE – UNITED STATES SOLHEIM CUP TEAM

Facing a 10-6 deficit entering the 12 Sunday singles matches during the recent Solheim Cup held in Germany, the United States team’s chances looked bleak. A partisan, raucous European crowd was rooting against them and for the home side, and the Europeans were making putts like they were going out of style. To top it off, a controversy regarding a concession earlier in the morning likely cost the U.S. team a point, further burying them score-wise. The U.S. needed 8 1/2 points during the singles matches to win the Cup, a daunting task given how well Europe was playing. Halfway through the session, the U.S. led in 6 matches, Europe 4, with 2 matches tied. American Cristie Kerr, down 3 holes to Charley Hull, then went berserk, birdieing 7 of the next 8 holes to go three up. But the real drama came when Gerina Piller made a 10-foot putt on the final hole of her match to keep the Americans’ hopes alive. Had she missed, the matches would have resulted in a tie, with Europe retaining the Cup. Piller’s putt was certainly the biggest one of her career, and one of the biggest putts in the history of women’s golf. American legend Juli Inkster captained the team, and other team members included Michelle Wie, Lexi Thompson, Lizette Salas, Angela Stanford, Alison Lee, Paula Creamer, Stacy Lewis, Brittany Lang, Brittany Lincicome, and Morgan Pressel. The U.S. now leads the biennial competition 9-5, and scored its first victory since 2009.