Throwback Thursday: Gimmegate overshadows Solheim Cup
The Background
Team Europe had built up a healthy 8-4 lead heading into the second day’s fourballs session having dominated the first three sessions of the Solheim Cup.
The lead had been cut to three as the final day’s matches were heading to conclusion with huge pressure on the outcome of Suzann Pettersen and Charley Hull’s match against Alison Lee and Brittany Lincicome.
The Scene
Hull had just rolled in a birdie on the 16th to get the match back to all square with two holes to play.
Petterson and Hull both missed birdie putts and Lee stood over a 12ft putt to win the hole and regain the lead in the match.
The American rookie missed with her ball sliding no more than 18 inches past the hole.
As Hull and Pettersen looked to walk off the green to the final hole, Lee raked her ball back and Pettersen stepped in.
The Norwegian claimed that they had not conceded the putt and therefore Lee suffered a shot penalty and in controversial fashion Europe won the hole and then won match.
The Legacy
The incident seemed to spur the United States team on and they went on to win the Solheim Cup but the controversial incident overshadowed the event.
A similar incident happened recently during a US Girls matchplay event where Elizabeth Moon rolled her ball back before the putt was given and lost the match.
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