Ciganda The Home Hero As Europe Retain Solheim Cup After Thrilling Finale

THE MATCHES ARE CLOSE

We're into the closing stretches of the final day's play in the Solheim Cup. It's been a thrilling Sunday at Finca Cortesin, Spain so far. Currently, it's very tight on the leaderboard with Team USA just a point ahead, 10-9

There have already been birdies galore. Europe need to finish strong if they are gain the 14 points they need to retain the Cup. It's set to be a thrilling finish, so keep up-to-date with our live blog here!

Leona Is Back On Top Winning The 2nd And 3rd Holes

Georgia sends her 3 wood down the 1st. Playing against Andrea Lee who is in the middle of the fairway. Match 5 is on.

Leona has fought back to going up in her match on the 3rd hole. She has so much fight. Back to back holes won and she's on a roll.

Kupcho's Putting Woes Continue

It's no secret that Jennifer Kupcho struggled on the greens yesterday. She races her birdie putt on the first and leaves the green with a half against Anna Nordqvist.  

Putts Are A Dropping

Andrea Lee playing the second hole against Georgia Hall sees her second nestle safely on the green. Georgia rolled her ball close and then sunk the next to take the 1st hole. 

Has Megan Khang missed the hole yet on these clutch putts?? Don't think so. She's down in 4 on the 4th and Grant misses her putt. USA go 2up in that first match.

2 Captains Picks. 2 Rookies. All To Play For.

Cheyenne Knight sends her ball flying on the 1st hole. Straight and True. 

She plays agains the 7th Scott to ever play in the Solheim, Gemma Dryburgh. Who answers Cheyenne's shot with an equally solid hit. The 6th group is away.

It's 2 A Piece In Match 2

Rose rolls her putt in to level the match against Leona Maguire. It's 2 a piece and there have been no halves as yet in this match. They march onto the 5th tee. 

Linn Grant made a fairly loose attempt at her birdie putt on 5 but applies the pressure on Megan to make her par putt to tie the hole. Never a doubt. USA remain 2UP in the top match

Leona Loves A Hybrid

Did you know the longest iron in Leona Maguire's bag is a 7 iron. She loves a hybrid and my word is she awesome with them. 

Check out what's in Leona Maguire's bag here. 

Charley Chips It Cheekily Close

Charley Hull's incredible second shot on the par 5 4th snuck past the flag and looked like it was heading into the bunker. She crouched down willing the hybrid hit ball to hold and it did but in that fluffy bermuda around the green. 

She has a stunning touch around the greens and chipped it beautifully close to have the putt conceded by Danielle Kang for her birdie. Kang failed to match it and Hull wins the hole to go AS in her match.

Crowds Are Being Looked After By Kang's Mom

Danielle Kang's mom has a heck of an arm on her as she shells baseball hats into the crowd and keeps the US fans shaded in the Spanish Sun.

Boutier Goes 1UP After Birdie At The 1st

Celine Boutier has birdied the first to go 1UP on Angel Yin. Celine is on a mission this Singles Sunday and she looks like she's off to a stunning start.

Anything You Can Do I Can Do

Cheyenne Knight hit a fabulous shot into the 2nd hole and Gemma Dryburgh matches it. Who will putt first? 

There are 3 matches tied. 3 in the blue and 1 in the red. This is going to be a really tight contest for the Solheim Cup. The crowds are getting louder and the wind is getting up. 

First Maguire Hiccup And Rose Takes Her Chance

Leona makes a bogey at the 6th hole and Rose Zhang takes her opportunity to get the match back to AS. 

Linn Grant is clawing it back against Khang and wins the 7th to get back to just 1 Down.

THIS IS GOING TO BE CLOSE

Good afternoon everyone and what a time to take over from Katie, things are really close right now. No match on the course is more than 1-up. I've got a feeling this is going to come down to the result of the last few matches and you an see that's exactly what the captains were also thinking by their tail end choices. Watch this space!

CHARLEY MAKES A CRITICAL PAR SAVE

Charley Hull just holed a critical par putt to save a half. It's hard to believe that she is playing in her sixth Solheim Cup and she's only 27 years old! Did you watch the Sky Sports documentary about captain Suzann Pettersen that followed yesterday's play. It was so funny seeing the "young" Charley being interviewed. Feels like she's been out on tour for years. She'll be digging deep into those experience banks today.

COULD THIS BE THE MATCH OF THE AFTERNOON

American Nelly Korda has just teed off against Spanish home favourite Carlota Ciganda. Three matches, three wins so far for Ciganda in the first Solheim Cup to be played in Spain. Can she make it four?

KHANG IN CONTROL

Linn Grant has just missed the green left at the par 3 10th opening the door for American Megan Khang who hit a brilliant shot to a few feet. 

Khang is undefeated in this Solheim Cup. Looks like she's going to go 2-up here.

HALL MISSES ANOTHER PUTT

Georgia Hall looks a bit shaky on the greens today. She's missed two short putts in the first few holes. It's very unlike her. I know how confident a putter she is having played lots of county golf with her when she was a junior. It just shows how much that golf is a confidence game. She's not really looked comfortable with her game at this Solheim Cup. I'm hoping she can dig deep and call upon her matchplay experience and claw this match back.

CIGANDA MAKES CRITICAL PAR SAVE

What an important par save by Carlota Ciganda at the first hole. So important that she didn't let Nelly Korda get that early advantage over her. 

PEDERSEN HITS PAR 4 FIRST

What a tee shot for Europe's Emily Pedersen onto the green at the first. I had to hold my breath watching that one in the air, it only just carried the water, but boy what a shot! It should be a straight-forward two-putt birdie for her. Lexi hit her drive into the greenside bunker. This is going to be an interesting match to watch. They're all out now.

ADVANTAGE ANNA

LEXI MISSES HER PAR PUTT 

An early sign of nerves already showing for Lexi Thompson who just missed an important par putt at the first. That's advantage Emily Pedersen. 1-up Europe.

ANOTHER BIT OF MAGUIRE MAGIC

Another birdie putt drops for Leona Maguire. She goes 2-up. The Irishwoman has played brilliantly all week. What a star!

GRANT IS FIGHTING BACK

Linn Grant is 2-down to Megan Khang but she has just hit a brilliant tee shot into the 175-yard par 3 12th, it looked like it was nearly going to roll down off the left bank into the hole. Come on Linn, this is where the fightback begins.

VU DOMINANT THROUGH FRONT 9

American Lilia Vu has just rolled in another birdie putt to go 4-up against Europe's Madeleine Sagstrom. This is a very dominant performance from the two-time Major Champion this year. 

STACY LEWIS: "DON'T LOOK AT THE LEADERBOARDS"

Will captain Stacy Lewis's words of wisdom work for her team. "Don't look at the leaderboards, concentrate on your own match" she told them. Right now there's been a wind of change and a sea of red as the USA gains momentum.

TO GIMME OR NOT TO GIMME ME?

Isn't it interesting what putts are given and what are not? As a long-time Dorset county player I have competed in hundreds of matches. My personal preference is to give short putts early on but as it gets towards the closing stages of the matches see them in. After all, you never know. I've seen very short putts missed under pressure.

KORDA LOOKS UNCOMFORTABLE ON THE GREENS

World Number 3 Nelly Korda has never lost a Solheim Cup singles match but she looks uncomfortable on the greens today. Definitely advantage Carlota Ciganda.

KHANG GOES 2-UP AT THE TOP

Megan Khang just left her birdie putt to go 2-up on the edge of the hole at 13. Turns out she didn't need it. Linn Grant missed her par putt. This is a big blow at this stage of the first match. 

GRANT'S EAGLE HANGS ON THE EDGE

Oh no Linn Grant, I can't believe that eagle putt didn't drop. It was literally hanging over the edge of the hole. It's those pieces of luck that make all the difference.

HAS THE WIND GONE OUT OF SAGSTROM'S SAILS?

Poor Madeleine Sagstrom has just missed another short putt. She's 5-down through the first six holes against Lilia Vu. This is sad to see as she played so nicely yesterday. 

TOO CLOSE TO CALL?

A BRILLIANT CHIP SHOT FROM MAGUIRE

Many people would have questioned whether Leona Maguire would tire today, after all Finca Cortesin is a hilly course. But she's playing the most majestic golf this afternoon. It's easy to see why she's never been sat out of a Solheim Cup match - ever! Born to play matchplay, I say.

WOW MAGUIRE ROLLS AN EAGLE PUTT IN!

Leona Maguire is absolutely ON FIRE! She's just rammed home an eagle putt against Rose Zhang. That's dormy 4-up with four to play. Could this be the first match to finish this afternoon. 

WHAT HAPPENS IF IT'S A TIE?

Looking at how close this leaderboard is, there's actually a strong probability that this Solheim Cup could end in a tie. So what happens if it's 14-14 at the end of play? It would be good news for Europe, as it means as defending champions we retain the Cup. 

It's never happened before though, and there's plenty of action still to unfold out there...

NEARLY AN ACE ANNA!

Superb iron shot execution from Anna Nordqvist.

GO GRANT!

What an unbelievable sand save for Linn Grant. She claws a critical hole back. Now just 1-down with two holes to play. Keep it going Linn.

TEAM EUROPE'S FIRST SINGLE POINT GOES TO LEONA MAGUIRE

No-one deserves this single point more than Leona Maguire, playing all five matches. She's played like an absolute superstar this afternoon and thoroughly deserves the 4&3 win against Rose Zhang.

"Suzann gave me a job this morning and I'm really happy to bring it home," said Maguire, who is the first European to put a point on the board. "It felt like all the Irish were out here supporting me today."

GEORGIA GOES 1-UP

Never count a British Open Champion out! Georgia Hall hasn't played her best golf so far in Spain this week but she's just holed a putt to go 1-up against American Andrea Lea. I love how Georgia plays with such focus - you can see the determination in her eyes. Every putt is critical and every point on the board could be the most important now.

LEXI IS MAKING A COMEBACK

MEGAN KHANG DEFEATS LINN GRANT BY ONE HOLE

Well played Megan Khang. First point on the board for the Americans this afternoon. Your captain put you out in the top match and you delivered. Top point scorer for the American team this week. Six-under-par for her round today. Given how tight the scoreline is in this Solheim Cup, this point could have huge consequences in a few hours time.

KANG GETS ANOTHER POINT FOR THE USA

Danielle Kang has just defeated Charley Hull. That's another point for the USA. It's not 10-9 - advantage the Americans.

THE PROJECTED SCORE IS EUROPE 15 USA 13

I tend to take these projections with a pinch of salt, but right now, if the matches finish as they currently stand, then it will mean a win for Europe 15-13. Watch this space...

DRYBURGH BRILLIANCE

Gemma Dryburgh has holed some amazing putts this afternoon. She's just rolled in another (what looked like) 50-footer! I'm so pleased for Gemma. No-one deserves the place on the team more. I played with her in August and she is such a steady golfer, finding fairways and greens. Just what you need in matchplay. And, of course, a hot putter!

A CLOSE CALL

Take a look at how close Lexi Thompson just hit her approach shot in the anchor match. World class!

SEIZING THE MOMENT

What a reply from Anna Nordqvist. She's just hit the most immaculate iron shot into the 16th green. If she holes this she goes 2-up with two to play. Talk about seizing the moment.

THERE'S 9 MATCHES LEFT TO FINISH

Can you believe we're on the countdown to the finish! There are only 9 matches left to be concluded and Europe are currently up in six of them. This is getting really, really exciting!

NORDQVIST FIST-PUMPS HER PUTT IN

Anna Nordqvist has just gone 2-up with two holes to play. She'll know just how important her point is right now, being the most experienced player on the European team. She's playing in her eighth Solheim Cup this week. A sterling performance from the veteran. I think she'd make a very good pick for captain herself in the future.

NORDQVIST WINS 2&1

I'm delighted for Anna Nordqvist, winning her singles game 2&1 against Jennifer Kupcho. She's played a lot of good golf this week and today is her first win. She had the added weight on her shoulders of being vice captain. Good job!

"I knew Suzann had trusted me as she put me out pretty early on," she said. "I've been playing really well this week just not many putts dropped. I had a lot of friends and family supporting me today. I put every last bit of hard work left in me out there."

What does the Solheim Cup mean to her?

"It means the world for me and for my whole family to see me win is amazing. I know  everyone will be fighting until the end today."

CAN THE AMERICANS TURN THE TABLES?

Stacy Lewis has stacked the strength at the end of her singles start-sheet. Her players are fighting back. This Cup is not done and dusted yet. Things can very quickly change.

KNIGHT FIGHTS BACK

Cheyenne Knight has just holed a birdie putt to get her match against Europe's Gemma Dryburgh back to 1-down. This is going to be a pivotal point. Can the Scot hold onto her narrow lead?

LAST FEW MATCHES ARE GOING TO BE CRITICAL

I don't wish to be the bearer of bad news but has anyone noticed that in the four matches Europe are up in, each match is only 1-up. That's not a very big margin for error! These players will be seriously feeling the pressure right now.

BIG PAR PUTT DROPS FOR STARK

Well done Maja Stark. Holing a big par putt at this critical stage in the game and keeping that narrow 1-up lead in your match. Hang on in there. Europe needs your point.

HUGE PUTT FOR HEDWALL

Caroline Hedwall has just rolled in a big birdie putt to get her match against Ally Ewing back to just 1-down through 14. If she can turn the tables in this match it could be huge.

AMAZING TEE SHOTS AT 17

Two of the best tee shots I've witnessed all day at 17. American Andrea Lee hit her long-iron into just a few feet first putting the pressure on her opponent Georgia Hall. She followed with an equally impressive shot to just a few feet. World-class composure, well done Georgia. It's a putting contest now.

OH NO GEORGIA!

Georgia Hall has just three-putted from 15 feet to lose the hole and go all-square going up the 18th. 

EUROPE'S MUST-MAKE PUTTS ARE SLIDING PAST

As we all know, matches are won and lost on the greens. And it seems, right now, that Europe are missing the critical must-make putts. First Georgia Hall, now Gemma Dryburgh has missed a short putt too. These matches are crucial.

THE PROJECTED SCORE HAS JUST SWUNG THE AMERICAN WAY

How quickly things can change. With those couple of missed putts the projected score has just tipped in the favour of the Americans, 14 1/2 - 13 1/2. These matches are all going down to the wire.

YIN EDGES ONE AHEAD

Angel Yin has just holed a birdie putt to go one ahead of Celine Boutier with two holes to play. It feels like the momentum has just swung the American way. 

HALL VS. LEE FINISHES IN A HALF

Georgia Hall looks disappointed shaking hands with Andrea Lee on the 18th after the pair walked off with a half. If only she hadn't missed that short par putt at 17. 

BIG PUTT BY YIN FOR THE WIN

Angel Yin rolls in a massive birdie putt at 17 to win her match against Celine Boutier. Another point on the board for the USA. They only need two more to take the Solheim Cup home.

CAPTAIN'S PICK CAROLINE HOLES CRITICAL PUTT

That's all for me folks. I hope you've enjoyed reading my live commentary of the Solheim Cup over the last three days. I'm handing over to Golf Monthly's Andy Wright now to see this tournament through to a close. It's going to be an exciting last hour.

Just as I sign off Caroline Hedwall has holed a massive putt to square her match. She's a captain's pick that's hardly been played. What a hero!

Huge moments ahead for Team Europe

Hedwall crunches a drive down 18, she needs to win a point if Europe are to have a chance. Ewing pulls her second into the greenside bunker but the Swede skirts it and finds the heart of the par-5 green. Two putts should do it but that's far easier said than done.

Hedwall closes out singles tie

What. A. Win. Ewing blades her bunker shot through the back of the green and makes a hash of her next before conceding the match to Hedwall. From 3-up, the Swede was brought back to all square with two to play but produced the goods when it mattered most. 

In the final game, a birdie on the 14th gets Pedersen back to just 3-down in her match with Thompson. 

Korda draws level

Home hero Carlota Ciganda was 3-up through eight but has now been reined in by Nelly Korda. The match is all square with three to play and could determine the outcome of the Solheim Cup.

Advantage stark on 17

Corpuz misses the par-3 green, leaving the door open for Stark to strike a decisive blow. The Swede hits a great shot onto the back edge of the green about 20 feet from the hole.

She'll likely have a chance to close out her match shortly 

Pedersen pulls another hole back

Thompson misses from five feet for par to gift Pedersen another hole, the Swede is now just 2-down with three to play. What a comeback this would be if she could pull it off.

In the penultimate match, Korda hits a corker of an approach to about eight feet on 16 but Ciganda responds by sticking it to less than half that distance. The American's putt is a poor one, so the Spaniard will have a chance to go ahead once again.

Vamos!!!

Ciganda makes no mistake and moves 1-up with two to play. That puts Europe back on track to retain the trophy. 

Up ahead on the 17th green, a Corpuz bogey gives Stark two putts for the match and she makes no mistake to level the score at 13-13.

Incredible Carlota

Ciganda steps up on 17 and lasers an iron shot to about three feet - unbelievable. In response Korda finds the left fringe and has about 20 feet left. You couldn't write this.

Europe have retained the Solheim Cup

Korda opts to chip and it's tracking. The American collapses to her knees as it slides by the edge. She hasn't lost her turn but makes her par putt.

The stage is set - this putt to retain the Solheim Cup...

It's there, Ciganda ensures Europe will be leaving the Costa del Sol with the Solheim Cup. What a finish!!

Can Europe win it outright?

There's still one game left on the course. Thompson of the US stopped the bleeding at 16 so takes a dormie 2-up lead to 17.

Pedersen is up first and finds the green. In response, Thompson dumps hers into the bunker. We could be going down 18...

It's a draw!

Thompson hits her bunker shot to about 12 feet for par, leaving Pedersen a lengthy birdie putt to win the hole. It looks like it has to drop but somehow lips out. 

To her credit, Lexi slams her putt into the back of the cup for a deserved win and to make it 14-14. How does the Solheim Cup keep producing such fireworks? 

That's all from us

That brings to an end our Solheim Cup coverage. Once again, it produced fireworks throughout and a 14-14 draw feels right. Not that that will be any consolation for the US, who last won the biennial contest in 2017.

But it's all about Team Europe. At 4-0 behind on Friday afternoon few would have predicted this result. It's a testament to the spirit and talent within this era of players. 

As ever, thanks for your company. We'll be back for next week's Ryder Cup. If it's half as good as this has been, we're in for a cracker.