USA Captain Stacy Lewis Suggests Playoff After Solheim Cup Tie
Europe retained the Solheim Cup after a 14-14 draw with USA at Finca Cortesin in Spain


USA captain Stacy Lewis has suggested that the Solheim Cup could be settled by a playoff in future after Europe retained the trophy following their 14-14 draw.
Europe and America were locked together at 8-8 heading into Sunday's 12 singles matches, with the hosts and defending champions needing to get to 14 to keep the cup for a third straight time.
The visitors, under Lewis's captaincy, required 14½ points to regain the trophy they last won in 2017 and got off to a fast start on Sunday as they won the first hole in each of the top three matches before Europe, who lost the opening session 4-0 on Friday, fought back to secure the first ever tied Solheim Cup.
Lewis admitted: "We were talking about whether there should be, when it is a tie, should it be a playoff, should it be a retain the cup? I don't know, I mean, it obviously would be better TV.
"It would be a better experience for the fans whether it was a team playoff or something like that, I think that would be pretty cool. But if you want to stick with the history of the event and history of what the men do as well, you probably stick with retaining the cup. I don't know how I feel about that either way, to be honest."
Caroline Hedwall produced the most stunning turnaround on Sunday, winning five of the last six holes to claim her match against America's Ally Ewing despite being three down after 12. But it was Carlota Ciganda who inflicted the final blow as she birdied the 16th and 17th to beat Nelly Korda, which prompted emotional scenes among the visitors after Lexi Thompson finished her final game.
Lewis, who will captain USA again on home soil next year, explained: "I made them all cry, which was not my intent. I just told them how proud I was of them and just the fact that , I don't want to sound like a sore loser, but it was a tie, and I think that's a lot for this team to build off of.
Get the Golf Monthly Newsletter
Subscribe to the Golf Monthly newsletter to stay up to date with all the latest tour news, equipment news, reviews, head-to-heads and buyer’s guides from our team of experienced experts.
"Coming over here, coming into this environment with five rookies, a very young and inexperienced team, I mean, this week was really good for them. I just wanted to tell them how proud I was of them. Fortunately, we only have to wait another year to go get this thing back."

James Nursey is a freelance contributor to Golf Monthly after spending over 20 years as a sports reporter in newspapers. During a 17-year career with the Daily Mirror, he covered mainly football but reported from The Open annually and also covered a Ryder Cup and three US Opens. He counts a pre-tournament exclusive with Justin Rose at Merion in 2013 as one of his most memorable as the Englishman went on to win his first Major and later repeated much of the interview in his winner’s speech. Now, after choosing to leave full-time work in newspapers, James, who is a keen single-figure player, is writing about golf more. His favourite track is the Old Course after attending St Andrews University but has since played mainly at Edgbaston, where he is on the honours board. He is an active member of the Association of Golf Writers and Press Golfing Society but his favourite round is playing the game with his children. James is currently playing: Driver: Ping G400 3 wood: Ping i20 Hybrid: Ping i20 Irons: Ping i500 4-SW Wedges: Ping Glide forged 50, 56 Putter: TaylorMade Spider Tour Ball: Titleist ProVI
-
Volvo China Open 2025 Picks, Odds And Predictions
Following a break for The Masters, the DP World Tour returns for the final two weeks of its Asian Swing and the Volvo China Open is the penultimate event
By Jonny Leighfield
-
Rory McIlroy's Sports Psychologist Explains Why He 'Didn't Talk' To Bryson DeChambeau In Masters Final Round
DeChambeau raised eyebrows at Augusta National when claiming that McIlroy wouldn't engage in conversation during the final round of The Masters
By Jonny Leighfield
-
JM Eagle LA Championship Prize Money Payout 2025
The LPGA Tour heads to California for the JM Eagle LA Championship, where the largest prize money payout of the season so far is on the table
By Mike Hall
-
Callaway REVA Rise: New Women's Clubs Unleashed!
Callaway has released REVA Rise, the latest evolution of the Reva line of clubs designed specifically for women
By Alison Root
-
Carla Bernat Escuder Narrowly Beats Asterisk Talley To Augusta National Women's Amateur Title
Carla Bernat Escuder became the first Spaniard to win the Augusta National Women's Amateur
By Mike Hall
-
Augusta National Women's Amateur Final Round Tee Times 2025
Defending champion Lottie Woad and USA's Kiara Romero will start as co-leaders in the final group of the Augusta National Women's Amateur on Saturday
By Jonny Leighfield
-
Defending Champion Lottie Woad In Prime Position For ANWA Title Defence As Several Big Names Miss The Cut
Heading into the final round at Augusta National Golf Club, England's Lottie Woad co-leads the field 12 months on from her dramatic comeback victory
By Jonny Leighfield
-
Augusta National Women’s Amateur Winners: Where Are They Now?
The Augusta National Women's Amateur was first played in 2019 and, since then, a number of the tournament's winners have gone on to forge superb careers
By Matt Cradock
-
Augusta National Women's Amateur 2025 Tee Times - Round One
Lottie Woad returns to defend her Augusta National Women's Amateur title, with the Amateur World No.1 getting her first round underway alongside Amateur World No.2 Jasmine Koo
By Matt Cradock
-
Rianne Malixi Withdraws From Augusta National Women's Amateur With Back Injury
Rianne Malixi had been among the favorites going into the Augusta National Women's Amateur, but the US Women’s Amateur champion has been forced to withdraw due to injury
By Matt Cradock