Europe Wins Solheim Cup; U.S. Ploy Angers Sorenstam

Europe defeated the United States, 14 1/2-11 1/2, in the Solheim Cup, the women’s version of the Ryder Cup, Sunday in Scotland.

“No individual championship can top this,” said Laura Davies, one of five European players who have been in all six Solheims. “It’s the U.S. Open and British Open rolled into one.”

The Europeans’ victory at Loch Lomond northeast of Glasgow was the closest finish in the history of the Solheim Cup.

Carin Koch, one of six Swedes on the European team, made a 10-foot birdie putt on the 17th hole to secure the 13 1/2 points needed to win.

This competition was not without an accusation of poor sportsmanship against the Americans.

The trouble began after Sweden’s Annika Sorenstam chipped in from 25 feet for an apparent birdie on No. 13 during fourball. The U.S. asked to have her shot replayed because she had played out of turn. She then missed.

American Pat Hurst, playing with Kelly Robbins, made a short birdie putt to increase the lead to two holes, and the Americans went on to win, 2 and 1, for the only U.S. victory in fourball.

A tearful Sorenstam said, “It is sad to see that the ugly part of them came out because both Pat and Kelly are the nicest they have. It is just sad to see that--that they don’t even have sportsmanship.”

Robbins apologized and U.S. captain Pat Bradley took responsibility for making Sorenstam play over. “We played within the rules of the game,” she said.

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Two days after back pain almost caused him to pull out of the Michelob Championship at Williamsburg, Va., David Toms sank a five-foot putt for par on the first playoff hole to defeat Mike Weir. Toms, who got relief from an over-the-counter pain medication suggested by Paul Azinger, made it into the playoff with a final-round 66. . . . Jim Thorpe made a 30-foot eagle putt on the par-five final hole of the Transamerica Championship at Napa, Calif., to set a tournament scoring record and win for the first time on the Senior PGA Tour. The eagle gave Thorpe a seven-under-par 65 and a three-day total of 18-under 198, which broke the record of 199 set last year by Bruce Fleisher, who finished second to Thorpe on Sunday.

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In the semifinals of the World Match Play Championship at Virginia Water, England, Ernie Els missed a two-foot putt on the final hole to lose to Lee Westwood, whose 1-up victory from two down with three to play put him into the final against defending champion Colin Montgomerie. Montgomerie won his rain-delayed semifinal, 5 and 4, against Vijay Singh. After 18 holes of the 36-hole final, Westwood had a two-hole lead. Because long rain delays created a backlog of matches, the 36-hole final will be completed today.

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Ellen Port became the second three-time winner in the U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur, defeating Anna Schultz, 3 and 2, at Big Canyon Country Club in Newport Beach. Port, 39, of St. Louis, also won the tournament for players age 25 and over in 1995 and 1996.