It’s no choke as U.S. wins the Solheim Cup

The Americans were hardly chokers when the stakes were highest in the Solheim Cup.

Dominating the singles matches as they always have, the Americans celebrated one of the most coveted wins in women’s golf Sunday, a 16-12 decision over Europe at Halmstad, Sweden, that ended any thought that they might be the “Chokin’ dogs” that former player Dottie Pepper said they were.

Led by Morgan Pressel’s upset of Annika Sorenstam and Stacy Prammanasudh’s surprising victory over Suzann Pettersen, the Americans went 8-3-1 in singles. It was only the second time the U.S. had won the Solheim on foreign soil.

“I was pretty excited when we won it in my rookie year,” Paula Creamer said of the 2005 win at Crooked Stick in Indiana. “I’m even more excited now.”

Pepper, now a TV analyst, stood by her off-air remarks, but the Americans insisted they had put it all behind them by Saturday night. Yet the motivation may have helped.

“It was hurtful, very, very hurtful to all of us on the team,” said assistant captain Beth Daniel. “Dottie’s been there. She knows what it’s like. Even if she said it off the air, it was ill-spirited.”

R.W. Eaks won his second Champions Tour title of the year, closing with a two-under-par 70 to hold off Jay Haas and Rod Spittle by two strokes in the Greater Hickory Classic at Conover, N.C. Eaks’ 17-under 199 total broke the tournament record of 200 set by Haas in 2005.