Lilia Vu sinks winning putt as USA hold off Europe fightback to lift Solheim Cup

• USA win for first time since 2017 after 15 to 12 victory
• Charley Hull beat Nelly Korda 6&4 to give Europe hope

They say Virginia is for lovers. The US ensured the overdue resumption of its relationship with the Solheim Cup on an afternoon when the heroics of Charley Hull almost inspired her European teammates towards the making of history. Watching golf fans were given cause to remember why the Solheim Cup is held in such deep affection. The event will return in the Netherlands in 2026; a wait that for now is unsatisfactory.

It feels like an understatement to point out Suzann Pettersen's European contingent battled hard to keep their hands on the trophy for what would have been a record-breaking fourth time. The US held their nerve. The scoreline of 15 to 12 did justice to that and a European team who lacked nothing in heart. Far from bursting through the tape, the hosts at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Club stumbled over the line like an exhausted marathon runner.