European Ryder Cup captain, Padraig Harrington has likened Suzann’s Pettersen’s Solheim Cup victory putt to the putt fellow Irishman Paul McGinley holed to give Europe victory in the 2002 Ryder Cup.
Pettersen had been a controversial choice as a European ‘wildcard’ pick but the Norwegian turned into the Gleneagles winning hero when he holed an eight-foot birdie putt on the very last hole, and in the very last match, against USA rival Marina Alex 1up.
Harrington was in Amsterdam Airport after competing in the KLM Open and gued to TV coverage from the Solheim Cup.
“That was intense at the end and I was watching it on the SKY Go and watching it at the airport and following along the ebbs and flows just like at a Ryder Cup,” said Harrington.
Norway’s Suzann Pettersen turns hero in holing the 2018 Solheim Cup winning putt for Europe. (Photo – Getty/LET)
“One minute, it’s a great chance, no, it’s gone away, oh, we’ve got a chance. Like the finish, those last three matches, well, two matches, really, that were right at the end, for it to turn in Europe’s favor was unbelievable. It was a thrilling watch. I can’t imagine what it was like for the fans who were there and the players.
“You know, for Europe to, it looked good, as I said, with maybe five matches left on the course, it was looking good, and then it wasn’t and then all of a sudden they came back, and for Suzann to hole the putt on the last she hit a beautiful pitch in. That was a quality pitch. A little unlucky to spin it back six feet short of the hole.”
Harrington’s pleasure for Pettersen and the winning European Team Solheim Cup team then lead the Dubliner to recall his own delight when McGinley became the victory hero in the 2002 Ryder Cup at The Belfry in holing a six-foot birdie to tie his Singles match against Jim Furyk, and a result that delivered Europe the gleaming gold trophy.
Paul McGinley holes the winning putt at the 2002 Ryder Cup to give Europe victory
“I can relate to where Suzann is at in her career. When you get to that stage in your career, I can tell you what, holing 6footers on the last green is never going to be fun,” said Harrington.
“All I could think about when I was watching Suzann hit the putt was Paul McGinley. Paul McGinley, who has never been the luckiest guy on the greens, never really been putting has never really been his fortitude, and all of a sudden he holes the winning putt in The Ryder Cup; I could see that with Suzann.
“It was fairy tale stuff, without a doubt. Very exciting.
“I’ll try, and like all good things, I’ll try and take some momentum out of it.”
