SOLHEIM CUP

September 24, 2023

Suzann Pettersen

Carlota Ciganda

Caroline Hedwall

Linn Grant

Maja Stark

Leona Maguire

Emily Pedersen

Finca Cortesin

Team Europe

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: I'm delighted to welcome the winning European Solheim Cup team. Congratulations to everyone.

Suzann, how would you describe your emotions right now as winning captain?

SUZANN PETTERSEN: Does it get any better than this? I mean, this is a dream come true. We had a massive challenge ahead of us today. We've created history yet again in the Solheim Cup, and these girls are legends.

Q. Carlota, how did it feel to hole the putt that retained the Cup for Europe?

CARLOTA CIGANDA: I mean, obviously an amazing week for me being in Spain. Very, very special to play here in front of my home crowd, family, lots of friends. It's very special to hear my name so much on all the holes; I just can't thank them enough. I want to congratulate the whole team. It's not just me. It's the whole team. There's a lot of people behind this, and I think this is a team effort, and I'm so proud of everyone here.

Europe is always a team. We are united, we fight, and after that Friday morning, we just went out there and we knew we could do this, and I'm very proud of the whole team. So very happy.

Q. Carlota, I'm curious, before today, had you ever allowed yourself to think about the idea of hitting the winning putt in your home country?

CARLOTA CIGANDA: To be honest, I don't really remember much what had happened. It was pretty close. I think it was probably two feet, two and a half. I hit a really good shot, and I made the putt, and I don't know what I did. Like, I can't remember, to be honest. I just went crazy, and I just have flashes of just hugging everyone, going crazy, and I don't really know what I did.

Q. Maybe you remember the walk from 15 to 16. I'm curious what you were thinking in that intense moment to go from what happened on 15 to maybe the shots of your life.

CARLOTA CIGANDA: Yeah, I hit a proper shank on 15. That was tough. But that's match play; you lose a hole, you just keep going.

It was really helpful to see Suzann on 16. She just came to me and she was like, yes, go out and do this in front of your country and in front of your people, and I was like, let's just do it and let's just finish it.

And then hit a great shot, but I hit another great shot in there, and then 17 was just amazing. To finish like that, I have no words. I think it's a week that I'm going to remember forever and just very, very happy.

Q. I'm curious what you learned about yourself as a captain this week and what you'll take away with you to 2024 at RTJ.

SUZANN PETTERSEN: Well, it's been a lot of preparation leading up to this. First of all, I think we have an amazing team, and I think, yeah, we got off to a rocky start, but I wonder if it was almost a nice wake-up call for all of us. We've all been on a pretty much high road for a few years now, and maybe that was a good -- I believe in fate, so maybe that was meant to happen.

I just said, you get knocked down, you stand back up. You know what, life can be tough, but it's how you stand back up, and that shows character. I think it really shows the character of this team sitting here.

I can sit here and talk about each and every one of them, but today, I also would like to give some extra credit to Caroline Hedwall that turned around the match. I feel like she had the crucial point. She teed it nicely up for Carlota to just bring it home on 16 and 17.

Q. Caro, what was that momentum like coming in on those last three holes?

CAROLINE HEDWALL: I can't really remember, to be honest. I was just trying to give myself birdie opportunities and trying to force -- just keep my match alive. I just hit good golf shots and good putts, and just happy to put my point on the board.

SUZANN PETTERSEN: That's why I picked her.

Q. Suzann, what went through your mind during the last 30 minutes? Because it was pretty close, and it could have gone both ways. How did you support your team during the last 30 or 40 minutes?

SUZANN PETTERSEN: Well, first of all, I guess both Stacy and I knew this was going to come down to the wire. I mean, we were kind of tied going into today, and like it has over the last couple of Solheims, it usually comes down to one match, one putt here or one shot there.

I thought it was a tough day, but I think Laura said it quite well yesterday: Well, we've done all that we can do, and now we've lined them up and you've just got to let them go.

But still, you feel so helpless sitting there on the sideline trying to cheer them on as they kind of one go by after another, and you just try to keep the spirit up. They're basically out there on their own. I told them that yesterday. I mean, you are probably going pockets where you feel like you're playing like your regular Monday match at your home course, but don't worry, it will come down to some crucial points.

I mean, there was a stretch there where I felt like I was pretty sure we were half a point short, until somebody got in my ear and said, if Caro gets this point, we still have it.

But it takes a team effort. We had momentum going up, it went down, it went back up. It's a roller coaster. I have to say, it's so much easier to play. Much easier.

Q. Big celebration, but also in general a demonstration of the level of women's golf this week here. I mean, the results, the amount of birdies, the level of golf that was played here this week was incredible. I don't know if some of you can talk about your matches and how tough it was to win and how many birdies.

LINN GRANT: I think the level of golf has been amazing from both teams, not only ours. The matches I played, it's been such a high level. Speaking about the match I had with Carlota the other day, the momentum was so high, and I think that -- just playing in this event, I think that's what happens during this week. Everyone steps up and played good when they have to, and I think that goes for every one of us. We just love moments like this, and that's when you have to show up and do your best.

Q. Maja, this was your first Solheim Cup. You played in the 10th match of the day, a crucial point for Team Europe. I was hoping you could talk about the emotions and what this experience was like for you this week.

MAJA STARK: I've never had so much fun in my life, and I'm so happy to be able to win this for Suzann. I don't think there's anyone really in the world that I get that star struck over, but I'm still star struck, even after a week of hanging out. I can't believe it.

Then I just felt like -- I hoped the whole way that the pressure would make me better, and I think it did. It's such a nice feeling to actually hit those crucial shots at the end. And yeah, I'm just so happy, and I've had so much fun with the team. It's probably the best experience of my life.

Q. Leona, you were out early, and you got your point early. Just wondering what the nerves were like for the rest of the day. How did you experience the whole day, and how does this compare to your first appearance in Ohio a couple of years ago when you played so well and the team won?

LEONA MAGUIRE: Yeah, I mean, I think I wanted to go out early. It was nice to get blue on the board early. When I finished, it was looking really good and then it wasn't looking so good and then back good again.

The girls were incredible this week. It was a fantastic team, and we couldn't have asked for a better captain. It was, I think, very fitting that Carlota was the star of the show this week and got to hole the winning putt.

The Irish fans were incredible this week. There was so many flags, so many cheers. I know we were in Spain, but it felt like we were in Ireland at a certain point. Just the support, this is a week I'll never forget.

Q. Suzann, is it too early to ask you if you run for captain next year?

SUZANN PETTERSEN: Yes, I am.

Q. Leona, seeing Carlota holing a winning putt in Spain, do you think you will ever see the day that the Solheim Cup will again be played in Ireland and that you'll be in that position, and how much do you think it's realistic?

LEONA MAGUIRE: Yeah, I mean, with the Ryder Cup in a few years, it will be fantastic to see. Suzann and I were talking on the range this morning. I have vivid memories of Killeen Castle in 2011. These shirts remind me of that, and I think we all got a little bit of inspiration from that. It would be fantastic. I know there's a few golf clubs interested in Ireland, and then, yeah, who knows if it's the right time to play, or, yeah, maybe captaining there one day might not be too bad.

Q. Emily, two questions: One, how tired are you? You were one of the three players to go all five sessions. And then two, was there anything after that morning session on day one that either Captain Pettersen told you, or what helped you find that high gear that you showed most of yesterday specifically?

SUZANN PETTERSEN: She's not tired.

EMILY PEDERSEN: No, I'm fine. I'm ready to go again. No.

I'm good. I am a little bit tired, but I'm definitely going to be the last one in bed tonight, I think.

I think Suzann doesn't need to say anything to me. She literally gives me the look, and then she nods her head, and I know exactly what she's saying. She's like, get your act together and get going, and I'm like, I got it. She doesn't need to say anything.