US grip on global golf weakens as GB and Ireland win Curtis Cup

Victory in the women’s amateur event quietens talk that team should be expanded to incorporate European golfers

The Rhodes sisters – Mimi and Patience – etched their names into Sunningdale history in dramatic scenes as Great Britain and Ireland beat the US to win the Curtis Cup for the first time in eight years and just the third time this century.
With Catriona Matthew’s side staring at defeat after their loaded top order failed to bring home the required 3½ points from the eight singles, the siblings from Somerset shrugged off their indifferent form to uphold the Rhodes family name in emphatic style.
Patience, 20, did not live up to her first name as she hurried to a 6&4 triumph over Zoe Campos, bringing Great Britain and Ireland to within two points of the magic 10½ figure. The Scot Lorna McClymont took charge of her game against Megan Schofill at the turn and the pressure was all on Rhodes Snr in her match against Melanie Green.
Having been three down after seven holes, the former winner of the Justin Rose Telegraph Junior Championship reeled off four birdies in five holes to take a one-up lead with four remaining.
Green was not done and looked certain to win the 17th and make it all square going down the 18th, with the US knowing that they would retain the cup with a 10-10 . But with everything on the line, Mimi, 22, nervelessly holed a 15-footer on the penultimate green to send her team-mates, and the impressive Berkshire crowds, into dreamland.
It means thatof the big four team events the mighty Americans hold only the Walker Cup, as the Curtis Cup joins the Ryder Cup and Solheim Cup on this side of the pond. It surely also quietens talk that the 92-year-old women’s amateur team tournament should expand to include Europe after three consecutive US triumphs before this week.
Inspired by Matthew – the former Women’s Open winner who led Europe to Solheim Cup wins in 2019 and 2021 – GB&I belied the world amateur rankings and once again highlighted the appeal of team matchplay.
Lottie Woad, the world amateur No 1, was undefeated until she lost the first singles 3&2 to Asterisk Talley and Hannah Darling had won three out of three before succumbing 3&2. They contributed their points on the first two days and will be relieved that the lower order was able to rise to the challenge.
For Matthew, it was another entry on an already creaking CV. The Scot was the first professional to captain a Curtis Cup team and was clearly a huge success. “This is right up with the Solheim wins,” she said. “The girls were tremendous, knuckled down and fought every day. They are very talented, as are the Americans, and women’s golf has a great future.”