Rose Zhang’s hot putter stalls as Europe rallies to tie Solheim Cup


Rose Zhang performed admirably on Saturday, starting her match with an eagle on the drivable par-4 1st gap.

However her putter, which was pink scorching Friday, cooled off down the stretch, finally costing her and Andrea Lee the match.

Madelene Sagstrom and Emily Pedersen defeated Zhang and Lee 2 & 1 on Saturday afternoon, thus giving Staff Europe its seventh level within the Solheim Cup.

On the par-4 sixteenth, Zhang confronted a 10-footer for birdie to win the outlet. At that time, she and Lee have been determined—they trailed the Europeans 2-down and wanted a ferocious rally over the ultimate three holes.

However her birdie putt didn’t drop, sliding by low and proper, which assured the Europeans not less than a half level. Due to Zhang’s miss, they have been 2-up with two holes to play strolling off the sixteenth inexperienced.

Rose Zhang, LPGA, Solheim Cup

Rose Zhang tees off from the 14th gap throughout Day Two of the 2023 Solheim Cup.
Picture by Angel Martinez/Getty Pictures

On the subsequent gap, the quick par-3 seventeenth, Zhang confronted a 16-footer for birdie to increase the match. Like her putt on the outlet earlier than, that too didn’t drop, as Sagstrom and Pedersen received the match proper then and there.

Her putter deserted her on Saturday, whereas it saved her on Friday.

The day earlier than, Zhang’s flat stick proved large in her match towards Gemma Dryburgh and Sagstrom. She made a few clutch putts on the again 9 that helped her and Megan Khang halve the match.

Total, Zhang and Lee didn’t play poorly; they only ran right into a buzzsaw.

“I believe we have been 10-under right now, so it was fairly stable golf all the best way round,” Pedersen mentioned after her spherical.

“I believe we picked ourselves up… Like, you already know what? Simply say F-it after which go for it, and that’s what I did, and it’s been fairly good up to now.”

Pedersen is taking part in in addition to anybody within the Solheim Cup to date. Her epic hole-in-one Friday despatched shockwaves all through the match and helped flip the tide for Staff Europe.

Alas, Zhang will head into Sunday singles in search of her first Solheim Cup victory. Her report to date is 0-1-1. However for her to safe some extent for the People, her placing magic might want to return.

Jack Milko is a golf employees author for SB Nation’s Taking part in By means of. You possibly can comply with him on Twitter @jack_milko for extra golf protection. Be sure you try @_PlayingThrough too.