Meet the Golfer Who Sank the Winning Putt for Team Europe at Solheim Cup

Matilda Castren led team Europe to a second consecutive victory at the recently concluded Solheim Cup held in Toledo, Ohio. She sunk a 10-foot putt which put her 1-up over competitor Lizette Salas and gave Europe its conclusive 14th point.

Emily Pederson’s win over Danielle Kang confirmed the win, and Europe took away the trophy for the second time on American soil after beating the US 15-13.

The Solheim Cup, a biennial team competition between the top professional women golfers, hosted its 17th edition this year. Following yesterday’s triumph, Europe successfully worked towards bringing the overall victory tally to 10-7, in favor of the US.

Who is Matilda Castren, the golfer who sank the winning putt at Solheim Cup 2021?

Solheim Cup rookie Matilda Castren, who almost didn’t make the cut for the European team, is a Finnish golfer. She won the LPGA Mediheal Championship and became the first woman from Finland to win an LPGA title. She sealed her spot at the Solheim Cup with her first LET title after winning the Gant Ladies Open in 2021.

An emotional Castren confessed after her winning putt, “It’s hard to put it into words right now. I think I’m still shaking. I was looking at the board and I knew it was going to be an important putt, and I wanted to make it. Me and Mikey read it and we read it perfectly and it went in.”

“I knew it was important,” said Castren.“I knew we needed that. I didn’t know exactly what it meant because I knew there were still matches on the course, but I knew we needed to make that putt.”

Meanwhile, watching her off the green was the European team captain, Catriona Matthew. Talking of Castren, she said, “[She’s] just a superstar. I mean, that putt she holed there on 18 … we all just kind of exploded at the side of the green there.”

On gaining experience, Castren said, “I’m definitely coming out to be a more confident player after this week.” Though initially ineligible for the team, she proved her worth by securing this historic victory for team Europe.

Read More – Why Is It Called the Solheim Cup?