US scratching its head over strange end to Solheim Cup

US Patty Sheehan knew the Solheim Cup was over. She just didn't think the Europeans would take it so literally.

In a bizarre conclusion on Sunday, the five matches still in progress were conceded when Europe clinched the cup by reaching 14 1/2 points, and players walked off the course.

"It went into instant chaos," Sheehan said. "I didn't know what was happening."

She said she saw Meg Mallon standing on the back of the 16th green, "and she was supposed to be playing some other hole."

Amid the confusion, players who were trailing conceded their matches.

Elisabeth Esterl, 4-down to Laura Diaz, conceded from the 15th fairway. Europe was 1-up in three matches with at least four holes to play, while the US was 1-up as it played the 16th.

The result was a final score of 17 1/2 to 10 1/2, the biggest rout in Solheim Cup history.

"I had never experienced that before," Sheehan said. "Usually, we just sort of play in, and that's it. I can't say, `Hey, you guys can't quit.' What do you do?"

The Solheim Cup and the Ryder Cup often are decided with matches still on the course. Players usually finish, even if their motivation is gone, for no other reason than bookkeeping and entertaining the fans.

This was the first time in either competition that everyone quit.

Laura Davies was 1-up against Mallon when they finished No. 14.

"We both said to the referee, `We want to halve.' He said we couldn't do that," Davies said. "Meg didn't want to play anymore. I didn't want to play anymore. I just wanted to find the rest of the team."

When they reached the green, Mallon went to the referee and conceded the match. When Davis realized what was happening, she tried to concede the match herself.

"But Meg had already done it, so now we're arguing," Davies said. "She had already done it, and that was the end of it."

The Americans were in the same position last year, when Rosie Jones clinched the cup with Daniel still on the course with Carin Koch.

"Carin wanted to keep playing because she was undefeated in the Solheim Cup," Daniel said. "Individual records mean nothing."

As for the final score?

"I don't care what the final score was," Sheehan said. "We lost."