Home is where the trophy is!

Golf, eh? Sometimes she rips your heart out. Other times she hands you the keys and lets you wreck the place. This weekend? House party.

The Solheim Sting
Bernardus Golf Club in the Netherlands. Europe 15-13 USA. Not a win. A heist. I called it on our preview podcast and even got the points score. Forgive the gloat.

All week the chatter was Nordqvist’s pairings. Hull and Woad glued together, half a point from four. People questioned the skipper. Wrong move.

She trusted the stats and her gut. Sent Hull out first Sunday with a point to prove. Hull didn’t play. She hunted. 3&2 over Megan Khang. Then Woad, cooler than a cucumber, took down Auston Kim. Rookie bedlam on 17. Box office.

But the poetry? Carlota Ciganda. Saturday, Kupcho silenced the crowd with a 91-footer and a “vamos.” Momentum USA. Sunday, Ciganda stood tall and carried the winning point home. Karma can come quick in match play.

Europe unbeaten in the singles session again. Five in a row. The Americans gave everything. Europe just gave a little more.

The Irish Roar
Shane Lowry. Irish Open. Eleven shot victory. A procession. Course-record 62 Friday. 63 Sunday. Eight birdies, one bogey, then a 29-footer on 18 to put the bow on it. First Irish Open as an amateur in 2009. Now a second. The Clara man delivered under the watchful eye of a certain US president. No nerves. No mercy.

To win your home open is special. To win by 11 is a statement.

Two events. Two winners. One truth: home is where the heart is — and where the hardest fights are won.

Europe defended their turf with grit. Shane delivered for Ireland with flair. The home crowds got exactly what they paid for.

And that, my friends, is a beautiful thing.

- Enjoy the walk!