Solheim Cup ‘gimmegate’ controversy: What happened and who was at fault?

You have probably heard it mentioned a lot – but what is the Solheim Cup “gimmegate” scandal?

Let’s dive in…

Setting the scene

It’s July 19, 2015, and day two of the 14th edition of the Solheim Cup at St Leon-Rot Golf Club in the German town of Baden-Wurttemberg is setting up to be another thriller.

Carin Koch’s European side are in pole position to win the trophy for the third time in a row – something their rivals have done twice but they are yet to do.

They have just won three of the morning foursomes matches to build a healthy 8-4 lead heading into the afternoon fourballs having largely dominated the opening three sessions.

A few hours later, Lexi Thompson and Cristie Kerr would beat the Spanish pair of Aza Munoz and Carlota Ciganda 3&2 to cut the deficit to three, but Europe’s lead was soon restored when Catriona Matthew and Karine Icher edged Lizette Salas and Brittany Lang 2&1.

Now, all eyes are on the match between Suzann Pettersen and Charley Hull and Brittany Lincicome and Alison Lee.

But, with darkness falling quickly, play was suspended and the remaining two matches would have to return on Sunday morning to finish up.

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The incident

The morning started well, with Hull rolling in a birdie to level the match at 16.

With the match all square on the 17th green, Petterson and Hull both missed their birdie putts and that left Lee with an a 12-footer of her own to take the visitors 1-up with one to play.

Her effort slid 18 inches past the hole and, with Pettersen and Hull seemingly on their way to the 18th tee, the American rookie scooped up her ball for the half.

Only Pettersen didn’t see it that way.

The Norwegian pointed out that they had not conceded the putt and Lee was hit with a one-shot penalty, meaning the Europeans went to the final hole with a slender lead.

Captain Koch, along with assistant Annika Sorenstam, attempted to convince Pettersen to change her mind, but it is not possible to retroactively concede a putt within the Rules of Golf, so the decision stood.

Pettersen and Hull eventually went on to win the 18th hole and take the match 2-up.

With Stacy Lewis and Gerina Pillar taking out Carolines Masson and Hedwall 1-up in the final match, it meant Europe took a healthy 10-6 lead into Sunday’s singles.

What happened next?

The Americans needed 8½ points from Sunday’s singles to win back the trophy, and when Anna Nordqvist saw off Lewis 2&1 in the seventh match to make it 13½-9½ in favour of the hosts, the outcome felt inevitable. 

But then something clicked. Salas beat Munoz comfortably, then Angela Stanford edged Pettersen before Kerr saw away rookie Hull, and Michelle Wie thrashed Hedwall and suddenly the match was all-square. 

And, with Paula Creamer making light work of Sandra Gal in the 12th and final showdown, the biggest comeback in the history of the Solheim Cup complete.

But it was a competition mired by one incident. 

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The fallout

Pettersen was heavily criticised for her actions – later dubbed “gimmegate” in a nod to the Watergate scandal – notably by US captain Juli Inkster and European legend Laura Davies.

Inkster said the incident was “disrespectful”, adding: “I couldn’t believe it. I saw Suzann walk away. You don’t do that to your peers. I expected Carin to do something afterwards but she didn’t.”

Koch responded by saying it was Lee’s mistake. “Our team didn’t concede the putt,” she explained. “She picked it up. It broke the rules. We considered changing the outcome but we would not have given the putt. They would have made her putt it. So, no. We all feel bad for Alison but she made a mistake.”

Davies, meanwhile, wasn’t quite as supportive of her former teammate. “I am disgusted,” she raged.

“Our best player, Charley Hull, has just won a point and she is in floods of tears. That tells you the wrong thing was done. How Suzann can justify that I will never, ever know.

“We are all fierce competitors but, ultimately, it’s unfair. We have to play week in, week out together and you do not do something like that to a fellow pro.

“Poor old Alison Lee must think, ‘I hope I never play a Solheim Cup again.’ She has had food poisoning and now she has been wronged by one of the most senior players in golf and used to be one of the most respected players.

“I know Pettersen is angry and justifying everything, but she has let herself down and she has certainly let her team down. I am so glad I am not on that team this time.”

The following day, Pettersen issued an apology on her Instagram page that read: “I’ve never felt more gutted and truly sad about what went down Sunday on the 17th at the Solheim Cup.”

The bunkered verdict on Solheim Cup gimmegate

Europe probably would have won if it hadn’t happened…

Alex Perry is the Associate Editor of bunkered. A journalist for more than 20 years, he has been a golf industry stalwart for the majority of his career and, in a five-year spell at ESPN, covered every sporting event you can think of. He completed his own Grand Slam at the 2023 Masters, having fallen in love with the sport at his hometown club of Okehampton and on the links of nearby Bude & North Cornwall.

Associate Editor