Sunday 26th of September, 2011: A day for golfing headlines.
It started with Europe’s ladies winning only their fourth ever Singles session to win the Solheim Cup. Catriona Matthew played Paula Creamer in the first Singles match and an impressive 6&5 win would produce Europe’s first point of the day. A further point came from Sophie Gustafson, but with Laura Davies and Sandra Gal struggling, it was clear that this was going to go to the wire. 

An impressive comeback from Davies to seal a half point and an explosive final 35 minutes from the Europeans saw them strip the Americans of the Solheim Cup.

Catriona Matthew celebrates 2011 Solheim Cup Win (Photo: Getty Images)

On the other side of the pond, the Fedex Cup was coming to the boil. Bill Haas had a three shot lead with three holes to go but dropped two of those before carding an 8 under total. Jason Day was 8 under with two to go but a bogey at the 17th ended his hopes of his largest carrier payday. Hunter Mahan, who led going into the final round, was one shot back with four to go. He birdied the reachable 15th and made regulation pars on the 16th and 17th. A sublime pitch on the last, secured his spot in the playoff for the Tour Championship and the Fedex Cup.

Whilst the playoff for $11.4 million was about to begin, Butch Harmon announced that he had just received a call from Dustin Johnson who has lost his caddie Joe LaCava to Tiger Woods. LaCava was the longterm caddie for Fred Couples but they split over the summer as Couples decided to reduce his schedule. LaCava was on the bag for Johnson at the Tour Championship and announced the news to Dustin after their tied 23rd finish. Woods and LaCava’s first event is the Frys.com on the 6th October.

The play-off started on the treacherous 230 yard, Par 3 18th. Both players made great 3’s, Bill Haas from short of the bunker and Mahan from inside. They then moved onto the 17th. Haas drove his ball into the right-hand trap as he did in regulation play. Mahan hit his ball straight down the fairway. The pin was cut tight to the left side and when Haas played his second from the bunker, he flew the flag and his ball finished in the water hazard. Mahan sensibly played his ball to the centre of the green.

Bill Haas holds the Tour Championship and Fedex Cup (Photo: Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)

Haas walked to the green with his head in his hands but once he saw the ball was playable, he slapped his hands together and walked straight into the hazard. Haas then played a shot which is bound to be described as the shot of the year, he dug his ball out of the water and onto the green with enough spin to stop it by the hole, a simply miraculous shot. Mahan still had a putt to win but when that missed, they were destined for the 18th once again.

Haas found the back edge of the green and Mahan left himself in the same bunker as before. Haas rolled his ball down the tricky slopes to leave himself a little uphill tester, Mahan splashed his ball out long and was left with a horrid downhill putt.

Mahan’s ball dribbled past the hole and when Haas holed his for par, Haas picked up the Tour Championship, the Fedex Cup and a cheque for $11.4 million. The race to Dubai has a lot to follow.