The final day of golf at the Solheim Cup had it all – high drama, incredible play, and a deserving result.

Carlota Ciganda, Spain’s best golfer on the LPGA Tour, had a home-country hero moment sticking her tee shot on the par-3 17th in her singles match against Nelly Korda to just two feet and rolling in the birdie putt.

Ciganda won her match 1-up over Korda and gave the European team the 14 points it needed to retain the cup.

Although the Solheim Cup ended in a tie, 14-14, since Europe was the defending champion, it only needed that many points keep the cup in their possession.

Team USA needed 14.5 points to win.

This is the first time the Solheim Cup’s score has ended in a tie.

Suzanne Pettersen, the European Captain, said earlier in the week that she would have to, with a laugh, keep a leash on Ciganda given how fiery of a competitor she is.

“She would jump off and fly if she could,” Pettersen said.

Ciganda admitted she was feeling down on herself as it got late in the back nine in her match against Korda, former world No.1. She said when she saw Pettersen (“I always wanted to play good for her”) walking down the fairway on No. 16, she found herself in a more comfortable position.

“Isn’t this how we wanted it? And I couldn’t be more proud,” Pettersen said.

Ciganda went 4-0-0 on the week and was certainly the European team’s MVP.

While Ciganda’s cup-retaining effort will likely be the most memorable moment of Sunday, Team Europe wouldn’t have been in this position without the massive comeback staged by Caroline Hedwall. Hedwall, a captain’s pick and the lowest-ranked golfer in the competition, did not play in any of the first three sessions of the Solheim Cup. In her match against Ally Ewing, she was 3 down with six holes to play but ended up winning 2-up after making birdie on Nos. 13-17 and an eagle on No. 18.

Team USA was up 4-0 after the opening session Friday – the first time it won the morning session on the Solheim Cup’s opening day since 2009 – but the European side kept chipping away at the lead. It was 8-8 heading into Sunday’s singles.

Meghan Khang, the CPKC Women’s Open winner, won the first match of the final day 1-up over Linn Grant to give the U.S. an early advantage. Khang earned 3.5 points this week – the most by a member of Team USA.

It was back and forth all day until the dramatic comeback of Hedwall set the stage for Ciganda’s heroics.

Leonna Maguire defeated Rose Zhang 4 and 3 before Danielle Kang knocked off Charley Hull 4 and 2. Anna Nordqvist defeated Jennifer Kupcho 2 and 1 before Andrea Lee and Georgia Hall along with Gemma Dryburgh and Cheynne Knight tied their matches. Angel Yin defeated Celine Boutier 2 and 1, while Lilia Vu defeated Madelene Sagstrom 4 and 3 to salvage her first point of the week. Hedwall’s victory was followed by Maja Stark defeating Allisen Corpuz 2 and 1.

Lexi Thompson defeated Emily Pedersen 2 and 1 in the final match of the day when the cup was already clinched by Europe.

“My team played their hearts out. Just so proud of them. The way they fought. They hung in there and hung in there with every match. I told them, we didn’t lose,” American Stacy Lewis said with a laugh. “There is so much to build off this week.”

The Solheim Cup will be played once again next year – as it gets back on being played on opposite years to the Ryder Cup – and will be contested at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club, about 45 minutes outside of Washington, D.C.

FINAL TEAM EUROPE RECORDS

Carlota Ciganda: 4-0-0

Linn Grant: 3-2-0

Leona Maguire: 3-2-0

Emily Pedersen: 2-2-1

Maja Stark: 2-1-1

Georgia Hall: 1-2-1

Madelene Sagstrom: 1-1-1

Charley Hull: 1-2-0

Caroline Hedwall: 1-1-0

Gemma Dryburgh: 0-0-2

Anna Nordqvist: 1-3-0

Celine Boutier: 0-3-0

FINAL TEAM USA RECORDS

Megan Khang: 3-0-1

Lexi Thompson: 3-1-0

Cheyenne Knight: 2-0-1

Allisen Corpuz: 2-1-1

Angel Yin: 2-1-0

Danielle Kang: 2-2-0

Nelly Korda: 2-2-0

Andrea Lee: 1-2-1

Jennifer Kupcho: 0-2-1

Lilia Vu: 1-3-0

Ally Ewing: 1-3-0

Rose Zhang: 0-2-1