Alison Lee capped an undefeated Solheim Cup week for herself by orchestrating the largest comeback in the competition's 36-year history. Lee, playing in her second Solheim Cup after returning from maternity leave, erased a 4-down deficit on the back nine of her Sunday singles match against Europe's Esther Henseleit.
Lee, who gave birth to her son in April of the previous year, trailed by four holes with seven holes remaining in her match. She went on to play the final seven holes at 4-under par, ultimately winning the match with birdies on two of the final three holes to secure a full point for the United States. Henseleit played the final seven holes at 2-over par, contributing to Lee's historic rally.
No player in Solheim Cup singles history had previously overcome a deficit of that magnitude. Lee's remarkable performance was a bright spot for the U.S. team, which ultimately lost the overall competition to Europe. Despite her singles victory, Europe secured the cup with Lottie Woad's win over Auston Kim in a later match.
Lee's inclusion on the U.S. team was noteworthy, as she became the first player to automatically qualify after giving birth since Juli Inkster in 2011. She returned to LPGA Tour competition in mid-April following her maternity leave, facing a condensed window to earn points and gain the attention of U.S. captain Angela Stanford. Prior to the Solheim Cup, Lee recorded three top-10 finishes in 12 starts, including a tie for fifth at the KPMG Women's PGA Championship in June.
Lee also participated in the 2024 Solheim Cup while in the early stages of her pregnancy, contributing a point to the U.S. victory. At that event, only captain Stacy Lewis, four-ball partner Megan Khang, and her caddie were aware of her pregnancy. Suzann Pettersen of Europe, who was a captain's pick in 2019, was the last mother to play in the event, winning her match dramatically before retiring.