Suzann Pettersen announced her retirement from professional golf after holing the winning putt for Team Europe in the Solheim Cup at Gleneagles on Sunday.

Captain Catriona Matthew was criticised for choosing Pettersen for the Solheim Cup, who had been away from golf for nearly two years on maternity leave. Pettersen had played only two events before Matthew chose her and missed the cut in both. At the time, Pettersen was ranked 620th in the world.

That pick proved to be the best decision, as Pettersen holed her birdie putt on the 18th to defeat Marina Alex, 1 up, to win the Solheim Cup for Europe.

Almost straight after making the winning putt, the 38-year-old announced that she'd no longer play professional golf.

"I think this is a perfect closure," Pettersen said.

"A nice 'the end' for [my] professional career. It doesn't get any better."

"I mean, can you ask for more? The last putt to win the cup, when it's that close? History was just made, to win here in front of this crowd, I could never in a million miles dream it."

"I never thought I was going to be here four months ago. To have the confidence from Beany (Matthew) to give me a go, this is it. I am completely done."

"I don't have any plans from tomorrow. I am pretty much closing it down."

"I had faith in her all the time," said Catriona Matthew, who rated Europe's first win since 2013 above her Women's British Open triumph a decade ago. "This is the best without doubt. With the team around you nothing tops this to be honest."

"It's unbelievable, there's never been a better moment. It was always going to come down to a putt here or there and for Suzann to get it, phenomenal."

Pettersen made the announcement surrounded by her team in the press room, all of which nodded when Anna Nordqvist said Pettersen had been a role model to each.

Pettersen retires having won 15 times on the LPGA Tour, including two majors: the 2007 Women's PGA Championship and the 2013 Evian Championship.

Image: Getty Images

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