Catriona Matthew (USGA Photo)

Here are some takeaways from this year's Curtis Cup. 

1) Catriona Matthew's professional experience made a huge difference

Catriona Matthew has an illustrious amateur and professional career. She played on three Curtis Cup teams (1990, 1992, 1994). The 1992 team won the Curtis Cup and then retained it in 1994. She also won 11 times as a professional, including a British Women's Open in 2009. Her professional resume earned her the role of Solheim Cup captain in 2019 and 2021. Europe won both those events. 

This could be a turning point for captains in this event and the Walker Cup. Dean Robertson, a Scottish professional, is the GB&I captain for the 2025 Walker Cup at Cypress Point.

Matthew's experience in team rooms as a player and captain seemed to help boost her squad this weekend. They played free and loose, and Matthew said in an interview that she wanted to take the pressure off the players and put it on herself. Watching Sara Byrne fire at flags and Mimi Rhodes hit that clutch putt on 17 against Melanie Green made it feel like she did exactly that. 

2) Venues matter... and so does television coverage

It's almost a cliche at this point to say that venues matter, but Sunningdale was incredible viewing. The purple heather and the striking design was a pleasure to watch on TV. Add in the fact that there were hours of commercial-free coverage, and it was easy to learn Sunningdale's ebbs and flows. The middle of the course had some great match-play holes, particularly the driveable ninth, where Asterisk Talley almost made an ace on Saturday in four-ball. The 10th and 14th on the back were delightful par 5s, and the closing four holes tested the players' skill and resilience. 

3) Rachel Kuehn's amateur resume is incredible

The Ashville, NC native played in her third Curtis Cup. It was the first one where she didn't clinch the winning point. The recent Wake Forest graduate said she wanted to remain an amateur a little longer in order to compete.

"I pretty much stayed amateur for the possibility of making this team," she said on Thursday. "You really don't get amateur golf back once it's gone, so I've really cherished every moment, every opportunity, every team I've made. So this to me just ties it up with a nice little bow."

Captain Meghan Stasi trusted Kuehn on Sunday, sending her out as the anchor match. She beat Aine Donegan 3&2, but in the end, it wasn't meant to be for Team USA.

This was Kuehn's tenth time representing the United States. On top of her three Curtis Cup appearances, she played in five Palmer Cups and two World Amateur Championships. Toss in a team title at Wake Forest in 2023, and Kuehn can certainly move on to the pro ranks with pride.

Maybe Kuehn plays the role of Curtis Cup captain down the road...

4) Asterisk Talley is the real deal

Talley competed in five USGA events this year. She won the U.S. Women's Four-Ball, earned low amateur at the U.S. Women's Open, and reached the final of the U.S. Girls' Junior and U.S. Women's Amateur. Stunning stuff for a 15-year-old. Rianne Malixi was the only player to beat Talley in matchplay. 

She fires at flags and plays fearless golf. At one point in her match, one of the commentators thought she was laying up on the par-5 10th from 190 yards in the rough. She proceeded to stripe it right at the flag, catching the commentator off-guard. "She's strong," he said, rather flummoxed.

On Sunday, she drew Lottie Woad in the opening match of singles. She came out firing, but Woad fought back. When Talley made a bogey on the 8th after three-putting from about 12 feet, the match was tied. Talley didn't sulk; she stepped up and hit the par-4 9th green with her driver, making an easy birdie. The kid didn't let up; she won the 10th and 11th holes and closed out Woad 3&2.

Talley wasn't on the radar this winter when the Curtis Cup practice session was held in Florida. Now the 15-year-old is on everyone's radar and it seems like she'll be around for a very long time.

5) Great Britain and Ireland's winning recipe felt similar to other underdogs in team golf competitions

Of the four major team golf trophies that include the USA and European countries, the Walker Cup is the only one that the USA currently holds. The Ryder Cup, Solheim Cup, and Curtis Cup all reside in Europe. The USA needed a big comeback in last year's Walker Cup to retain that trophy.

GB&I played poised golf at Sunningdale; they were full of hope and belief. It felt as if every time they needed to hit a big shot, they did. Sara Byrne was exceptional going 2-0-3 during the week and creating a lifetime of highlights in 72 hours of golf. Patience Rhodes appeared lost in the first two days and then delivered a massive first point for GB&I on Sunday, beating Zoe Campos 6&5.

It seems over the years, teams from the United States have hung their hat on the singles matches, but those final days are getting tougher and tougher to dominate, making those other sessions of team golf more important.

6) You can have your money

The stark contrast between the Curtis Cup and the Tour Championship couldn't have been brighter as both events finished on Sunday. Amateur golf and team golf are incredible products. The competition was fierce and fair without any distractions about money or staggered starts. It was pure golf at an exceptional venue with no commercial interruptions. 

Mark your calendars for the 2026 Curtis Cup at Bel-Air CC.