The Solheim Cup kicked off at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club in Gainesville, Va., to a half-empty grandstand at the first tee on Friday morning due to transportation issues. Fans encountered significant delays waiting for buses at Jiffy Lube Live, a nearby concert venue. Despite promises of record crowds, only a small trickle of fans made their way to the venue before the matches began.
Esther Henseleit of Europe hit the opening tee shot, teaming up with Charley Hull in an alternate-shot pairing against the U.S., where Allisen Corpuz and Nelly Korda were representing. Europe aims to secure the Solheim Cup for an unprecedented fourth consecutive time. The atmosphere surrounding the opening tee shot at the Solheim Cup is renowned for being tense, often intensified by boisterous fans who traditionally fill grandstands well in advance to support the home team.
Although only a few hundred fans managed to arrive in time for the morning matches, they reverently observed the European tee shots and enthusiastically cheered for the American players, deviating from the usual etiquette of golf tournaments. LPGA Tour officials refrained from commenting on the transportation challenges encountered by fans.
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