GAINESVILLE, Va. — The U.S. Solheim Cup team only needed to glance at the stands on the first tee to realize something was wrong. Assistant captain Brittany Lincicome, who accompanied the American’s first foursome, Nelly Korda and Allisen Corpuz, noticed the lack of fans and the typical bustling energy around the first tee at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club early Friday.
“It’s disappointing,” said Stacy Lewis, captain of the US Solheim Cup. “It is what it is. You play in these tournaments for years and then things happen. Unfortunately, it was a big event.”
The American captains weren’t sure why the stands were so empty. It wasn’t until a social media post that the captain’s group realized that fans were dealing with long wait times and long lines to get a shuttle to the golf course. Lincicome was frustrated when she realized that fans weren’t arriving as quickly because of the lack of shuttles, and that the LPGA was potentially missing out on a key opportunity to grow its fan base.
“Someone had one job and totally messed it up,” Lincicome said. “It’s really disappointing because those are our fans. If we try to build up women’s golf and golf in general and maybe chase them away now, they won’t want to come back tomorrow.”
Korda, who is playing in the Solheim Cup for the fourth time, felt the energy difference on the first tee until she and Corpuz began to feel the normal Solheim Cup energy around the fourth or fifth hole. Fans flocked in full force to the leading American pair around the 14th green, the part of the course closest to where fans were shuttled back and forth. Korda and Corpuz took advantage of the energy, winning the par 5 for their second of four consecutive holes to close their match at 3 and 2.
“Of course you can tell that the stands are not full, but what matters is that everyone is here now and cheering us on loudly,” Korda said. “Of course we have nothing to do with the transportation problems. With the amount of people coming here – I know they’re breaking records with the number of visitors – it’s going to be difficult to get everyone in without any problems.”
Lincicome’s frustration also extended to the missed experience for Lauren Coughlin and the three other Solheim rookies.
“I feel bad, especially like the newbies,” Lincicome said. “Like Lauren when she saw the first tee, you’re not supposed to look like that when you’re just a veteran, you know?”
The LPGA did not respond to multiple requests to confirm the timing of events, other than a statement acknowledging the transportation problems. A former Solheim Cup player who wished to remain anonymous was the only one to point the finger directly at the LPGA.
“I mean, how did they screw this up like that?!” the player texted. “In the damn nation’s capital?!”
U.S. vice-captain Angela Stanford initially compared the shuttle situation to the long waits she has had to get to the courses at previous Curtis and Solheim Cups she has competed in, and expressed understanding for the Tour and the challenge of busing fans around. When asked about the patience of fans waiting in line to get to the course today, she simply expressed admiration and urged them to be patient with the Tour.
“It makes me love them even more,” Stanford said. “That, I mean, isn’t it great that so many fans want to come and see us?
“Hopefully they’ll understand. Hopefully they’ll be patient with us and hopefully they’ll get out of here. Hopefully they’ll be a little excited and ready to scream and shout.”
