Too many golf fans and not enough shuttle buses from the parking lots to the Solheim Cup meant that thousands missed the start on Friday. The LPGA apologized and promised to improve the situation.
As the morning foursomes began at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club, hundreds of seats in the 2,000-seat grandstand at the first tee were empty and thousands were lined up to take a bus to the course.
“We recognize the challenge associated with commuting from the parking lot to the golf course and deeply apologize to all fans,” the LPGA said in a statement.
“We have made significant changes to our transportation system to mitigate these issues in the future, and we are working on ways to express our regrets to those affected.”
Complaints about hours-long bus waits and 800-meter-long queues circulated on social media early in the morning, raising concerns about what the final two days might bring.
The crowds of spectators watching world number one Nelly Korda from the USA slowly grew during her 3&2 victory with Allisen Corpuz over the Europeans Charley Hull and Esther Henseleit.
“Of course you notice that the stands are not full, but what matters is that everyone is here now and cheering us loudly,” Korda said. “We have nothing to do with the transportation problems.”
However, these are the world’s best female golfers, and growing interest in all women’s sports led to record attendance of over 130,000 spectators in Toledo, Ohio, in the Washington suburbs this week in 2021.
“With the amount of people coming here, I know they’re breaking records with attendance. It’s going to be difficult to get everyone in without any problems,” Korda said.
“So I think it’s a learning process and hopefully they can improve every day. But the crowds are incredible right now and we heard them loud and clear from the first hole.”
– “Good Energy” –
Corpuz said the crowds increased from the middle of the first nine holes.
“Even on the first nine holes, around the fourth or fifth hole, everyone was gradually coming in,” she said.
US newcomer Lauren Coughlin also did not expect a large crowd.
“It’s Friday. It’s early morning. I wasn’t necessarily surprised that there weren’t many people out and about,” she said. “They’re showing up now, that’s all that matters.”
Ninth-seeded Rose Zhang, competing in the Solheim Cup on U.S. soil for the first time, was pleased with the crowd that turned out in time to cheer her on at the start.
“There were already quite a few people there, so it wasn’t like no one was there. There was still a good energy,” Zhang said.
“It’s difficult. There are so many people there, there are a lot of logistics. That should be sorted out now, so it’s not a big deal.”
American Ally Ewing is counting on the US fans in the crowd to give the players the motivation they need to win the trophy for the first time since 2017.
“The fans on U.S. soil are really special,” Ewing said. “The more fans we hear, the better. The interaction with the crowd – it’s unparalleled.”
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