The opening matches of the Solheim Cup began on Friday morning in front of half-empty stands at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Club as transportation problems prevented fans from getting to the golf course.

Esther Henseleit from Team Europe hit the first tee shot in front of several hundred fans. The organizers had promised a record number of visitors for the golf tournament, which takes place every two years.

Henseleit will be paired with Charley Hull in an alternate shot team event against the USA. Henseleit and Hull will face Allisen Corpuz and top seed Nelly Korda.

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Empty seats are seen in a grandstand on the first hole during a foursome match of the Solheim Cup golf tournament at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club on Friday, September 13, 2024, in Gainesville, VA. (AP Photo/Matt York)

The hundred fans who made it to the opening round on Friday morning remained calm as the Europeans teeed off and cheered the entire time the Americans hit their balls.

Fans posted on social media that they were stuck for hours in lines for buses at Jiffy Lube Live, a concert venue near the golf course about 40 miles west of Washington, DC.

The LPGA released a statement apologizing.

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The sun rises over the 14th hole before the start of a foursome match of the Solheim Cup golf tournament at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club in Gainesville, Virginia, on Friday, September 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)

“We recognize the difficulties associated with commuting from the parking lot to the golf course and deeply apologize to all fans,” the statement said. “We have made significant changes to our transportation system to mitigate these issues in the future and are working on ways to express our regrets to those affected.”

In the twenty minutes before the start of the game, a small number of fans rushed to the stands.

Former U.S. captain Juli Inkster expressed her disappointment as she watched a match on the fourth hole.

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European Carlota Ciganda watches her putt on the first hole during a foursome match of the Solheim Cup golf tournament at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club on Friday, September 13, 2024, in Gainesville, VA. (AP Photo/Matt York)

“You have to get people here,” Inkster said.

Players often describe the first tee shot at the Solheim Cup as more nerve-wracking than anything else in women’s golf, partly because fans fill the stands hours beforehand to cheer on the home team.

Europe wants to win the Solheim Cup for the fourth time in a row, defeating the USA, which is a record.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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