The Solheim Cup begins with half-empty stands and fans waiting for buses to the course

GAINESVILLE, Va. (AP) — The opening matches of the Solheim Cup began Friday morning in front of half-empty stands surrounding the first tee at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club as transportation issues prevented fans from getting to the golf course.

Fans published on social media The They were stuck for hours They waited in line for buses at Jiffy Lube Live, a concert venue near the golf course about 40 miles west of Washington, D.C., prompting an apology statement from the LPGA Tour.

“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 we are working on ways to express our regrets to those affected.”

Spectators also reported that the portable toilets in the parking lot were locked while they waited for buses.

In the twenty minutes before the start of the games on Friday, a small number of fans rushed to the stands, but there was no sign of the record crowd that the organizers had promised.

“It's disappointing. It is what it is. You play in these things for years and then things happen,” said US captain Stacy Lewis. “Unfortunately, it was a big deal.”

The LPGA announced Friday evening that it plans to open the gates earlier on Saturday morning, increase the number of shuttle buses and move the volunteer parking lot to another location.

Esther Henseleit hit the first tee shot for Europe in the team competition against the USA as part of an alternate shot pair with Charley Hull. Allisen Corpuz followed for the USA, paired with top-ranked Nelly Korda.

Players often describe the first tee shot at the Solheim Cup as more nerve-wracking than anything else in women's golf, in part because fans fill the stands hours beforehand to cheer on the home team. But with fewer spectators, the home advantage was muted.

“You have to get people here,” said former U.S. captain Juli Inkster as she watched play on the fourth hole.

The few hundred fans who made it in time for the opening on Friday morning remained quiet as the Europeans teed off and cheered the Americans as they hit their balls – a departure from golf etiquette that players have come to appreciate in team competitions.

When fans arrived, they were faced with a defeat for the Americans, who are trying to prevent Europe from winning the Cup for the fourth year in a row. The stands were packed as Korda and Megan Khang of former President Barack Obama before their better-ball match in the afternoon.

The Americans led by a record margin of 6:2 when Friday's games were over, and they could only hope for the full number of fans on Saturday morning.

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