Solheim Cup starts with half-empty stands due to bus problems

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

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

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

“We recognize the difficulties involved in getting from the parking lot to the golf course and deeply apologize to all fans who have been impacted,” the LPGA Tour said in a statement. “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.”

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.

The United States led 3-1 after Friday morning's foursome matches and will now try to prevent Europe from winning the Solheim Cup for a record fourth time in a row.

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.

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.

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

The Associated Press contributed to this report.