Solheim Cup 2024: LPGA Tour apologises after transport issues leave empty seats and fans queuing for hours

The LPGA Tour has expressed remorse to its fans following transportation issues that caused many attendees to miss the beginning of the Solheim Cup in Virginia.

While large crowds were anticipated, several seats in the grandstands remained unfilled around the first tee when the initial session kicked off on Friday at 7:05 AM local time (12:05 PM BST) at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club.

Fans took to social media to express their frustration over being stranded in long lines for buses at Jiffy Lube Live, a concert location close to the venue. They also reported significant delays once they finally made it to the event site.

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Posts on social media expressed frustration over the insufficient number of buses available to take fans to the event. Some users also requested refunds because they missed a significant portion of golf that morning.

The LPGA Tour didn't respond right away to the issues impacting fans, but they did post a statement on social media a little over two hours after the event began to acknowledge the disruptions.

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They posted on X, which used to be called Twitter: "We understand and sincerely apologize to all the fans who experienced difficulties getting from the parking area to the golf course."

"We've implemented major improvements to our transportation system to address these problems in the future, and we are looking for ways to convey our apologies to those affected."

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Newcomer Esther Henseleit hit the very first tee shot for Europe, teaming up with Charley Hull to face off against world number one Nelly Korda and former major champion Allisen Corpuz. The final foursomes match kicked off just over 40 minutes later, but the grandstands were still not very crowded.

Korda and Corpuz then achieved a 3&2 win, earning the first point of the tournament. Team USA triumphed in both of the opening matches, as Rose Zhang and Lauren Coughlin also defeated Celine Boutier and Albane Valenzuela with the same score.

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After their win, Korda remarked, "You can definitely see that the crowd isn't at full capacity, but what's important is that those who are here are cheering for us enthusiastically."

It's clear that we aren't involved in the transportation problems. Given the large number of people attending, which seems to be setting new attendance records, it will definitely be challenging to ensure everyone gets in without any issues.

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"I believe it's all about gaining experience, and I hope they can make progress every day. The fans are fantastic at the moment, and we could really feel their energy starting from the very first hole."

Suzann Pettersen shared with Jamie Weir from Sky Sports News that she found it "disappointing" that the energy in the arena felt "a bit lackluster" at the start of the first session. However, she noted that the number of spectators seemed to grow as the morning progressed.

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Golfweek journalist Beth Ann Nichols expressed on X: "The Solheim Cup is when the LPGA really gets to showcase its best. It's the highlight of the tour. Unfortunately, it was a total mess this time—one of the worst experiences I've encountered in my two decades of covering the tour."

She went on to say, “I’ve been speaking with people. Those who arrived as late as 8:15 this morning were informed they would have to wait two to three hours just to board the bus. It’s hard to know how many decided to leave instead."

Golf.com journalist Claire Rogers expressed disappointment, noting that it's unfortunate for the many fans eager to see the Solheim Cup today and that this situation has overshadowed the actual event, taking the spotlight away from women's golf.

Who will come out on top in the 2024 Solheim Cup? Tune in to Sky Sports this weekend to catch all the action live! Coverage picks back up on Saturday at 11:30 AM on Sky Sports Golf. Don't miss out—stream the Solheim Cup and other events with NOW.

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