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Morgan Pressel of the U.S. tees off on the first hole during the Foursomes match against Europe in the Solheim cup on Friday, Sept. 13, 2019, at Gleneagles, Auchterarder, Scotland.
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Football-like atmosphere embraced at Solheim Cup

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Football-like atmosphere embraced at Solheim Cup

PERTHSHIRE, Scotland — At 5 a.m., three hours before the first group would reach the first tee at the PGA Centenary Course at Gleneagles, European fans began arriving en masse.

A few dozen became a few hundred, eventually swelling to 2,200. The scene was part rock concert, part college football game, part carnival. Then, suddenly, a golf tournament broke out.

This is what you have to look forward to, Toledo.

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“Whether you’re a veteran, a rookie, or anywhere in the middle, when you walk through that tunnel out on the first tee and hear all the chanting and all the excitement, there’s no experience quite like it,” said Morgan Pressel of the United States, who’s competing in her sixth Solheim Cup.

Morgan Pressel, right,and Marina Alex of the U.S. celebrate after winning the 12th hole during their Foursomes match against Europe in the Solheim Cup at Gleneagles, Auchterarder, Scotland, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2019.
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U.S., Europe tied entering final day of Solheim Cup

By 7 p.m., the place to be at Gleneagles was the 18th hole, where the United States salvaged two half points on long do-or-die putts by Lexi Thompson and Brittany Altomare. Instead of a three-point deficit, the Americans trail Europe 4.5-3.5 after the first day of competition.

“No one really ever talks about the half point,” U.S. captain Juli Inkster said. “And I have to say those two half points at the end were huge. For two rookies to be 4-down with five holes left and to come back and tie, you can’t teach that. It’s just in your belly. I’m just so impressed with them.”

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The Solheim Cup presents a one-week reprieve from the monotony of 72-hole stroke play. Not only do the team and match play element differ from a normal week on the LPGA Tour, the supercharged atmosphere is in a league of its own.

Every shot elicits a reaction from the crowd, reverberating across the golf course. Accompanying the large crowds and visceral reactions is anxiety. Representing your country and carrying the weight of teammates introduces a new component.

“The excitement of being on the first tee, the fans are so into it. It gives you chills,” Hall of Famer Nancy Lopez said. “Even as an assistant captain, my heart goes out to the players. I know that feeling. I’m hoping they don't make a mistake. It’s not a good feeling. With everyone yelling U-S-A and the European fans cheering, I get chills. When you walk on that first tee, you need to let your emotions go. Be excited about it, don’t fear it. There’s a real craziness to it. You don’t feel it in any other golf tournament. I can feel my blood pressure change when I’m out there.”

And the costumes only add to the hysteria. On Friday, there was a Tyrannosaurus Rex, wigs, Uncle Sam hats, face paint, knee-high socks, and enough red, white, and blue and yellow and blue for half the world. The Oles and U-S-A chants are as common as a sheep sighting in Scotland.

Team Europe's Suzann Pettersen, center, celebrates with her team and the trophy following Team Europe's victory in the Solheim Cup.
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“It's just so different than what we’re used to,” said Marathon LPGA Classic tournament director Judd Silverman, who led Inverness’ bid proposal. “It's fun. The outfits you see are out there, both European and U.S.”

There’s a four-foot putt at the U.S. Women’s Open, the most important tournament on the LPGA Tour, and then there’s a four-footer at the Solheim Cup. There’s no money involved and it’s not an individual competition, but tension reaches levels not seen in a regular tour event.

“When the pressure is on and you know you have to win a match for your team, it’s a big deal,” Lopez said. “It’s in your heart and it’s in your soul, especially when you’re playing for your country. It’s just way different than playing for yourself on the LPGA Tour.”

“The nerves never go away,” Pressel added.

In 2011, Stacy Lewis played in her first Solheim Cup. The event was in Ireland, adding to the stress. It wasn’t until she was walking to the first tee that she realized she’d be hitting the tee shot.

“I mean, my hands were shaking. I don’t know how I got the ball on the tee,” Lewis said. “It’s unlike any other tee shot you will ever hit. You’re going to hit some of the worst golf shots you ever hit and some of the best golf shots you ever hit. You just have to know that stuff is going to come out of nowhere and it’s OK. We’ve all done it, we’ve all been there. But just one of the coolest experiences we’ll have playing this game is standing on a first tee at the Solheim.”

Rookies Altomare, Nelly Korda, Angel Yin, Ally McDonald, and Marina Alex didn’t shrink in the moment. Altomare and Korda, who won her first match with sister Jessica, roared back from four down through 12 in the afternoon, with Altomare making four birdies in the final six holes.

Yin and McDonald beat European stalwarts Anna Nordqvist and Caroline Hedwall 7 and 5. Alex teamed with Pressel in the tournament’s first match, falling down two after four holes before rallying and winning the 18th hole for a half point.

“Marina was great today,” Pressel said. “There’s so much more adrenaline and emotion in this type of an event. I think the first few holes she was just trying to figure out how much extra she should play for her amped-up ability. I think we all struggle with that sometimes in this format. But she settled down and made some really incredible putts. Super clutch.”

As darkness fell over Gleneagles and Day 1 was completed, fans abandoned the golf course. Still, off in the distance, chanting and cheering could be heard in the car parks.

“It's like a soccer match,” Inkster said. “It’s fun. It’s not golf where you have to have the golf clap. You can get out there, and you can root. That, to me, is what the Solheim is about.”

First Published September 13, 2019, 8:44 p.m.

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Morgan Pressel of the U.S. tees off on the first hole during the Foursomes match against Europe in the Solheim cup on Friday, Sept. 13, 2019, at Gleneagles, Auchterarder, Scotland.  (ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Golf fans cheers on their teams during the Solheim Cup on Friday, Sept. 13, 2019, at Gleneagles, Auchterarder, Scotland.  (ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Golf fans cheers on their teams in the Solheim Cup on Friday, Sept. 13, 2019, at Gleneagles, Auchterarder, Scotland.  (ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Morgan Pressel celebrates with and Jessica Korda of the U.S. after they finished all square against Europe during the Fourballs match in the Solheim Cup on Friday, Sept. 13, 2019, at Gleneagles, Auchterarder, Scotland.  (ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Lexi Thompson, centre, Morgan Pressel, left, and Jessica Korda of the U.S. after they finished all square against Europe during the Four balls match in the Solheim cup on Friday, Sept. 13, 2019, at Gleneagles, Auchterarder, Scotland.  (ASSOCIATED PRESS)
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