Do you know what friggatriskaidekaphobia is? To be honest, it looks like something you’d inadvertently type when you doze off at the laptop and your head thumps a series of random keys. This tongue-twisting friggat-thingamabob is actually a fear of Friday the 13th.
As the Solheim Cup got underway on this day of doom-laden superstition, there were probably a few simpler ‘F’ words being spouted as issues with spectator shuttle buses caused all manner of cursings and harrumphings and dampened what should’ve been a rip-roaring start to the transatlantic clash.
The first tee of a team tussle is usually a cacophony of crowds and colour as eager spectators rush to the grandstands at the crack of dawn in the kind of stampede you’d see on an Attenborough documentary.
Unfortunately, many of the paying punters spent hours waiting on transport from the park and ride and the empty seats around that first tee arena spoke volumes for the general chaos. On the buses? They probably would’ve been better with inspector Blakey directing affairs.
Stacy Lewis, the US captain, admitted the scene was “disappointing” while organisers were forced to issue an apology to those stranded in the queues. Some of the weary fans decided to turn around, head back to their cars and return home. It was hardly a glorious advert for one of the biggest events in women’s sport.
“We recognize and deeply apologize to all fans affected by the challenges with shuttling from parking to the golf course,” said a grovelling statement from the LPGA Tour.
“We’ve made significant changes to our transportation system to mitigate these issues moving forward, and we’re working on ways to express our regret to those impacted.”
On the course, meanwhile, the US system seemed to be working smoothly. At this rate, the world No 1, Nelly Korda, could end up driving a shuttle bus to help out elsewhere.
The hosts, trying to pinch the Solheim Cup back for the first time since 2017, made an early statement of intent as they won the morning foursomes 3-1. By the end of the day, the USA were 6-2 up.
It was a tough opening session for the visitors. Not as bad as last year, of course. Europe were 4-0 down after those emorning exchanges, before mounting a stirring fightback to earn a cup-retaining draw, so this was something of an improvement at least.
“We're on the board,” conceded the European captain, Suzann Pettersen. “It's one step closer than we were last year.” In this game of fine margins, you need to cling to every little morsel of positivity.
“It’s only the first session, it’s not panic mode yet,” added the former Solheim Cup-winning captain, Catriona Matthew, from the commentary booth.
England’s Charley Hull was given the go ahead to smoke her cigarettes on the course, but it was the US who would eventually light things up.
In the top match, Hull and Olympic silver medal winner Esther Henseleit had been two down at the turn against Korda and Allisen Corpuz but the European duo rallied with back-to-back birdies at 10 and 11 to restore parity.
The US duo made a telling burst for the line, though, and won 14, 15 and 16 to post a 3&2 win. The hosts were up and running.
Rose Zhang and Women’s Scottish Open champion Lauren Coughlin then completed a 3&2 win over Swiss rookie Albane Valenzuela and France’s Celine Boutier, before world No 2 Lilia Vu and rookie Sarah Schmelzel defeated Linn Grant and Carlota Ciganda by the same margin to make it 3-0 to the home side.
Things were looking bleak for the Europeans. At least Emily Pedersen and Maja Stark were in command against Ally Ewing and Jennifer Kupcho. Well, they were. Four-up through eight, the Europeans found themselves just one hole to the good on the 18th tee.
Pedersen stepped up to the plate on the last, however, and unleashed a wonderful approach to within a few feet of the pin as the Europeans took the honours and got a much-needed point on the board.
“We said to each other, ‘if we keep playing the way we've been playing, we are going to win this match’,” said Pedersen with a great gasp of relief.
As the afternoon fourballs got going, the US continued to keep the pedal to the metal and won the session 3-1. In the top tie, Korda and Megan Khang powered into a commanding advantage against Georgia Hall and Leona Maguire and eventually won 6&4 to add another point to the US tally.
The brilliant Korda made two eagles in three holes at 12 and 14. It was world class. Unlike the buses.
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