“Complete disaster”: Journalists lash out at Solheim Cup fiasco despite Lexi Thompson’s attempts at easing the blow
The 2024 Solheim Cup is underway at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Club, but the tournament has begun with some controversy. The opening matches witnessed empty stands because transportation at the event prevented fans from entering the golf course.
On social media platform X (fka Twitter), Beth Ann Nichols, a senior golf writer who has been covering the tour for 20 years, spoke about the importance of the Solheim Cup for the LPGA. In her tweet, Nichols also bashed the 2024 edition of the tournament.
She wrote:
"The Solheim is the LPGA’s time to shine. The crown jewel of the tour. Complete disaster. One of the worst I’ve seen in 20 years covering the tour."
Nichols' tweet comes after she and Al Jazeera's senior correspondent Alan Fisher highlighted the issues fans are suffering at the Solheim Cup. Earlier in the day, Nichols in a post mentioned that Lexi Thompson was on the tee to rev up the fans who had made it in the gates.
However, the senior golf writer also wrote about the issue fans faced after the opening ceremony yesterday. She wrote:
"Lexi Thompson is on the tee to rev up the fans that did make it in the gates! Eventually this place will be rocking. But how many fans will say never again? People waited hours for a shuttle yesterday after opening ceremonies."
This tweet from Nichols got a response from Alan Fisher. In his post, Fisher explained his plight and further spoke about the condition of the people who were waiting with him in the long lines. Fisher wrote:
"Been more than an hour and no where near the front of the line. People are leaving and going home worried about the trip home. Some kids in tears. Not enough security checkpoints not enough buses"
After the controversy erupted, LPGA issued an official statement about the incident, apologizing to the people affected due to the shuttling services at the ongoing Solheim Cup.
The statement also read that the association has made changes to its transportation to mitigate the situation. It also mentioned they were working on ways to express their regret to those who have been impacted.
Which golfers are playing at the 2024 Solheim Cup?
The Solheim Cup features some of the best female golfers from the USA and Europe. Just like the last edition of the tournament, Team USA and Team Europe will be captained by Stacy Lewis and Suzann Pettersen respectively.
Here is a detailed list of the players who are representing Team USA and Team Europe at the 2024 Solheim Cup:
Team USA
- Nelly Korda
- Lilia Vu
- Lauren Coughlin
- Ally Ewing
- Allisen Corpuz
- Megan Khang
- Andrea Lee
- Rose Zhang
- Alison Lee
- Jennifer Kupcho (Captain's Pick)
- Sarah Schmelzel (Captain's Pick)
- Lexi Thompson (Captain's Pick)
Team Europe
- Charley Hull
- Esther Henseleit
- Celine Boutier
- Maja Stark
- Linn Grant
- Leona Maguire
- Carlota Ciganda
- Madelene Sagstrom
- Georgia Hall
- Anna Nordqvist (Captain's Pick)
- Emily Pedersen (Captain's Pick)
- Albane Valenzuela (Captain's Pick)