CROMVOIRT, Netherlands — As the Solheim Cup celebrates its 20th edition this week, it's a good time to reminisce on some of the event's most controversial moments.
The spats and blowups that grabbed headlines – for better or for worse – are part of the fabric of the biennial event. Some don't even involve the people hitting the shots.
As this year's edition gets underway in the Netherlands, here's a look back on some of the most notable dustup.
2000: Annika Sorenstam forced to replay a chip
Perhaps the most well-known controversy in Solheim Cup history occurred in 2000, when Team USA forced Annika Sorenstam to replay a chip shot after she’d holed it, saying that she’d played out of turn.
Sorenstam, who was partnered with Janice Moodie in the four-ball match at Loch Lomond, was squaring off against
Pat Hurst and Kelly Robbins. It was captain Pat Bradley who ultimately made the call to have Sorenstam replay the shot. The steely Swede didn’t convert the second time, and Europe ultimately lost the match. Sorenstam was reduced to tears after the round.
Years later, Bradley told Golfweek that she wouldn’t change a thing.
“I elected to honor the rules of the game,” Bradley said. “That’s all I can say about it. That’s what I fall back on.”
2015: Suzann Pettersen sparks greatest U.S. comeback
In 2015, Suzann Pettersen galvanized Team USA in a way that face paint and hair ribbons never could.
The incident occurred on the 17th green at St. Leon-Rot Golf Club in four-balls when rookie Alison Lee picked up an 18-inch putt for par that she thought Europe had conceded. As Charley Hull walked off the green, Pettersen told the group’s rules official that the putt hadn’t been given.
The miscommunication resulted in a loss of hole for Lee and partner Brittany Lincicome, who walked to the 18th tee stunned.
After the Americans failed to birdie the final hole, Europe closed the match, 2 up. Lee and Hull broke down sobbing.
The Americans responded with the biggest come-from-behind victory in Solheim Cup history, with Team USA overcoming a four-point deficit to triumph, winning 8½ points in singles play Sunday.
2007: Dottie Pepper's hot mic fiasco
Dottie Pepper got her own country fuming when she referred to U.S. players as “chokin’ freakin’ dogs” on-air during Saturday afternoon play in Sweden. A live mic caught the comment when she thought the broadcast had gone to commercial break.
The comment was in reference to the number of times the U.S. had lost its lead over the last two holes and walked away with only a half-point. While the verbiage certainly could’ve been better, Pepper did have a point as the U.S. halved six of 16 matches in the foursomes and four-ball sessions after squandering a lead down the stretch.
Pepper’s words were the talk of the team room that night, and even Tiger Woods weighed in from the FedEx Cup Tour Championship, saying he didn’t think Pepper would “get a lot of interviews from the players.”
In an e-mail to Golfweek that week, Pepper said she was “reacting to what I saw as one who bleeds red, white and blue and a former Solheim Cupper who has gagged a few points away herself in the past. I guess I am guilty as charged with whatever I am being charged with.”
Pepper also made a statement about the gaffe 20 minutes into Sunday’s broadcast saying she made a very poor choice of words but stood by the general premise that the U.S. choked in the Saturday foursomes session.
Team USA ultimately won the competition 16-12. Pepper served as an assistant captain in 2013 but hasn’t again been involved with the U.S. team contingent.
2024: Bus nightmare overshadows Day 1
The first tee on Day 1 of the Solheim Cup is arguably the best seat in golf. But early on Friday at the Robert Trent Jones Jones Golf Club, most of the seats were empty as fans were left stranded in the parking lot due to a bus shortage.
An untold number of fans turned around, never to return, after hearing that wait times for the shuttle buses were 2 to 3 hours. To make matters worse, the porta-potties in the parking lot were locked. And they paid for parking – $30. On top of the tickets, airfare, lodging and time away from work.
As the day wore on, officials began allowing fans to take an Uber from the parking lot to the main gate. One fan who took an Uber with several others said their bags were never checked, only their tickets.
Fans describe the mood in the massive line as solemn and subdued. The air was thick with disappointment.
ESPN sent out a push notification on the Solheim Cup and it had nothing to do with golf. Not even the presence of former President Barack Obama could overcome the debacle of the day.
There were serious bus issues yesterday and when I got it the first tee and saw so many empty seats, knew there had to be something wrong. pic.twitter.com/gh3x4AehFt
— Beth Ann Nichols (@GolfweekNichols) September 13, 2024
2013: Bad ruling kills U.S. momentum
A botched ruling on the 15th hole brought the proceedings to a halt at Colorado Golf Club, including USA’s momentum. Rules officials took 25 minutes to make a ruling on Friday afternoon in the first four-ball match, ultimately giving Carlota Ciganda 40 yards to make her drop rather than two club-lengths.
LPGA officials later admitted to the mistake but according to U.S. captain Meg Mallon, the damage had been done. Stacy Lewis was seen throwing her hands in the air in disgust while talking to an official after the match and didn’t sleep well.
“If you know anything about sports,” said Mallon, “momentum is everything.”
It was a black eye on the event as frustrated fans chanted, “while we’re young.”
2013: Annika Sorenstam accused of giving advice
On Saturday in Colorado, the "Drama Cup" heated up more when Sorenstam was accused of giving advice on the seventh hole. (Only captains are allowed to give advice, per the captain’s agreement).
A European caddie told Paula Creamer as she stood over the ball that her par putt was good, acting on the words of Sorenstam. Creamer got in a huff with both her opponents and the officials, but the LPGA ultimately deemed that Sorenstam had not breached a rule. The Americans won the hole with a birdie, and Mallon called it a moot point.
Rules officials again slow-played everyone late in the evening, prompting the Golf Channel to show a close-up of the moon after another 30-minute ruling on No. 16.
2002: Catrin Nilsmark's shocking comments fuel Team USA
Catrin Nilsmark wasn't even in the 2002 Solheim Cup but certainly caused a stir after ripping several U.S. players on a Swedish website. Nilsmark referred to Cristie Kerr as a "little brat" and said that Michele Redman had "absolutely no talent."
The Associated Press reported that the LPGA posted a translation on its website and distributed copies through the ladies locker room at the Williams Championship in Tulsa.
At the start of the 2002 contest, U.S. captain Patty Sheehan said most of the European players had come up to her and apologized.
"I know they feel bad – badly, about the comments," said Sheehan, "and, you know, my players, I think initially, felt badly, and they felt like they were being shot at with darts, but I think then as that initial shock wore off, I think we have sort of had fun with it, so not that we need any more motivation to try to win the cup back."
Team USA won that contest by winning seven singles matches in a dramatic come-from-behind victory.
2021: Madelene Sagstrom picks up overhanging ball in controversial concession
Seconds after world No. 1 Nelly Korda dropped to her knees in disbelief after her lengthy eagle putt failed to drop on the par-5 13th, Sweden’s Madelene Sagstrom picked up Korda’s ball and tossed it back to her in the afternoon four-ball session at the Inverness Club.
Missy Jones, the LPGA rules official on the scene, quickly informed players that Sagstrom had picked up the ball too early, and that because it was overhanging the edge, she was in violation of Rule 13.3b. According to a statement issued by the LPGA, “the chief referee, match referee, observer and TV observer all deemed that Korda’s third shot on No. 13 was overhanging the hole and was picked up by her opponent before the waiting time had ended. Therefore, her third stroke was treated as holed.”
Korda was entitled to wait 10 seconds after reaching the hole.
Her birdie on the 13th was immediately changed to an eagle, giving Korda and partner Ally Ewing a 1-up lead they never relinquished. The ruling changed the momentum of the afternoon, which had been tipped in Europe’s favor since their morning foursomes thrashing.
An emotional Korda called it “the worst way to win a hole.”
2003: A singles session that ended in chaos
Once Catriona Matthew defeated Rosie Jones on the 17th hole of the sixth match at Barseback Golf and Country Club in Sweden, the Cup had officially gone to Europe. What happened next though was unexpected: Three of the five remaining matches were conceded to Europe, giving Europe the largest victory in Solheim history to that point, 17½ to 10½.
“I came back to support my players in the back groups because I had never seen that happen before, ‘All right, match is over, let's go in,’” said U.S. captain Patty Sheehan. “I've never seen that before. Usually, they sort of play out and if they get to 18 then they can concede there.
"It was weird because Beth Daniel was coming back in her match – she had just won two holes in a row and she felt good about things. Cristie (Kerr) was about to go a couple up. All of a sudden, it's like everybody just quit. ... I didn't know what the hell was happening.”
This article originally appeared on Golfweek: A look back on the Solheim Cup's biggest controversies, from hot mics to stranded fans
