Below are quotes and video from the controversy that took place this morning at the Solheim Cup as three Saturday fourball matches were concluding prior to the start of Sunday singles matches. Alison Lee and Brittany Lincicome lost the 17th hole during their fourball match against Charley Hull and Suzann Pettersen.
At the conclusion of the Saturday fourball matches this morning, Europe has a 10-6 lead heading into Sunday singles matches.
Live coverage of the Sunday singles matches are currently airing live on Golf Channel and streaming live on Golf Live Extra.
Video: Controversy at 17
Video: European Captain Carin Koch speaks with Jerry Foltz
Video: U.S. Captain Juli Inkster speaks with Karen Stupples
Video: Referee Dan Maselli speaks with Kay Cockerill on the controversy
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Golf Channel analyst Judy Rankin, on the 17th hole controversy
Judy Rankin – “I don’t think it is in the spirit of sportsmanship. I am supposed to be non-partisan in this job. You all know that I’m an American and a former captain here. Make no mistake, there are a lot of people on the European team that are friends of mine also. In some ways, where the golf goes I am non-partisan. I think this was very poor sportsmanship. I think if you strictly go by the rules, it is not an incorrect ruling. By everything that’s written, they lost the hole. But in the spirit of the way we play this game, it is not usually how I see this game played. I have to sincerely hope this fires up the American team for the singles matches that are about to begin.”
Rankin – “I think it will have some sort of lasting effect, because the Americans were kind of over the top the last time in Colorado and they were over the top a couple of times. I can remember back in Chicago where the celebrations were a little off in a lot of people’s opinion. Juli Inkster came in two years ago and she said, ‘We are going to change that.’ We are going to play golf, we are going to go about our business. We are going to be grown-ups. We are going to fight as hard as we can, give it to them as hard as we can but you will be proud of us.’”
Rankin – “There is a heartbreaking note to this with the only rookie on the team, and a girl who has played on so many teams and played so well, but her greatest dream was to play on the Solheim Cup team. This is really a stab in the heart to a young girl’s dreams. The matches have been great, I take nothing away from the Europeans and how well they have played and the fact the Americans are down, that’s on them. That’s their fault. That’s the way they have played and the way they have paired up. But the fact that anything else should have to do with deciding these matches I think is a shame.”
-NBC Sports Group-