Norway’s Suzann Pettersen has taken to Twitter to issue an apology for her decision not to concede an 18-inch putt to America’s Alison Lee during the fourball matches at the Solheim Cup.
Pettersen said that a putt on the 17th green had not been conceded when Lee picked up her ball, meaning the Americans lost the hole. But having slept on her decision, following Europe’s 14.5-13.5 defeat, Pettersen issued a statement on her Twitter account.
“I’ve never felt more gutted and truly sad about what went down Sunday on the 17th at the Solheim Cup,” she wrote. “I am so sorry for not thinking about the bigger picture in the heat of the battle and competition. I was trying my hardest for my team and put the single match and the point that could be earned ahead of sportsmanship and the game of golf itself! I feel like I let my team down and I am sorry.”
“To the US team, you guys have a great leader in Juli [Inkster], who I’ve always looked up to and respect so much. Knowing I need to make things right, I had a face to face chat with her before leaving Germany this morning to tell her in person how I really feel about all of this. I wanted her also to know that I am sorry.
“I hope in time the US team will forgive me, and know that I have learned a valuable lesson about what is truly important in this great game of golf which has given me so much in my life.
To the fans of golf who watched the competition on TV, I am sorry for the way I carried myself. I can be so much better and being an ambassador for this great game means a lot to me. The Solheim Cup has been a huge part of my career. I wish I could change Sunday for many reasons. Unfortunately I can’t. This week I want to work hard to earn back your belief in me as someone who plays hard, plays fair and plays the great game of golf the right way.”