LONDON — A "truly sad" Suzann Pettersen has apologised for showing a lack of sportsmanship on the final day of the Solheim Cup in Germany and has asked for forgiveness from United States captain Juli Inkster and her 12 players.
The Americans, who went on to win the trophy by 14 1/2 points to 13 1/2 after a spectacular display in Sunday's singles, were enraged when European pair Pettersen and Charley Hull, 19, beat Alison Lee and Brittany Lincicome in the morning fourballs.
With their match all square, rookie Lee mistakenly believed her 16-inch putt at the 17th had been conceded by her opponents and picked the ball up, leaving the referee no choice but to award the hole to the Europeans in the women's version of the Ryder Cup.