Solheim Cup 2015: Suzann Pettersen apologises to United States after sportsmanship storm

Suzann Petterson has apologised to the United States following her failure to concede a putt on the 17<sup>th hole of her fourballs match against Alison Lee and Brittany Lincicome during the Solheim Cup in St Leon-Rot. Lee picked up her ball assuming an 18-inch putt had been conceded, but Petterson denied she had agreed to such a move.

Europe went on to win the match two up on the 18<sup>th to go 10-6 ahead going into the singles matches, but an incident which left players on both teams, including Petterson's fourball partner Charley Hull, in tears worked as a shameful act of sportsmanship. USA went on to win the Solheim Cup 14 ½ - 13 ½ after dominating the singles on day three but the controversy regarding Petterson's action continues to dominate the fall-out.

The Norwegian player has belatedly apologised for her decision not to concede the putt that caused such a storm in Germany and threatened to overshadow the event. The 34 year old has begged for forgiveness from the American team and says she has had face-to-face talks with captain Juli Inkster over the incident.

"I've never felt more gutted and truly sad about what went down Sunday on the 17th at the Solheim Cup," she wrote via her Instagram page. "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.

I've never felt more gutted and truly sad about what went down Sunday on the 17th at the Solheim Cup. 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 U.S. team, you guys have a great leader in Juli , 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 U.S. 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 push forward toward another opportunity to earn the Solheim Cup back for Europe in the right way. And 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.
A photo posted by Suzann Pettersen (@suzannpettersen) on Sep 21, 2015 at 1:20am PDT

"To the US team, you guys have a great leader in Juli, 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 push forward toward another opportunity to earn the Solheim Cup back for Europe in the right way. And 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."