USA captain explains ‘issues’ behind ‘house-gate’ at Solheim Cup

Sign up to our free sport newsletter for all the latest news on everything from cycling to boxingSign up to our free sport email for all the latest newsSign up to our free sport email for all the latest news

The Solheim Cup will pitch Team USA against Team Europe in the 39th edition of the famous competition in Virginia, but it is the team from overseas who will be vying for their fourth successive title.

It is a highly competitive event, and the tension has only increased with the small distance between the two team houses at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Club.

The United States claimed the bigger of the two houses available on the golf course, making the most of their home advantage, while Team Europe have one that backs onto the driving range.

Team USA captain Stacy Lewis has had to openly minimise any “bad beef” with the opposing team, despite describing the closeness of the team rooms as “awkward”.

“The closeness is a little bit awkward with the driving range and everything being right there, but we’ve worked through a few things,” Lewis said in Wednesday’s press conference.

“We’ve worked through a few issues, but we’re in a good spot now.”

She added: “Their team room kind of exploded onto the driving range a little bit, but we reeled it in. It’s all good.

“We adjusted the way the range was set up a little bit and moved the US team further down, so Europe could do what they wanted basically.

“The inside of their cottage doesn’t have a lot of room for tables, so their tables have to be outside. It was just that our players were warming up and they’re there eating breakfast and talking.

“We were just trying to get everybody some space so they didn’t have to listen to them eating breakfast. There’s no bad beef.”

The Solheim Cup gets underway on Friday September 13 (Getty Images)Sky Sports are reporting however that Team USA thought that their opponents were going against regulations in their Solheim Cup contract, and the two teams have decided to switch places on the driving range because of it.

Team Europe’s Anna Nordqvist said: “I don’t know if they [Team USA] are happy with their choice, but we’re obviously very happy to be right there on the range.

“The European team has done a fantastic job, the way they put our team room and everything together, and it’s just been such a good atmosphere with all the helpers and caddies and players and everyone involved.”