Controversy engulfs Solheim Cup after Team Europe refuses to concede picked-up putt

Team USA is attempting the largest-ever Solheim Cup comeback during Sunday singles, but the conclusion of a four-ball session in the morning may overshadow the entire competition.

UPDATE: Team USA did it! They pulled off the largest comeback in Solheim Cup history, erasing a 10-6 deficit in the singles session and getting the 14.5 points to clinch the cup. There are, as you might expect, many, including US team members, citing this controversy as the inspiration for the comeback.

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Americans Alison Lee and Brittany Lincicome were all square on the 17th green in their match against Europeans Suzann Pettersen and Charley Hull. Lee had a putt to win the hole, but the ball slid 18 inches past the cup. Hull and her caddie started walking off the green, Pettersen was already off the putting surface and out of sight.

Lee thought the remaining 18-inch putt had been conceded and picked up her ball. She thought she heard the concession made out loud, and Hull’s movements to turn and walk off the green toward the next hole was certainly a physical signal of concession. But Pettersen then stepped in from off the green and said no such concession had been made, bringing everything to a record-screeching halt.

A rules official joined the mess and determined that no concession had been made. The U.S. lost the 17th to go 1-down and went on to lose the match and a crucial point one hole later. The match was a huge swing and Europe went to the singles session with a commanding 10-6 lead.

It was, quite simply, a disaster and it left Lee AND her opponent Hull in tears upon the conclusion of the match. American captain Juli Inkster and much of golf Twitter were furious with Pettersen’s ... questionable (at best) sportsmanship. Inkster had strong words on the episode before the start of the singles session (via Golf Channel):

“It’s just B.S as far as I’m concerned ... It’s just not right. It puts a damper on the whole thing.”

After she won her singles match, Lee maintained she heard someone concede and definitely thought the actions signaled as much.

Many pros weighed in on Twitter and called it a disgrace and shameful. It certainly was one of the more controversial moments you’ll ever see in these match play events, and, sadly, regardless of the outcome, it will probably be the most memorable moment from the entire competition.

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