Team Europe captain Anna Nordqvist predicted that the first tee of the Solheim Cup would become "the place to be in the golfing world," and her forecast proved spot on as she observed a scene unlike anything previously seen in women’s golf. The horseshoe‑shaped grandstand that rings the first tee at Bernardus Golf filled up well before sunrise, with almost 3,000 spectators already in place and countless more lining the fairway.
The atmosphere resembled a festival more than a traditional golf tournament, a noisy, electric party that set the tone for the weekend. When United States captain Angela Stanford emerged from the tunnel onto the tee, she did so to a burst of music and cheering that made her feel as if she were stepping onto a concert stage. Charley Hull, who had arrived earlier in the week, described the moment as "entering an arena," and vice‑captains from both sides added to the din, trying to out‑shout each other in a friendly battle of volume. A large banner reading "Dutch courage, European glory" fluttered above the crowd, underscoring the host nation’s determination to turn the event into a boisterous spectacle more akin to a football stadium or a darts tournament than a quiet golf course.
Anne van Dam, Nordqvist’s vice‑captain, seized the microphone and led the audience in a rendition of "Links Rechts," the unofficial anthem of the Dutch football team during the World Cup. The song, which involves a lot of hopping and side‑to‑side movement, got the crowd on its feet and set a playful tone for the day. "It doesn’t get better than this," Nordqvist later said.
"The crowds are amazing. I don’t think I’ve ever seen this many Europeans on the first tee." Her words captured the surreal mix of national pride, party energy, and pure love of the game that filled the venue.
Fans arrived in a kaleidoscope of costumes—banana‑themed outfits, stars‑and‑stripes suits, and golf‑bucket hats— all converging at 7:20 a.m. The sight was "brilliantly bonkers," as one commentator put it, and the dancing and singing grew louder as the first pairs prepared to tee off.
Chants of "Let’s go Europe, let’s go!" echoed through the stands, followed by a blast of Europe’s classic "Final Countdown" that reverberated across the fairway. The United States’ opening duo, featuring star Nelly Korda and Allisen Corpuz, arrived nearly ten minutes early, clearly eager to soak up the electric atmosphere before their first drives. Each subsequent pair—Korda and Corpuz, Hull and rookie Lottie Woad—was greeted with smoke cannons, thunderous applause, and cleverly adapted chants borrowed from other sports.
A large screen displayed a polite "quiet please" message before the first tee shots, only to be quickly overrun by a playful rendition of the Beatles’ "Hey Jude," re‑worked with a nod to Corpuz, before being cut off for the players to concentrate on their swings. The party did not end with the first birdie, which Woad secured on the opening green. Team USA vice‑captain Paula Creamer, sporting a cowboy hat, and fan favorite Megan Khang joined the revelry, showing off dance moves that kept the crowd’s energy high. Fans sang "Ohhhh, Leona Maguire" to the tune of Kings of Leon’s "Sex on Fire," while a localized version of Desmond Dekker’s "Israelites" was twisted to celebrate Esther Henseleit.
The crowd even revived last year’s Ryder Cup chant—"Europe’s on fire, USA is terrified"—adding a Maguire‑specific twist to honor the Irishwoman’s impressive Solheim Cup record. Only one experienced European, Carlota Ciganda, sat out the opening session, but even she was in the spirit, wearing a Solheim Cup beanie and encouraging the newcomers to enjoy every moment.
She danced alongside the debutants to every song, linking arms during "It’s Raining Men" and breaking out a Vengaboys track later in the morning, her grin never fading. Her enthusiasm seemed to ripple through the team: Maja Stark and Linn Grant sprinted out to the crowd, swaying to ABBA’s karaoke staple "Dancing Queen" as they waited for their matches to begin. Dame Laura Davies, a twelve‑time Solheim Cup veteran, summed up the sentiment of the fans perfectly: "These people absolutely make it for the players.
Without these brilliant fans, it’s just not the same." The crowd even created a playful earworm for Stark, chanting "Maja Stark, doo‑doo, doo‑doo, doo‑doo" to the melody of "Baby Shark," a chant that, while unnecessary, perfectly captured the light‑hearted mood and helped the Swede and Grant secure Europe’s first point of the day. Even as the morning sunshine gave way to a steady drizzle, the enthusiasm never waned.
Spectators lined the fairways, rain‑slicked clubs in hand, to watch a tightly contested opening session that left the competition dead‑locked at two points each. After her victory, Leona Maguire praised the fans, saying, "We had incredible support out here.
They were really spurring us on, especially when the weather got bad and miserable. It was that extra little bit we needed to grind it out." The afternoon session amplified the noise even further. Former major champion Karen Stupples described the galleries as "insane," noting that the roar of the crowd rivaled the intensity of any major championship.
If the quality of golf on the course matches the fervor of the spectators, the 20th edition of the Solheim Cup could become one of the most memorable in the event’s history. The combination of high‑octane entertainment, national pride, and genuine love for the sport has turned the first tee at Bernardus Golf into a cultural moment for women’s golf. It demonstrates how the Solheim Cup continues to evolve, blending sport with spectacle, and how fans—whether dressed in banana costumes or traditional golf attire—play a pivotal role in shaping the experience for the players. As the competition progresses, the world will be watching to see which side can harness this extraordinary energy to claim the coveted trophy.