Solheim Cup fans cheer U.S.A. with patriotic pride

As the players entered the small stadium that would serve as the welcoming platform for the opening of the Solheim Cup on Thursday, the crowd broke into the familiar "U.S.A." cheer.

It was the same chant that always pushes any patriotic American to clench up and try to will their fellow countrymen and women to victory at any international competition.

From the onset of the player introductions, it was clear the Solheim Cup is not quite like any other LPGA event. There is an Olympic aura in the air.

Indeed, the Solheim Cup at Rich Harvest Farms in Sugar Grove is perhaps the best preview to what having golf return as an Olympic sport at a Chicago-hosted 2016 Summer Games would be like. And, if a gold medal is the crowning achievement for an athlete who competes in anything but the sports that hog all the glory on ESPN every night, the Solheim Cup fills that gap for female professional golfers.

"Being named captain is a great honor and the proudest moment of my golf career," said European team captain Alison Nicholas. That's not a small statement from someone who won 18 professional titles in her career.

"They are playing for the pride of team and country, not for individual glory," said American team captain Beth Daniel in her summation of the Solheim Cup.

Her statement was merely labeling the atmosphere the fans and players had breathed in throughout the week thus far. Patriotism will play no small role in the event. Cheering the American players as they hit the red carpet for the entrance was nothing short of a Fourth of July celebration in mid-August. American pride abounded.

There was even a woman so decked out in Old Glory that Uncle Sam would have had to tip his top hat to her. She wore a full flag-patterned outfit and top hat matched with flag-patterned canvas shoes and an American flag purse.

It's not money that's at stake, but a battle to defend home turf. The American team has never lost the Solheim Cup when playing in its home country. You can't keep the pressure of that record from eating you alive without a strong fan base behind you.

That's why the American players took time to pose for photos and chat with fans lined up on the red carpet even though most of them hadn't bought the pricier ticket to actually have a seat inside.

That's why everywhere you looked were fans wearing something with an American player's autograph on it.

And it's the same fans decked out in red, white and blue from head to toe who will be back at Rich Harvest Farms Friday, Saturday and Sunday, cheering with the same strength that fueled them for the nearly 12 hours the course was open on Thursday.

They aren't just there to see some of the best female golfers on the planet compete. They are there to see America win.

Golf: Event kind of an audition for Olympics

<div class="infoBox"> <h1>More Coverage</h1> <div class="infoBoxContent"> <div class="infoArea"> <h2>Photo Galleries</h2> <ul class="gallery"> <li><a href="/story/?id=315268">Thursday images from the Solheim Cup </a></li> <li><a href="/story/?id=314990">Wednesday images from the Solheim Cup </a></li> <li><a href="/story/?id=314617">Tuesday images from the Solheim Cup </a></li> <li><a href="/story/?id=314310">Monday images from the Solheim Cup </a></li> </ul> <h2>Video</h2> <ul class="video"> <li><a href="http://www.dailyherald.com/multimedia/?category=18&type=video&item=3">Solheim Cup Opening </a></li> <li><a href="http://www.dailyherald.com/multimedia/?category=18&type=video&item=2">Solheim Cup After Sundown party </a></li> </ul> <h2>Related links</h2> <ul class="moreWeb"> <li><a href="/packages/2009/solheimcup/">Complete Daily Herald coverage of the Solheim Cup</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div>