Upgrade improves Cup parking logistics
The traffic headaches from Day 1 of the Solheim Cup seemed to ease Saturday after LPGA officials, working along with local and state police departments, came up with a new comprehensive plan to ease the congestion that marred the first morning of competition in Sugar Grove.
"The LPGA did a lot to alleviate some of that by changing what they had set up - taking the $5 (parking fee away) and by making the VIP lot and the general parking lot both general admission. That allowed us to consider opening the alternate route that we had," said Lt. Patrick Gengler of the Kane County Sheriff's Department.
Waits of an hour or more were reported on the opening day of the Solheim Cup, with most of the delays occurring within a couple of miles of the course.
Michele Walls from Albany, N.Y., was one of those who got caught up in the gridlock.
"We were in traffic for an hour (Friday)," she said. "I knew I was in the Midwest because not one person honked his or her horn. So we realized we were not in Kansas anymore, to borrow a line."
Fans seemed to arrive earlier, and Gengler said the extra manpower brought in Saturday, plus video message boards and more signage, helped things run much more smoothly.
"We hope (Sunday) will be the same," he said.
Where's Laura? The only player to compete in all 11 Solheim Cups doesn't seem to be having such a super time in Sugar Grove.
That's because Laura Davies, who played in the opening round Friday and struggled alongside partner Becky Brewerton, hasn't seen any action since.
Davies wasn't pleased about rumors suggesting she wanted to sit out.
"Absolutely not, no," she said when asked on the Golf Channel if she had asked not to play. "You come to the Solheim Cup, you want to play.
"You love supporting the team as well and I did that yesterday afternoon. I was disappointed I wasn't on the team, but we've got eight great players out there. Someone suggested I didn't want to play this morning or this afternoon, that's nonsense."
Just perfect: Courtesy of her win with partner Becky Brewerton in Saturday's foursome play, Gwladys Nocera improved to 3-0 in 2009 Solheim Cup play after coming into the weekend with a career mark of 2-3-1.
"I've had good partners," Nocera said. "We just have to win points, regardless of who's winning them."