EUROPE’S VILLAIN SAYS SHE’S SORRY

NOTHING could ever truly remove the stain caused by the actions of Suzann Pettersen at the Solheim Cup on Sunday but credit the Norwegian for doing her level best to try.

The 34-year- old took to Instagram to issue a rambling but plainly heartfelt apology.

On Sunday night, Pettersen had stood by her actions of applying the letter of the law to the nth degree and punishing the 20- year- old American rookie Alison Lee for believing that a 16-inch putt had been conceded. Listening to her and the other apologists in the European camp was both sad and embarrassing.

However, the first thing she did yesterday was seek out American captain Juli Inkster to apologise in person.

As for her public apology, it read: ‘I hope in time the US team will forgive me... I wish I could change Sunday for many reasons but unfortunately I can’t… I want to work hard to earn back your belief in me, as someone who plays hard [and] fair.’

How that plays out we shall have to wait and see but i t certainly offers hope the Solheim Cup can move on from this and future editions will not be marked by acts of revenge.

There’s also one further consolation. Such was the level of hostility directed towards Pettersen, it has laid down a template for future Solheim and Ryder Cups with a strident message emphasising that the vast majority of golfers, whether wearing American red or European blue, are simply not interested in winning at all costs.

The lesson is clear; in this sport, doing the right thing remains way more important than obtaining the result.