Rich colors raucous sounds

• By Randall Mell
• Aug 21, 2009 3:50 PM ET

SUGAR GROVE, Ill. – The atmosphere at Rich Harvest Farms didn’t disappoint at day’s start.

The rich colors and raucous sounds were what hit you at the first tee in the start of the Solheim Cup.

Like the Ryder Cup, it felt more like the start of a football game than a golf tournament.

With Americans Brittany Lang and Brittany Lincicome preparing to tee off, here was one of the many unique chants that went up: “Brittany, Brittany, you’re so fine you blow my mind, hey Brittany, hey Brittany.”

The stands were packed with the flags of nine nations ripping in the wind above the seats.

Hall of Famer Nancy Lopez was waving an American flag among the fans who stood in the bleachers to see the first tee shots. She led the American Junior Solheim Cup team to victory earlier in the week and is still here with her team. Hall of Famer Kathy Whitworth, the LPGA’s all-time leader in victories, was on the first tee box. Though Kristy McPherson wasn’t in the morning lineup, she made her way up in the stands to lead cheers, forming a U with her arms, then an S and then an A to get the “USA” chants going. Nicole Castrale was also in the stands waving a flag.

Michelle Wie and Morgan Pressel got a big ovation when they reached the tee with American flags temporarily tattooed to their cheeks.