The 2024 Solheim Cup saw hosts the US race into a 3-1 lead after the Friday morning foursomes session at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club. If Stacy Lewis’ team needed any further motivation to continue the good work in the afternoon four-ball matches, they got it from an appearance by former US President Barack Obama.
The 44th POTUS was introduced at the first tee to a rapturous reception from the home fans at the Virginia course, where he applauded and acknowledged the crowd as he greeted Lewis with a handshake before shouting, “Come on! Let’s go USA!”
Barack Obama is at the Solheim Cup🇺🇸pic.twitter.com/0DCMmZcFCVSeptember 13, 2024
Obama’s appearance wasn’t a complete surprise as he is known as a huge golf fan and has been a member of the club since 2017. He also met the US team at its pre-Solheim Cup dinner earlier this week.
Before the match, members of Team USA spoke about their visit from Obama at the dinner. Megan Khang said: “Honestly, it was just super cool to have a past president kind of show up to team dinner. It's pretty incredible he took time out of his day to come meet all of us. I know he plays out of here, so just the appreciation for the time he gave up to come see us is incredible."
Nelly Korda said: “To add to that, he knew all of our names too, and he congratulated all of us on all of our success as well.”
Alison Lee added: "I think it just shows how much golf brings people together. To see him there, and we see him on TV in the past, he was our former president, and to see him kind of connect with us and relate to us in a way, I think is really, really cool and something that only golf can bring.”
Obama, who served as President between 2009 and 2017, also has a history of meeting and greeting previous US Solheim Cup teams.
In 2010, Beth Daniel's successful team from the year before was greeted by Obama at the White House, while the honor was repeated for Juli Inkster’s team in 2015 after its win in Germany earlier that year.
While Obama is naturally rooting for his home nation as the US attempts to claim the trophy for the first time since a 16.5-11.5 triumph in Iowa in 2017, it wasn’t just members of the Team USA contingent he had time for. European players were also seen taking advantage of a photo opportunity with the 63-year-old, who was more than happy to accommodate them.
