LODDEKOPINGE, Sweden (AP) -- European and U.S. flags will be lowered to half-staff and Solheim Cup players will wear black ribbons to honor the Swedish foreign minister who died Thursday from stab wounds.
Anna Lindh, one of the most popular politicians in Sweden, died after 10 hours of surgery. She was knifed in an upscale Stockholm department store by an unknown assailant.
The slaying cast a shadow over the Solheim Cup, where crowds of up to 30,000 were expected for all three days. Players went through a final day of practice at Barseback Golf & Country Club, where flags already were at half-staff.
‘The players on both teams are going to choose some sort of a black mark as a memory for this day,’ said Christer Orning, president of the Swedish Golf Federation.
He said players probably would wear a ribbon on their hats, and there would be a moment of silence during opening ceremonies Thursday.
The flags would be raised, then lowered after the national anthems. Europe is represented by eight countries at this Solheim Cup.
LPGA Tour commissioner Ty Votaw said the U.S. players would commemorate the two-year anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist acts in an individual manner.
Votaw and Swedish officials said there was no consideration to postponing the matches.
‘The players are recognizing the heightened security and feel that going on with the matches is the appropriate thing to do,’ Votaw said.
Security already in place includes random bag searches and police officers following each match inside and outside the ropes.
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Solheim Cup Players to Honor Slain Swede
Published September 11, 2003 04:00 PM