English professional Henni Zuel says the controversy involving Suzann Pettersen, Charley Hull and the American team at the Solheim Cup was down to miscommunication.
Europe's Hull and Pettersen beat American duo Alison Lee and Brittany Lincicome two-up in the final fourball at St Leon-Rot, Germany, on Sunday after a highly-contentious incident at the 17th hole.
With the match all square, Lee missed a birdie attempt and then picked up her ball under the assumption Europe had conceded her 16-inch putt only for Pettersen to claim she and Hull had not.
The match referee intervened and Europe were awarded the hole and Hull's birdie on the 18th sealed victory.
It left the USA at a huge disadvantage but they produced a dramatic fightback in the singles to claim an unlikely 14½-13½ triumph.
Zuel, the youngest player to join the Ladies European Tour as a 13-year-old amateur in 2003, told Sky Sports News HQ: "The first impression was that I could totally understand how Alison Lee got to that conclusion. The positioning of where Charley was, everything was on the birdie putt.
"We were all expecting her to hole the birdie putt, she didn't and Charley's walked away. Although she didn't say it I can see how Alison Lee came to the assumption that it was conceded.
"However, we all know you shouldn't assume that, technically, going by the rules.
"She should have waited for confirmation that the putt was given. In the heat of the moment, I think it was just one of those things, there was miscommunication and assumptions that combined to reach a bit of a grey area between the rules, assumptions and sportsmanship."
Norway's Pettersen, 34, later apologised. "I've never felt more gutted and truly sad about what went down Sunday on the 17th at the Solheim Cup," she wrote on social media.
"I am so sorry for not thinking about the bigger picture in the heat of the battle and competition. I was trying my hardest for my team and put the single match and the point that could be earned ahead of sportsmanship and the game of golf itself! I feel like I let my team down and I am sorry."
Salisbury-born Zuel, 25, understood why the Norwegian made her decision not to concede the putt in the heat of battle.
She added: "It's a really difficult thing because you've got to remember that sports people, in order to succeed, they're selfish, they're competitive. They want to win and sometimes in the heat of the moment I think you can get caught up in sticking by the rules, and she did stick by the technical rules,
"We all know in golf sportsmanship is a huge part of the game and I think it comes down to talking about body language and assumptions.
"In Solheim Cups in the past, there have been controversies, and it's swings-and-roundabouts. Pat Hurst, a few years ago, famously made Annika Sorenstam replay the shot. Now that isn't very sportsmanlike, but, technically within the rules. It's one of those things."