Sorenstam is relishing Cup challenge

14 April 2012

Annika Sorenstam has already had a year to remember but this weekend offers her the chance to put some icing on the cake.

An appearance on the men's tour and the two major titles she needed for a career Grand Slam have extended Sorenstam's reign as the undisputed No1 of women's golf.

Now the 32-year-old is looking for team success in the first Solheim Cup match to be held in her native Sweden.

The Americans begin their defence of the trophy at Barseback near Malmo tomorrow and on the possibility of dethroning them on home turf Sorenstam said: "It would be very special - it would probably rank right up there.

"I was on the winning team at Loch Lomond in 2000 and that was a wonderful feeling. It came down to the last match and it was so exciting.

"That excitement I don't get too often. Even though winning majors or winning tournaments is exciting, when you do it together it's so different.

"Doing it at home with the crowd behind us, with my parents, family and friends here, you probably will share it with more people and I think that will make it special."

Like the Ryder Cup, foursomes and fourballs will be played on each of the first two days, followed by 12 singles on Sunday.

Sorenstam has won 12 and halved three of the 22 games she has played in the Solheim Cup - a better percentage than Tiger Woods in the Ryder Cup - but she has been on three losing teams.

Ten of the 12 players who helped United States win last year are back but Europe, showing five changes, are the slight favourites.

European team: Laura Davies (England), Elisabeth Esterl (Germany), Sophie Gustafson (Sweden), Carin Koch (Sweden), Catriona Matthew (Scotland), Mhairi McKay (Scotland), Patricia Meunier-Lebouc (France), Janice Moodie (Scotland), Suzann Pettersen (Norway), Ana-Belen Sanchez (Spain), Annika Sorenstam (Sweden), Iben Tinning (Denmark).

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Sorenstam is relishing Cup challenge

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