Sorenstam targets Major number eight

Annika Sorenstam aims to collect the eighth major of her career by staging a successful defence of the British Women’s Open, starting at Sunningdale tomorrow.

Sweden’s long-time world number one bases her career around the majors, and has twice staged a successful defence in majors, at the 1996 US Women’s Open and at this season’s LPGA Championship.

The 33-year-old said: “It’s great to be attempting another repeat.

“I’m always excited to be back at the British Open. It is one of the biggest events of the year.

“And Sunningdale is in great shape. It’s greener than I thought it would be, but it’s also quite bouncy, a little like a links, which I really enjoy.”

This season, Sorenstam has already won four titles on the LPGA Tour plus the Masters in Australia, and she already won just under £900,000 (€1.4m) to head the LPGA money list.

And she insists that retirement is not yet part of her game plan.

She continued: “As long as I get up in the morning and feel motivated and want to practise and play then I’ll keep going,” she said.

“I suppose I do have a little less enthusiasm for the run-of-the-mill events, and the travel and the practice rounds.

“But I still love the big tournaments, and this is one of the biggest.”

Karen Stupples, the only Briton to have won on the US-based LPGA Tour this year, joins Laura Davies, the Australian Women’s Open Champion and the champion from 1986, as the British favourites.

Stupples, 31 and fourth in last week’s Evian Masters in France, said: “It is the first time that I’ve been considered a serious contender which is rather nice.

“It will be a little more pressure, but I feel my game is in great shape and I just need a few putts to go in.”