Sorenstam looking forward to cup challenge

Annika Sorenstam is confident her team can defend the Lexus Cup this week but she is wary of a backlash from an Asian side keen to avenge last year’s heavy defeat.

Sorenstam’s Team International crushed the Asians 16-8 in the inaugural event and although the world number one expects more of the same at Singapore’s Tanah Merah Country Club she does not anticipate an early ride.

“I’m very proud of this team. I know that they are all hungry to play this week and I know it’s going to be a lot of fun,” said the Swede.

“Obviously we’d like to have the same result as last year but we’re thinking that the Asian team will come out strong. I’m sure that they will be looking for revenge.

“The key is chemistry and whether the players have similar games, especially tomorrow when the format is alternate-shot.”

Grace Park captains a youthful Team Asia, whose oldest player is 29-year-old five-time major winner Se Ri Pak, which has nine South Koreans in its 12-strong line-up.

However, having seen her side struggle last year after losing four of the six foursomes matches in the opening round, the Asian team captain knows that a good start on Friday is imperative.

“It’s very important, especially in the foursomes matches,” said the 27-year-old Park.

“Last year was difficult because we got so far behind and we were new to this type of event so we got a little nervous going into the second and third round.

“Definitely I would like to get a head start in the first round, but compared to last year our team is made up of stronger and better players so I am feeling good.

“We are going to get better and we are going to win,” she added with emphasis.

England’s Laura Davies, a veteran of nine Solheim Cups but a Lexus Cup rookie, will feature in the first of the foursomes matches when she teams up with 21-year-old American Brittany Lincicome against Koreans Young Kim and the LPGA Tour’s Rookie of the Year Seon Hwa Lee.

Park and Shi Hyun Ahn take on Americans Stacy Prammanasudh and Angela Stanford, while Sorenstam and compatriot Carin Koch face Korea’s Joo Mi Kim and Japan’s Sakura Yokomine.