Sweden, SA Share 1st Tee

South Africa and defending champions Sweden have been paired together in Friday’s opening Singles round of the Women’s World Cup of Golf at the Gary Player Country Club course, at Sun City in the North West.

South Africa’s Laurette Maritz and Ashleigh Simon will take to the fairways alongside the Swedish duo of Helen Alfredsson, captain of Europe’s 2007 Solheim Cup team, and Carin Koch at 10:40.

England’s Laura Davies and Trish Johnson and the French team of Gwladys Nocera and Stephanie Arricau will tee off the 2007 event in the first match out at 8:40.

Kenya’s Rose Naliaka and Jane Njoroge make their debut in the 22-nation event as the third match out alongside Finland.

Japan, winners of the inaugural event, will take to the fairways alongside the strong Australian team of Nikki Garrett, the Ladies European Tour Rookie of the Year in 2006, and LPGA Tour campaigner Lindsey Wright.

Nikki Garrett (right, Australia) and Momoko Ueda (left, Japan) represent their countries to the Women’s World Cup, but will also make sure their fashion statements will have as much impact as their swing. Picture: Gareth Gilmour, © Women’s World Cup of Golf 

The vastly experienced American combination of World Golf Hall of Famer Juli Inkster and Pat Hurst – armed with 36 career victories between them – are paired alongside Scotland’s Janice Moodie and Mhairi McKay, who gained entry to the event at the last minute following the withdrawal of the Philippines.

Scotland are amongst the favourites based on their past form in this event, which includes finishes of fourth and second.

Paraguay make their debut in the tournament and will no doubt be led by the supremely talented Julieta Granada.

Granada tees it up in the Women’s World Cup of Golf shortly after the 20-year-old claimed the highest first place cheque in the women’s game when she won the LPGA Tour’s season-ending ADT Championship and the accompanying $1-million prize.

She claimed seven top-10 finishes in her rookie season on the LPGA Tour in 2006 and a rookie earnings record of $1.6-million last season.