10 January 2006

The second Women's World Cup of Golf, taking place at the Gary Player Country Club at Sun City from 20 to 22 January, boasts a powerful line-up, with a Swedish team led by world number one Annika Sorenstam likely to provide the stiffest challenge to defending champions Japan.

Miyazoto, Yokomine to defend title
The Japanese line-up includes Ai Miyazoto, who fired a brilliant final round six-under par at Fancourt in the beautiful Western Cape in February 2005 to help her country become the first ever holders of the World Cup.

Miyazoto was named together with Sakura Yokomine, only after an extremely tightly contested season on the Japanese LPGA, which came down to the final event.

Miyazoto finished second on the tour, garnering 14 top-10 finishes in a very consistent season, including six victories - in the Vernal Ladies, Chukyo TV Bridgestone Ladies Open, New Caterpillar Mitsubishi Ladies, the Japan Women's Open Championship, Higuchi Hisako IDC Otsuka Kagu Ladies, and the Daio Seishi Ellair Ladies Open.

Her strong performances earned her exempt status for the US LPGA Tour in 2006. In addition, she also broke the 20-year-old LPGA Final Qualifying Tournament record at Daytona Beach, roaring away to a massive 12-shot victory.

Yokomine, like Miyazoto aged just 20, ended fourth on the Japanese LPGA Money Winners' List. She, too, recorded 14 top-10 finishes, and claimed wins at the Life Card Ladies Golf Tournament and the Miyagi TV Cup Dunlop Ladies Open.

Sorenstam leads Swedish challenge
Sweden is sure to provide a stiff challenge for the honours, led by world number one Annika Sorenstam, whose entry was a big boost for the event.

Her face wreathed in a grin, tournament director Tania Fourie was ecstatic when Sorenstam was confirmed, saying: "We got number one."

Sorenstam will team up with Liselotte Neumann.

Sorenstam has enjoyed a phenomenal season. In 20 events she has finished in the top 10 15 times, while winning 10 times! She boasts 62 career victories on the LPGA and has won seven majors.

US, England: teams to watch
The United States will be represented by Paula Creamer and Natalie Gulbis. With 11 top-10 finishes and two victories in 25 starts in 2005, it has been a good year for Creamer.

Gulbis topped the one-million dollar mark in earnings, despite not winning a tournament. She did, however, post 12 top-10 finishes in the 27 tournaments she entered.

Led by veteran Laura Davies, England is also a team to watch. Although not the dominant force she once was in the women's game, Davies topped the European LPGA Tour standings in 2004 and is currently tenth in the standings in 2005. She boasts a fine career, with 20 LPGA wins and 37 wins on the European LPGA. Her career record also includes four major titles.

Her playing partner, Kirsty Taylor, won the Wales Ladies Championship in August, and lies ninth in the European LPGA standings.

Host country
Hosts South Africa will be represented by Laurette Maritz and Ashleigh Simon, the same pair who did duty for the country at Fancourt in February 2005. They finished in the middle of the pack on that occasion, and will be seeking to improve at the Gary Player Country Club at Sun City.

It is a combination of experience and youth. Maritz turned professional way back in 1987 and has won six tournaments in her career.

Simon, meanwhile, wasn't even born when Maritz turned pro! A prodigiously talent, she is often compared to the young American phenomenon Michelle Wie. She won the South African Open in 2004 at the age of 14, and has twice been named South Africa's Women's Golfer of the Year.

The field

Wales: Becky Brewerton, Becky Morgan

	Young South African golfing phenomenon Ashleigh Simon will get to show her off her game against the world's best at Sun City

	Japan win 1st Women's Golf WC SA golf tourism gains pace Golf courses in South Africa

	Women's World Cup of Golf  Women's PGA of South Africa  LPGA  Ladies European Tour

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