Golf International Magazine Online

The Women’s World Cup of Golf may have only been played on three previous occasions, but it has already grown into one of the premier events on the world’s sporting calendar.

Billions of viewers worldwide will tune into this week’s tournament that tees off at the Gary Player Country Club at Sun City, South Africa, from 18-20 January.

Forty of the world’s best women golfers from 20 countries have arrived at Sun City and were welcomed by a luscious and green golf course. The North West Province has experienced substantial rainfall in recent months but with its world-class drainage the Gary Player has only benefited from the weather.

The inaugural Women’s World Cup of Golf was played at Fancourt in 2005 when the Japanese pair of Ai Miyazato and Rui Kitada claimed the title. In 2006 the event was moved to its current venue at Sun City, and this time Sweden, led by Annika Sorenstam, stole the show to win by three shots over Scotland.

Last year, the little known Paraguayan pair of Julieta Granada and Celeste Troche, stunned the field to win by an astonishing seven shots over the United States.

Granada, just 21 and Troche 26, finished on a nine-under-par total of 279 to beat the veteran American pair of Juli Inkster and Pat Hurst.

“It brings back great memories,” says the baby-faced Granada, who has teamed up with Troche again for this year’s event. “Celeste and I were talking about it on the golf course today. Last year was just awesome.

“Playing every hole we keep remembering all the shots. We hope we can do the same this year.”

Granada came into last year’s tournament on the back of a victory at the lucrative ADT Championship, but 2007 was not as good a season for the Asuncion-born player. “I struggled a bit,” says Granada. “I took some time off this season but now I’m ready to go.”

Granada finished runner-up twice and three times in the top-10, ensuring that she still made a healthy $395, 440 in prize money.

Granada and Troche are not expected to change their strategy this time around. Last year they captured the imagination of the golfing public with their friendly smile and fun disposition. This year we can expect the same says Granada.

“Our strategy is going to be the same. The most important thing is to have fun and just keep on smiling and really enjoy this tournament. It is a treat for us to represent our country. We will try to represent our people well and do a good job.”

Troche has been blown away by Sun City in her two visits to the North West resort. “It’s like Disney World in Africa,” she says. “It’s just a magical place. We love the golf course, the hotel and the people are so friendly. It’s great to be back.”

The Paraguayan pair explain that golf in their country is growing thanks to their achievements and they are excited about this.

“It’s getting very popular and a lot of people are starting to play the sport,” says Granada.

“They enjoy playing tournaments and want to represent their country. I think that’s always a positive but they are still kids and need to grow up before they go on tour.”

Paraguay can expect a challenge from last year’s runners-up, the USA, Sweden, Germany, Scotland and Wales. The Swedes are represented by Sophie Gustafson and Maria Hjorth. The former finished top of the 2007 season’s Ladies European Tour (LET) New Star Money List while the latter ended fifth.

The US has Hall of Famer, Juli Inkster and Pat Hurst in their team. Bettina Hauert and Martina Eberl, who both finished in the top-10 on the Ladies European Tour, will represent Germany. They both have experience of South African conditions, having campaigned on the Nedbank Golf Tour.

Catriona Matthew and Mhairi McKay form a formidable outfit for Scotland while Becky Brewerton and Becky Morgan represent Wales for the fourth straight year.

The same is the case for the South African duo of Laurette Maritz and Ashleigh Simon. This will be the 18-year-old Simon’s first World Cup as a professional.

England’s World Cup challenge has suffered a setback with the late withdrawal of Kirsty Taylor due to illness. However she has been replaced by 24-year-old former Curtis Cup player Danielle Masters, who is expected to form a competitive duo with Trish Johnson.

Masters is not expecting too much from herself at Sun City, having not prepared as adequately as she would have had she been in the initial line-up, however she said: “I love playing with Trish. With all her experience she’s a really confident player.”

The golf course has been shortened from last year’s tournament, when only three teams finished under par. The first and eighth holes have gone back to their original yardages, but players will face extremely thick and demanding rough.

The tournament’s most significant tweak is the decision to drop the Singles from the programme in order to speed up play in the final round and make the tournament more enjoyable for spectators. The event will be played over 54 holes with days one and three devoted to Better-ball, while the alternate shot Foursomes will feature on day two.

List of 2008 teams/players:

Australia
Lindsey Wright
Nikki Garrett

Brazil
Angela Park
Candy Hannemann

Canada
Alena Sharp
Lorie Kane

China
Na Zhang
Chun Wang

England
Trish Johnson
Danielle Masters

France
Gwladys Nocera
Virginie Lagoutte-Clement

Germany
Bettina Hauert
Martina Eberl

India
Simi Mehra
Irina Brar

Italy
Sylvia Cavalleri
Diana Luna

Japan
Shinobu Moromizato
Miki Saiki

Korea
Ji-Yai Shin
Eun-Hee Ji

Paraguay
Julieta Granada
Celeste Troche

Philippines
Jennifer Rosales
Dorothy Delasin

Scotland
Catriona Matthew
Mhairi McKay

South Africa
Laurette Maritz
Ashleigh Simon

Spain
Paula Marti
Tania Elosegui

Sweden
Sophie Gustafson
Maria Hjorth

Taiwan
Amy Hung
Yun-Jye Wei

USA
Juli Inkster
Pat Hurst

Wales
Becky Brewerton
Becky Morgan