NO SCOTLAND TEAM IN WOMEN'S
PROFESSIONAL WORLD CUP
Once upon a time, playing for your country would have been given priority over everything else in an individual's life. When did things change? Answers on a postcard to the editor!
Annika Sorenstam has withdrawn from the Women's World Cup of Golf in order to take a rest.
The world No 1 female golfer secured the trophy for Sweden alongside Liselotte Neumann this year, but has told organisers that she wants time off after a long season.
"Annika said that ending her season in December left her too little time to have a proper rest to re-focus," said World Cup media manager Alison Spratley.
Carin Koch and Helen Alfredsson will now defend the title for Sweden.
LPGA Order of Merit winner and world No 2, Lorena Ochoa from Mexico, has also chosen to withdraw from the event at the Gary Player Country Club in Sun City, citing similar reasons to Sorenstam.
World No 3, Karrie Webb from Australia, will also miss the tournament.
England will be represented by Laura Davies and Trish Johnson. Good for them!
But, for some reason, Scotland will not have a team. Is this is because our No 1, Catriona Matthew, is having a baby soon and Janice Moodie started a family not all that long ago? Catriona and Janice carried Scotland into second place behind the Swedes last year.
There will be a Scottish-based player in the World Cup line-up, however. She is Liz McKinnon who lives with her Scottish husband near Inverness and campaigns on the Ladies European Tour.
TEAMS
Australia (Nikki Garrett, Lindsey Wright).
Brazil (Candy Hannemann Angela Park).
Denmark (Karen-Margrethe Juul, Iben Tinning).
England (Laura Davies, Trish Johnson).
Finland (Riikka Hakkarainen, Jenni Kuosa).
France (Gwladys Nocera, Stephanie Arricau).
Germany (Anja Monke, Miriam Nagl).
Ireland (Rebecca Coakley, Hazel Kavanagh).
Italy (Veronica Zorzi, Giulia Sergas).
Japan (Momoko Ueda, Shinobu Moromizato).
Kenya (Rose Naliaka, Jane Njoroge).
New Zealand (Lynnette Brooky, Elizabeth McKinnon).
Norway (Suzann Pettersen, Marianne Skarpnord).
Paraguay (Julieta Granada, Celeste Troche).
Philippines (Dorothy Delasin, Jennifer Rosales).
South Africa (Laurette Maritz, Ashleigh Simon).
South Korea (Young Kim, Ji Yai-shin).
Spain (Ana B Sanchez, Tania Elosegui).
Sweden (Helen Alfredsson, Carin Koch).
Taiwan (Amy Hung, Yu Ping Lin).
United States (Juli Inkster, Pat Hurst).
Wales (Becky Brewerton, Becky Morgan).