Annika Sorenstam (AFP)
World number two Annika Sorenstam will headline the Suzhou Taihu Ladies Open next month, the first Ladies European Tour event hosted by China.
The Swede, who is retiring at the end of the season to pursue business interests and start a family, is on a goodbye tour and said China was a country she had wanted to play in for some time.
"I'm delighted to be coming over to play in the first ever Ladies European Tour event in China," she said.
"Having started my professional career in Europe, I feel a very strong bond with the Tour and to be able to share this historic moment with my fellow European players is a big thrill.
"It's great also to see that the Suzhou Taihu Ladies Open 2008 is a true international event with not only competitors from the Ladies European Tour but also a large number from Asia, and particularly from China.
"China represents the future and I would love to see women's golf develop strongly there."
The tournament, from October 31-November 2, is co-sanctioned by the China Golf Association and Ladies Asian Golf Tour.
"It's our first event ever in China and will be a historic occasion for us, said Alex Armas, executive director of the Ladies European Tour.
"At a time of year when the weather in Europe is turning against us, it's important to be able to extend the tour's season and give our players an opportunity to come here to compete at Suzhou Taihu International Golf Club."
Sorenstam, 37, has 90 career victories including 10 Major titles, earning 22 million dollars along the way.
She also headlines the Grand China Air tournament on southern Hainan island the week before the Suzhou event -- the inaugural US LPGA event in China.
© 2008 AFP/sid
