Davies says British will improve on last year's whitewash

Davies, a sponsor's invite for the tournament at Hamilton Golf Club in Gladstone, New Jersey, opens against the big-hitting South Korean Jee Young Lee, while Stupples takes on the Swede Liselotte Neumann and Matthew meets veteran Beth Daniel.

In the inaugural championship last year, all the British players exited in the first round, and Davies said: "It can only get better. In 18-hole matchplay, anything can happen. But it is exciting and I love the format. You can attack the golf course and try and make a lot of birdies."

Sorenstam admitted she was still "walking on cloud nine" after her play-off win in the US Women's Open on Monday, but she added that she would have no problem rising to the challenge of a first-round tie against Thailand's Virada Nirapathponporn.

"I've had a fantastic few days and I still have so much energy," she said.

Wie, the No 2 seed, faces Brazil's Candy Hannemann in the opening round.