Sorenstam aims for cup glory after poor season

Winning the Solheim Cup on home soil at Barseback in Sweden four years ago ranks as one of the highlights of Annika Sorenstam's brilliant career. A repeat performance this weekend at Halmstad, with Europe again finding themselves in the position of needing to regain the cup, would more than make up for the former world No 1's first winless season in the majors for seven years.

Sorenstam, the leading point scorer in the women's version of the Ryder Cup, suffered a ruptured disc in her neck earlier in the year. Overtaken as the world's best by Lorena Ochoa, she is nevertheless regaining her form at the right time. "I feel as good as I've done for a year and a half," said the 36-year-old from Stockholm. "I have no pain and I'm starting to hit some good shots and control the golf club as I want.

"Four years ago was amazing," she added. "Those are memories for ever, There is nothing like it when you know you've taken the cup back, especially here in Sweden where they appreciate the sport and our successes."