(Newry, County Down, August 13 2003) Sweden’s Sophie Gustafson arrives hotfoot from her victory at last week’s HP Open aiming for an Irish double at this week’s £150,000 BT Ladies Open, which starts on Thursday at the delightful Warrenpoint GC, which nestles beautifully beneath the Mountains of Mourne in Northern Ireland.
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| Johnson – wants Solheim place |
Johnson, who is lurking in 12th position, has the next two weeks to play her way into Catrin Nilsmark’s team by right. The five-time Solheim veteran ideally needs a win here and a high finish at Royal Porthcawl in twelve days time and she started her campaign in perfect style at Warrenpoint with a hole-in-one with the very first shot of her day in the Pro-Am.
“It was the perfect six-iron, 157-yards into the breeze, two bounces and chink, chink…in,” explained the 13-time Tour winner.
“It’s going to be an interesting two week’s,” she added, admitting that it hurt to stay at home last year and watch the Solheim Cup on television last year.
“My game is in good shape, I need to improve my wedge play from 110-yards and in, but the putting is good, the iron play good and the driving is solid and I’m in great shape.
“I want to be in Sweden this year, it’s not much fun staying at home and watching it on telly. There’s nothing like being involved in team play, it’s what I live for, it’s the peak of our careers and I’ll be trying my best to get in the team.
“I can‘t understand some players who are relying on a pick from the captain, I’ve never played in anything and expected to get a pick.”
