Sorenstam Named 2017 Solheim Captain

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Annika Sorenstam says she is going to have "fun" being European captain at the 2017 Solheim Cup.

Vice-captain when the United States regained the trophy last year in Germany, the 45-year-old Swede said: "I can not tell you how excited I am.

"I had hoped and dreamed that this opportunity would come along. This is really going to be a lot of fun."

Europe will attempt to win back the trophy at Des Moines Golf Club in Iowa next August.

Sorenstam played on two winning sides, at Loch Lomond in 2000 and at Barseback in 2003, and was also instrumental in two victories as a vice captain in 2011 and in 2013.

No player has won more matches for Europe than Sorenstam.

Her record of 22 victories is equalled by England's Laura Davies, who played in nine more matches than the Swede.

She and Dame Laura Davies hold the European record for Solheim Cup matches won, on 22, and Sorenstam also holds outright the record for foursomes points with 11 1/2.

Sorenstam was part of winning teams at Loch Lomond in 2000 and Barseback in 2003, where Swedish players celebrated a famous victory on home soil, and also as a vice-captain in 2011 at Killeen Castle and two years later in Colorado.

"I cannot tell you how excited I am," Sorenstam said as she was introduced as captain. "I have hoped and dreamed this opportunity would come along.

"If I look back at my career, the Solheim Cup has always been an important part of it. We play as individuals for 99 per cent of the time but when we do get together it's something special.

"A lot of the memories from my career go back to the Solheim Cup so when I stopped playing I was hoping I could continue to be involved, and getting the chance to be a vice-captain was really eye-opening.

"I thought 'one day, when I am ready' I would love to get this opportunity, and I thought by 2017 I would be ready. I had support from the tour and this is going to be a lot of fun - I'm looking forward to getting to work and engaging with the players.

"It's all about building memories and I think that is our goal."

Ladies European Tour CEO Ivan Khodabakhsh added: "We are extremely pleased to have Annika leading our team for the next Solheim Cup match in Iowa.

"When you think about her pedigree as the best player of our generation, her personal accomplishments and Solheim Cup experience, she has an exceptionally strong understanding of the attributes required to be an inspirational, respected and successful captain of the European Team." 

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Teen Henderson Leads in Portland

Brooke Henderson is on course to becoming only the third player in LPGA history to win a tour event before turning 18, after opening a five-stroke lead at the Portland Classic.

The 17-year-old hit a seven-under 65 in the third round at the Columbia Edgewater Country Club in Oregon.

She also equalled the tournament's 54-hole record of 18-under 198.

Lydia Ko and Lexi Thompson are the only players to win an LPGA Tour title before their 18th birthday.

"I had a lot of fun out there today," said Henderson, who reached the tournament via the qualifiers on Monday.

"I got some lucky breaks. I think that's due to my positive energy. I try to focus on my shots and block out any negativity."

American Morgan Pressel also hit a 65 on Saturday to move second on 203, one stroke ahead of German pair Sandra Gal and Caroline Masson with one round remaining.

A win on Sunday will give Henderson an LPGA Tour card for next season.

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Ko Becomes Youngest Winner

New Zealand amateur Lydia Ko has become the youngest winner of a professional golf tour event, at the age of 14.

Ko, the world's top amateur, won the New South Wales Open by four shots to break the men's mark set by Japan's Ryo Ishikawa at 15 years, eight months.

Previous women's record holder Amy Yang was 16 years, 192 days old when she won the Australian Ladies Masters.

"To be part of history is like a miracle," said Ko. "It's not something you can have by clicking your fingers."

Ko came close to winning the same tournament last year, aged 13, missing a putt on the last green to lose by one shot.

This year, she held her nerve to record a three-under-par final round of 69 and beat Becky Morgan of Wales in the 54-hole tournament.

England's Laura Davies closed with a 71 to finish 14 shots off the pace.

"My driver and iron play were probably the nicest to me over the past two days," added South Korea-born Ko, who moved to New Zealand in 2003.

"I also putted well, but I was in good position on most of the greens because I was able to make approaches from good places on the fairways."

Ko plans to play in about 30 tournaments this year, including professional events over the next two weeks - the Australian Masters at Royal Pines on the Gold Coast and the LPGA's Australian Open at Royal Melbourne.

She added: "I'll play in mostly amateur tournaments after that, and my schedule looks pretty busy for several months."

SPORT'S YOUNGEST WINNERS

Golf tour event: Lydia Ko (NZ), 14

Tennis major: Martina Hingis(Swi), 16

Snooker ranking event: Ronnie O'Sullivan (Eng), 17