Norway’s Suzann Pettersen

“I am well into my own season now and after a mixed start with the first two tournaments in Hawaii, I found my game last weekend in Mexico City where I climbed to 7th place just three strokes behind the winner Annika Sörenstam. It’s promising for the future, not least the Ladies Norwegian Masters.”

Alexandra Armas, executive director of the LET, added: “Everyone at the Ladies’ European Tour is extremely excited to be returning to Norway for the first time since 2002.

“Last time we visited the country it was a fantastic event, which the members thoroughly enjoyed. Oslo Golf Club is a magnificent venue. In addition to further strengthening the 2006 schedule, this event will extend the LET’s international presence throughout the Nordic Region.”

Infront Sports and Media, a company with a vast experience of hosting professional sports events including the Finnair Masters, will act as tournament promoters working in co-operation with Oslo Golf Club, the Norwegian Golf Federation (NGF) and the PGA of Norway. As part of a two-year agreement, the LET will see the tournament take place at Losby Golf Club in 2007.

Eigil Rian, representing Infront Sports and Media, said: “Infront is very happy to be adding another LET tournament to its portfolio in the Nordic territory. Following our success with the tournament in Finland we are looking forward to being in Norway again. We see a lot of advantages to being both in Finland and in Norway and with the strong relationships between the NGF, Oslo Golf Club, Losby Golf Club and the LET, everything looks very promising for the coming event.”

Christian Anker-Rasch, President of the Norwegian Golf Federation, added: “It is extremely important for the development of women’s golf in Norway to host a LET event. I hope that this tournament will raise awareness and attract more young people to participate in golf.”

The Ladies Norwegian Masters will be the second tournament in the “Volvo Cross Country Challenge”, a series of four events contested across the Nordic region. The addition of the Ladies Norwegian Masters activates a US$1 million bonus prize for the winner of all four events, which is the highest prize in the history of the LET.

Events in this years’ Volvo Cross Country Challenge are: the Scandinavian TPC hosted by Annika at Bro-Bålsta GC in Sweden, from August 10 to 13; the Ladies Norwegian Masters at Oslo GC in Norway, from August 25 to 27; the Finnair Masters at Helsinki GC in Finland, from September 1 to 3; and the Nykredit Masters at Odense Eventyr GC in Denmark, from September 7 to 10.