(Oslo, July 31 2002) England’s Laura Davies heads a mouth watering cast of Europe’s top players at this week’s £220,000 P4 Norwegian Masters, held at Oslo GolfKlubb in a glorious setting beside Lake Bogstad on the outskirts of the capital.

With four weeks remaining in the countdown to final qualification for The 2002 Solheim Cup, Davies is keen to make the top seven automatic places within the next three weeks to ensure a record seventh consecutive appearance against the USA this September.

Carin Koch – excited

The 38-year-old from Surrey was delighted with the way the course sets up for her powerful style and admitted she will be going for it over the next three weeks and not have to rely on one of Reid’s five wild card picks.

“I like the course,” said Davies, whose last visit to Europe was a victorious one at the WPGA World Matchplay Championship in September 2000.

“It sets up nicely and there are a few holes you can really go at, but there are a few tricky ones that will catch you out if you are not careful.

“If I am not in the top seven in the next three weeks, I’ll be very disappointed. I want to have my place secured before the Wales WPGA because my own feeling is that nobody has a right to rely on a pick and I want to make sure I am there.”

Koch, who holed the winning putt at Loch Lomond, is also determined to be a part of Team Europe and having spent two weeks at home in Sweden, the glamorous 31-year-old from Kungalv is both relaxed and excited at the prospect of playing over the next three weeks.

“I am quite far down the rankings, but I am not worrying about it too much,” said Koch, who is 15th in the rankings.

“If I can get in the points, then great, I’ll just see how it goes and hopefully continue the good form. I think we are going to have a really good team this year and I definitely want to be on it.”

Pettersen, who has come agonisingly close to victory twice this season, losing in playoffs at the Women’s Australian Open and Irish Open, is aware that much is expected of her this week and denied that local knowledge and crowd support will automatically lift her to victory.

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