LET heads to Denmark for the Nykredit Masters

Iben Tinning , Ludivine Kreutz and Gwladys Nocera make their last European appearances before heading to Indiana for next week's Solheim Cup when they tee it up at this week's €200,000 Nykredit Masters.

It's the first time the LET has visited Denmark since 1997, when Laura Davies claimed the Ford-Stimorol Danish Open at Vejle GC.

Tinning, the Danish no.1 who lives just a thirty minute drive away from the club, is the local favourite to win the title. The 31-year-old, who is second in the LET Money list, was a member of Kokkedal GC for three years as an amateur and knows the course inside out.

She and Kreutz, who both qualified for The 2005 Solheim Cup team through the European rankings, will be aiming to snare the €30,000 in prize winnings with their third Tour victory of the season.

Tinning, who is 15 weeks pregnant, triumphed at the Open de Espana Femenino and BMW Ladies Italian Open while Kreutz picked up her two titles at the Tenerife ladies Open and the OTP Bank Ladies Central European Open in Hungary .

Tinning said: "Everybody is in with a chance here. You've just got to hit it straight and putt well, the same as for any other week."

Nocera, a 30-year-old who lives in Biarritz , admitted that she felt a sense of relief after the team was officially announced by Team Captain Catrin Nilsmark .

She and Kreutz will make their debuts in the transatlantic, biennial competition next week.

"I felt very stressed last week with so many 'ifs and buts' in the equation," said Nocera. "But this week I feel a lot more relaxed. I'm still going to play my best and take it as a training week for next week."

One of her highlights will be competing against one of her long time idols, American Meg Mallon.

"I admire her because when I was in the USA I saw her doing a show with kids and she was great, so friendly and nice," said Nocera.

"But if I play against her she's just going to be another player, the same as all the others."

Kreutz was equally relaxed. She said: "I think its going to be a great European team. America has a great team as well with a mixture of young and experienced players. It's going to be a tough match."

Tinning added: "They have a lot of new ones and I think they're going to shake. Obviously they're fantastic players, but even though they're great, they're still going to be nervous and you don't know how many holes it will take them to get over it."

In addition to Tinning and Kreutz, five other tournament champions from 2005 are teeing it up at Kokkedal Golf Course this week, including Federica Piovano and Veronica Zorzi ( Italy ), Cecilia Ekelundh ( Sweden ), Kirsty A Taylor ( England ) and last week's winner, Lisa Holm S ø rensen ( Denmark ).

One player who is absent this week, but will be ever present in her seventh appearance in the matches next week, is Trish Johnson from England , who secured her place in the team with a tied second finish at the Wales Ladies Championship of Europe three weeks ago.

Johnson said: "We've got an excellent side; I think there were a few players who were unlucky not to get in. The Americans have a very strong side too and it's just a case of who handles the pressure the best over those three days.

"We've never won on American soil so it's going to be extremely tough and very close. The matches could come down to the last couple of points.

"I think they're the favourites playing on home soil but that could work for us. There will be a lot at stake and they've got everything to lose."

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