Round Up: Annika Sorenstam set for historic appearance in ‘fun’ Florida event

Annika Sorenstam is set to become the first female professional to compete in the PNC Father Son Challenge

The former world No 1 will join fellow major champions Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player and Tom Watson in the tournament at The Ritz-Carlton Golf Club in Orlando in the first week in December.

“I can’t wait to play with my dad at the PNC Father Son Challenge,” said Sorenstam, a 90-time winner worldwide and eight-time Solheim Cup player as well as captaining Team Europe in the biennial contest. “He introduced my sister and me to the game and has been there providing  support to us ever since. To  tee it up with him in such a special televised event with so many of golf’s global icons really means a lot. We will have fun.”

The winning team of the two-day, 36-hole scramble will also receive the Willie Park Trophy, in memory of the father and son Open champions Willie Park Sr. and Willie Park Jr.

“Annika is a real trailblazer of the game of golf and we are excited to welcome her to make history at this year’s event,” said Alastair Johnston, the event’s executive chairman. “The tournament regularly hosts some of the most iconic male champions and it is fitting that we add perhaps the most successful female golfer of all time to our field.”

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Overnight leader Scott Henry finished joint third in the MENA Tour’s Ras Al Khaimah Open, won by Swede Niclas Weiland in a play-off at Tower Links.

At one point, it looked like a romp for Henry, who was five-under par through 10 holes and leading by four shots at that point.

But, just like the second round, the 32-year-old Scot faltered on the back nine and three bogeys coming in killed his chances.

At one point, it looked like a romp for Henry, who was five-under par through 10 holes and leading by four shots at that point.

But, just like the second round, the 32-year-old Scot faltered on the back nine and three bogeys coming in killed his chances.

Henry’s compatriot, Craig Ross, finished in a tie for fifth after he signed off with a 67.

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Conor O’Neil sits joint second, three shots behind Swede Fredrik Lundberg, after an opening five-under 67 in the PGA EuroPro Tour Championship at Desert Springs in Spain.

O’Neil, who needs to win the season-ending event to finish in the top five in the money-list and secure a Challenge Tour card for next season, signed for six birdies at the Almeria venue.

Calum Fyfe was next best among the eight Scots in the field with a 68, two better than Daniel Young, who sits eighth in the card battle.

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Gemma Dryburgh stumbled late on in the fifth round as the LPGA Q-Series resumed at Pinehurst after a two-day break.

The Scot was two-under for the day on the No 9 course at the North Carolina venue before signing off with a double-bogey 5 at the ninth.

That left her having to settle for a 74 and a five-over total, dropping her from joint-51st at the start of the day into a tie for 59th in the marathon card battle.

China’s Muni He leads by six shots clear of the field on 16-under after carding seven birdies, including four in a row on the back nine, in a sensational 65.

Celine Herbin from France is the leading European in joint-eighth while England’s Meghan MacLaren jumped above Dryburgh with a 70 to sit at the top British player in joint-54th.