Sorenstam starts the end today

Dubai: Annika Sorenstam will tee off her bid to defend her Dubai Ladies Masters crown alongside Gwladys Nocera, the woman tipped to be the main obstacle between her and a record third successive victory.

The tournament starts at Emirates Golf Club today and Nocera's French compatriot Anne-Lise Caudal completes the triumvirate that playing together.

Britons Laura Davies and Lisa Hall as well as up-and-coming Korean Amy Yang are in the next group, which tees off from the 10th.

Sorenstam's fellow-Swede Sophie Gustafson has been paired with German Martina Eberl and Spain's Paula Marti.

England's Melissa Reid, set to seal the Rookie of the Year title, tees off alongside Catriona Matthew of Scotland and Linda Wessberg of Sweden.

World No3 Sorenstam, who is lacking in practice as a result of a self-confessed "weird" run up to the tournament, says she will bank on past experiences to see her through.

"The one thing I'm going to rely on is my memories from the previous years and the knowledge I have of the golf course and my caddie of course," she said.

"Dubai has been a wonderful place to come to and I've enjoyed a lot of success here. It's a little bittersweet to make this my last professional tournament.

"I'm here to enjoy it and hopefully I can play some good golf. But I really want to enjoy every bit of it and absorb everything so that I can leave with some great memories."

Of her pairing with the retiring stat, Nocera said: "Playing with Annika at her last tournament is such an honour. I think it's some kind of reward for the year.

"I want to do my best and if I beat her, I beat her. I don't look at defeating others.

"I just want to play my best. It's hard because so many things can happen."

Davies, meanwhile, seems intent on ruining Sorenstam's farewell celebrations.

She said: "I'm playing well and I'm going to try and win it.

Ruin the party

"I'm going to try and ruin Annika's party. She is trying to win three on the trot so it will be hard for everyone to beat her.

"She obviously likes the course and is playing well, but you've got to set your sights high."

Fellow-Briton Reid may be about to take to the Rookie of the Year title but says she does not intend to stop there.

She said: "I want to go bigger than any British golfer has gone before. I want to be bigger than Laura Davies and bigger than Annika."

Meanwhile, Sweden's Lotta Wahlin pulled out of the tournament due to a knee injury.

But she hopes to stick around to see the former World No1 step up for one last hurrah.

"This tournament is special in the sense that I am one of the lucky 120 players to see Annika making her last competitive appearance."