MENTION women's golf and Annika Sorenstam's name naturally comes to mind.

The Swede superstar has been the numero uno golfer in the women's game until the emergence of Lorena Ochoa in recent years.

Since then, the two golfing divas have been locked in a battle for supremacy in women's golf.

But with Sorenstam taking a break at the end of the season, the question is who can step into her shoes and challenge Ochoa for the world No. 1 ranking?

Taiwanese rising star Tseng Ya-ni would be seen as a possible heiress apparent after the 19-year-old rose to a career No. 2 two weeks ago.

It has been a watershed season for the LPGA Tour rookie, who won her first Major title at the McDonald's LPGA Championship in June, but only time will tell if it was a flash in the pan.

Then there's world No. 4 Suzann Pettersen. The big-hitting Norwegian has the build and game to pose a realistic threat to Ochoa, but Pettersen has had a mixed season with nine top-10 finishes but no wins.

That is considered mediocre by her high standards, compared to last season when she won five tournaments.

That leaves us with world No. 5 Paula Creamer.

The 22-year-old American, nicknamed Pink Panther due to her fondness for the colour pink, has been touted as a future No. 1 ever since she won the Sybase Classic in her rookie season in 2005 to become the youngest winner in LPGA history.

'To be No. 1 has been one of my goals since I was a rookie on tour, so I would definitely like that,' Creamer said in a conference call organised by the Lexus Cup organisers yesterday.

'I think I am close, it's just a matter of a few more wins and I am willing to do what it takes to get there.'

After a winless 2006, Creamer returned to winning ways with two titles last year.

She got off to an early winning start when she won the Fields Open in Hawaii in February, before adding three more titles at the SemGroup Championship, the Jamie Farr Owens Corning Classic and the Samsung World Championship.

'It's been a pretty good year for me. I've had four wins and I have taken a lot of top-10s,' said Creamer, who was the 2005 LPGA Rookie of the Year.

'My goal was five wins and I've got a couple more tournaments to play, so we'll see what happens with that.'

Star-studded Lexus Cup

Creamer will be among seven of the world's top 10 women golfers who will make the trip to Singapore for the Lexus Cup at the end of this month.

She did not play in the defeat to Team Asia in Perth last year, but she is confident that Team International, under the leadership of Sorenstam, can wrest the title from Team Asia, led by South Korea's Pak Se Ri.

The Lexus Cup will be played on Singapore Island Country Club's Bukit Course from 28 to 30 Nov.

'I think we have the mental attitude and we have always had that. It is just a matter of being ready and being focused to play,' said Creamer.

'The more we play together, we can become united. Our team this year is phenomenal and will be very strong.

'I feel that it will be a real challenge and with Annika as our captain, I think it is going to be a very exciting event this year.'