THE Oxfordshire will do battle with six rivals to host the Solheim Cup in 2011 and two of them are from the UK.

Courses from Scotland and Northern Ireland as well as Italy, Norway, Republic of Ireland and Spain have all tendered bids, it was announced this week.

The Oxfordshire, near Thame, are England's official bidder, but must now impress the Ladies European Tour before a final decision is made at the end of the year.

Neither The Oxfordshire nor owners Leaderboard are strangers to hosting top-class competition.

The former staged the Benson & Hedges International Open for four years during the 1990s, while the latter currently host the Ladies' English Open at Chart Hills in Kent.

De Vere Cameron House in Scotland is the only other bidder to reveal its hand.

*THE Oxfordshire are also taking part in Sport Relief's Nearest the Pin Challenge.

Between now and June 30, players can pay £1 to nominate a par three on the course.

The player who comes closest to the pin will win a place in the national final at Ballards Gore, Essex.

The overall champion will tee up a lesson and 18 holes with Colin Montgomerie.

Martin Harris, the general manager at The Oxfordshire, said: "We hear a lot of talk in the clubhouse about the many wonderful shots and near misses that members and guests play and how close they put it to the flag on occasions.

"Now we can see just how close people get."