But the day ended with her smiling as Team International took a 4-2 lead over Team Asia in the Ryder Cup-style event at the Tanah Merah Country Club in Singapore.

'I haven't had as much sleep as I would like,' the world number one said. 'I have been thinking about pairings, what we're doing, what we are wearing. I was telling the players make sure you wear the right thing tomorrow and then I show up with the wrong colour. Luckily we were able to go back to the hotel and get the right shirt.

'It's a big puzzle to put together. I have been listening to all the players. Some want to play with people they know, some want to play early, some late ... who will complement who? There are a lot of factors.'

Sorenstam surprised everyone by naming Creamer as her partner, only three weeks after the American disputed Sorenstam's version of where she should take a drop from a hazard.

In an apparent attempt to stop a lingering feud, Sorenstam partnered Creamer in yesterday's foursomes against Jeong Jang and Meena Lee, of South Korea. The international duo trailed by two early in the match, but got it together on the back to win two and one.

'We had fun out there,' said Creamer, who finished second to the Swede on the LPGA Tour money list. 'We were a little shaky in the beginning, but settled down and I started making some putts. I think we complemented each other. I'm more aggressive that her.'

Sorenstam said: 'I had a great time with Paula. She was excellent from tee to green. We had a lot of fun.'

The partnership was short-lived, however, as Sorenstam will team up with England's Karen Stupples in today's fourballs, while Creamer will partner Natalie Gilbus in a glamour US pairing.

'Karen is a neighbour of mine in Orlando and we haven't had the chance to play together,' Sorenstam said. 'It's ironic that we come all the way to Singapore to play together for the first time.'

Team Asia captain Grace Park, who struggled with her game yesterday, looked at the pairings for today's fourballs and felt much better. 'I'm seeing the pairings and I'm loving it,' she said. 'The Song sisters [Aree and Naree] wanted to play the foursomes together but didn't want to play the fourballs. Then they win and say, 'We can handle anyone'. I said: 'You're my number ones, go for it'.

'I like the split,' Park said of the pairings, which take on a whole new complexion from yesterday's foursomes. 'I'm hoping that one player in each group will step up and be a bit more aggressive. I will let them play their own game.'

Team Asia's only triumphs yesterday came from Han Hee-won (South Korea) and Candie Kung (Taiwan), who blazed to a 5&4 victory over Carin Koch (Sweden) and Janice Moodie (Scotland), and the Song twins (South Korea) dished out a similar punishment to Natalie Gulbis and Jill McGill, of the US.

'I'm a little disappointed,' said Park, who partnered Filipina Jennifer Rosales, and lost to Sophie Gustafson (Sweden) and Suzann Pettersen (Norway) three and two.

RESULTS

(Asia names first): Han Hee-won (South Korea) and Candie Kung (Taiwan) bt Carin Koch (Sweden) and Janice Moodie (Scotland) 5 & 4; Grace Park (South Korea) and Jennifer Rosales (Philippines) lost to Sophie Gustafson (Sweden) and Suzann Pettersen (Norway) 3 & 2; Aree and Naree Song (South Korea) bt Natalie Gulbis and Jill McGill (US) 5 & 4; Jeong Jang and Meena Lee (South Korea) lost to Annika Sorenstam (Sweden) and Paula Creamer (US) 2 & 1; Birdie Kim and Gloria Park (South Korea) lost to Marisa Baena (Colombia) and Erica Blasberg (US) 2 & 1; Riko Higashio and Namika Omata (Japan) lost to Catriona Matthew (Scotland) and Karen Stupples (England) 5 & 4.

Today's fourballs: Han Hee-won and Birdie Kim v Carin Koch and Marisa Baena; Aree and Naree Song v Sophie Gustafson and Suzann Pettersen, Candie Kung and Jeong Jang v Paula Creamer and Natalie Gulbis, Grace Park and Riko Higashio v Janice Moodie and Catriona Matthew, Jennifer Rosales and Namika Omata v Erica Blasberg and Jill McGill, Meena Lee and Gloria Park v Annika Sorenstam and Karen Stupples.