The next time you pull out your Swedish dictionary, look up the translations for congenial, classy, controversial, comely and confident. Next to each word is a simple description - written in bold italic - See Helen Alfredsson!

Alfie - coming back to Europe

Since joining golf’s professional ranks in 1989 after a successful fashion modelling career, this charming 5’ 10” beacon in the fog of golfing metronomes captured the hearts and minds of golf fans across the globe with her willowy swing, catwalk looks and forthright personality. And wherever she goes, an air of grace, charm and unparalleled humour is never too far away.

Which is great news for fans of the Evian Ladies European Tour as next season, ‘Alfie’ is making a comeback to the continent after becoming tired of the monotonous lifestyle on the money-go-round LPGA Tour.

“I love Europe, it has so much more value and I want to play with people who like to have fun as well as play golf,” said Alfredsson, who also used to fly with the Blue Angels, the all girl Red Devils.

“After so many years away, I’ve reached the point where I would just like to play where I enjoy playing. The money is nice in America, but it’s the same every week, same streets, same food – You can almost memorise the menu at every restaurant you go to out there!

“It’s a little calmer atmosphere in Europe as opposed to America. Here, you can have a nice conversation with your playing partners when you are playing golf - and I miss having a nice glass of wine afterwards!

“It’s not like that in America as players go from event to event in their private jets! I’ve always been aware that I have missed the atmosphere in Europe, but now I am more aware of it.

"I've always been a social animal"

“I’ve been over there a long time and I’ve seen people change their whole personality. I’ve always been a social animal and maybe I could have won more events if I had taken a really serious attitude. But in my career, I have won so many more friends because of my golf and taking time out with them. I know when I am done I will have lifelong friends because of it.”

By Alfredsson’s high standards, her 2002 season in America was frustrating. Two top tens on the LPGA from 18 starts and $159,592 in the bank is not a bad year by most players’ standards, but for the gregarious Swede, it became a grind.

On the European circuit, her record has been exemplary: Ten wins and 50 top tens with her 13-year career money topping €1.2million, earning her an honorary life membership of the Tour.

This season in Europe, Alfie posted three top tens, including a vital fourth place finish defending her title at the WPGA Championship of Europe at Royal Porthcawl. That performance resulted in a Solheim Cup wild card pick from Dale Reid.

Heading for Solheim number eight?

“Next season I am heading down to the Australian events on the Tour and I’m already looking forward to it, Solheim Cup points too, so it’s important for me to be there,” added Alfredsson, who will be gunning for her eighth straight Solheim Cup appearance.

“They are both terrific events mainly because the European Tour now has a great bunch of people running it. Each time I come back, it has more soul and passion.

“Everyone cares and it’s never too much to make time for anyone. Everyone makes me happy and nothing is ever a problem. Over in America they try to be parents to you. It’s so patronising and everything is always somebody else’s responsibility!

“The effort over here is that we want it to grow much bigger and on the LPGA, jeez, it’s like a boarding school atmosphere. Sometimes I don’t understand what they are trying to do, like having compulsory summits! It’s just so politically correct - what’s all that about?

“I am going to play as much as I can in Europe next year. I’ve enjoyed coming back each time this season and it feels like coming home, sometimes it almost feels like being on vacation! It won’t be every week, but I am going to play all the events I want to play in.

“I want to be around the younger girls too, like Paula (Marti) and Suzann (Pettersen), they are our future and to be able to help them is a thrill for me too. When I was starting out, I remember practising on the range with Nancy Lopez and all I wanted to do was get an autograph! These girls are different though and they aren’t scared of anyone on the course – you could see that at The Solheim Cup.”

Alfie and mini-Alfie Pettersen!

At Interlachen, Alfredsson and England’s Laura Davies, both of them making their seventh appearance in the event, took on the role of “Mothers” with six rookies in the side. And despite being a controversial pick for the second successive Solheim Cup, Alfie paid no heed at being labelled in the media as ‘washed up’ as she was referred to in 2000 – (at Loch Lomond, she settled the debate winning two points out of three!). This year, Captain Reid chose experience instead of the solidity of Scots Catriona Matthew and Janice Moodie.

“I’ve always been controversial,” she bellowed. “It’s not that I’m mean, I have an honest opinion of things and I don’t just say things to get in the media.

“This year, I wanted to do it for Dale when she picked me. Don’t get me wrong, Catriona Matthew is a great player but she doesn’t know any of our younger players on Tour and Dale needed someone to be mum to the rookies at the Solheim Cup. I know the young players very well and I'm sure it helped.

"I'm always controversial"

“I felt for Dale, she was gutsy all year long and some of the things written in the press about her were just unforgivable (a Scottish writer inferred that because Matthew was heterosexual and didn’t drink or smoke, she didn’t get a pick). When they can’t get her on her golf, they have to get personal. I can’t believe he can call himself an objective reporter!”

“Personally, I just don’t give rats ass about what’s written in the media, but Dale was truly hurt by his comments and it was a sad way that we lost this year, all of us wanted to make him choke on his words.

“I felt so frustrated, but I am proud of our European team and that’s the environment I want to be in again. It was the best team spirit I have witnessed in any Solheim Cup and next year, I want to be on that team again.”

“It would round off my career beautifully, especially as it’s in Sweden and it might be my last chance as there are so many hungry young girls coming through now. Whatever happens, I will always have my heart in it one way or another. That event has given me so much and I will never forget any of them, especially the wins.”

Preparations on Alfie’s European and Solheim Cup assault have already begun with the complete redecoration of her home in Gothenburg – but it is her fiancé Kent Nilsson, an NHL Ice Hockey coach, is the one tasked with paintbrushes, rollers and wallpaper.

“I’m just the cheerleader on the decorating, that’s my role,” she laughed.

“Kent has been so great with me. He noticed how I like it in Europe and he said to me that I should come and play here more often.

“He loves it too and because his season is winter and mine summer, it suits both of us globetrotters perfectly. He’s been with me most of the season and the best thing about it is that he gets on great with everyone and he really feels part of it.

“European Women’s golf is now full of good looking, competitive girls who like to have fun as well. Isn’t that what life is all about? Who wouldn’t want to be in that group?”

Helen Alfredsson knows all about that group – she started it.

REPRODUCED WITH KIND PERMISSION FROM LADY GOLFER MAGAZINE - OUT THIS WEEK IN THE UK To purchase your copy, email editorial@sportspub.co.uk