World Cup of Golf: Ranking the 28 Teams
Twenty-eight pairs from 28 countries head to Melbourne for the ISPS Handa World Cup of Golf
It’s hard to think of a better time for team golf than here and now. We were treated to a spirited Ryder Cup in the fall and recently the PGA Tour announced it’s converting the Zurich Classic into a pairs event starting in 2017.
This week it’s the ISPS Handa World Cup of Golf’s turn in the spotlight. In its last running in 2013, an individual component was added to the traditional two-man team competition featuring one squad from several countries.
This year it’s back to being exclusively a team event featuring 28 teams from 28 countries vying to split the $2.56 million winners’ check. Each country’s first team member was selected in order of Official World Golf Ranking, pending the player’s decision to compete. From there, that player received the right to choose his playing partner to represent their country.
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No one from the current OWGR top five will be present at this year’s host venue, Kingston Heath Golf Club in Melbourne, Australia. That’s not to say there won’t be some talent on display for those of us craving more golf late in the season.
Three from the top 10 are in the field, including No. 6 Hideki Matsuyama (Japan), No. 7 Adam Scott (Australia) and No. 9 Alex Noren (Sweden). The American and English teams should also be familiar going back to the Ryder Cup and PGA Championship. Rickie Fowler tapped Jimmy Walker for USA and Chris Wood went with Andy Sullivan for England’s “B” team, so to speak, after Danny Willett pulled out of the event and stranded teammate, Lee Westwood.
Without further ado, let’s rank each of the 28 teams going into this week’s event that will feature foursomes on Thursday and Saturday and four-ball on Friday and Sunday.