World Cup of Golf: Power ranking all 28 teams at Royal Melbourne

The World Cup of Golf puts a final stamp on an outstanding year in the golf world. We’re breaking down each one of the 28 teams ready to tee it up for their country this week at Royal Melbourne.

Ole, ole, ole, ole! Ole! Ole!

Oh, this isn’t that World Cup. There’s no soccer, no pool play or fans chanting at the top of their lungs. Instead, this week brings us the ISPS Handa Melbourne World Cup of Golf, which features teams of two golfers instead of teams of 11 out there on the pitch.

The tournament includes 28 teams of two players. The top-ranked player from each country can pick his partner (as long as the second player is ranked in the top 500 in the world).

Teams were finalized in September.

It’s a 72-hole stroke play event with days one and three reserved for best ball and days two and four for alternate shot. The order was reversed in 2016.

The tournament began in 1953 and rotates host sites. Metropolitan Golf Club in Melbourne, Australia, is this year’s venue.

Denmark’s Thorbjorn Olesen and Soren Kjeldsen won the last event in 2016.

Metro is 7,170 yards and a par 72. It’s over a century old and regarded as one of the best courses in the Sandbelt, if not in the world.

Firm and fast conditions are the norm, but cool temperatures and rain in the forecast this week could change that.

The greens are huge but roll fast and blend right into the numerous greenside bunkers. There are 103 bunkers on the course, putting sand play at a premium this week.

Metro has hosted several Australian Opens and other native events as well as the 2001 WGC-Match Play.

Without much for competitive course history to lean on, I’m making my rankings this week with recent form in mind. I’m also looking for pairs that carry some chemistry, perhaps from past team events.

Let’s get to it.