Australia chase back-to-back World Cup titles
MELBOURNE: Australia go in search of back-to-back World Cup wins in Melbourne this week at an event tinged with controversy over team picks by England and Scotland.
The last time it was held in 2013 the World Cup was primarily an individual tournament, with a 60strong field featuring two players from each country participating in 72 holes of stroke play.
World number one Jason Day won the individual tit le for Australia, while Day and Adam Scott clinched the team portion for the best aggregate score.
This year it returns to 28 twoman teams playing 72 holes of stroke play. The first and third days will be the foursomes and the second and final days the fourball play.
Day is a no-show due to a back injury, leaving Scott to defend the title with Marc Leishman at Melbourne’s Kingston Heath Golf Club.
“I’m extremely excited about playing in the World Cup of Golf with Adam,” said Leishman of his unexpected call-up.
The event has enticed many of the top 50 with US 8 million in prize money, including number seven Scott and two of the sport’s hottest golfers — Japan’s sixth- ranked Hideki Matsuyama and Sweden’s number nine Alex Noren.
Matsuyama has won three of his last four events while Noren has been a winner four times this season.
The United States are expected to be in the hunt on Sunday, with Ryder Cup hero Rickie Fowler and reigning US PGA Championship winner Jimmy Walker.
The bui l d - up ha s se en controversy with England’s Chris Wood and Scotland’s Russell Knox both drawing criticism for their choice of playing partners. — AFP