South Florida Sun-Sentinel.com
PGA Tour
PGA & EUROPEAN - Omega Mission Hills World Cup Preview
From The Sports Network

DATES: Thursday, November 26th through Sunday, November 29th
SITE: Mission Hills Golf Club (Olazabal Course), Shenzhen, China
COURSE ARCHITECT: Jose Maria Olazabal (2005)
PAR: 72
YARDAGE: 7,251
Hole-By-Hole:1 - Par 4 423 Yds10 - Par 4 404 Yds
2 - Par 3 175 Yds11 - Par 5 568 Yds
3 - Par 5 548 Yds12 - Par 4 457 Yds
4 - Par 4 405 Yds13 - Par 3 241 Yds
5 - Par 3 176 Yds14 - Par 4 401 Yds
6 - Par 4 456 Yds15 - Par 5 555 Yds
7 - Par 5 566 Yds16 - Par 4 432 Yds
8 - Par 3 214 Yds17 - Par 3 197 Yds
9 - Par 5 573 Yds18 - Par 4 460 Yds
--------------------------
36 3,536 Yds36 3,715 Yds
 
Annual:  55th
Television:  Golf Channel - Wednesday/Saturday -- 10:30 p.m.-3:30 a.m. (et),
  - Thursday/Friday -- 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. (et)-
  replay,
  - Saturday/Sunday -- 9:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. (et) -
  replay
Defending Champion:  Sweden
Runner-Up:  Spain
Tournament Record:  536 (United States, 1994)
Tournament Four-Day Record:  252 (Japan - S.Maruyama/T.Izawa, 2002)
Tournament Record (Individual):  263 (Tiger Woods, 1999)
Lowest Fourball Score:  57 (Argentina, New Zealand, 2000; USA, 2002)
Lowest Foursome Score:  61 (Argentina, 2005)
36-Hole Record:  124 (Argentina, New Zealand, 2000)
54-Hole Record:  186 (USA, 2000; Japan, 2002)
Daily Format:  Thursday - Four-ball Format,
  Friday - Foursomes Format,
  Saturday - Four-ball Format,
  Sunday - Foursomes Format
Total Purse:  $5,500,000
Shares:  1st Place - $1,700,000 (per team); 2nd - $900,000; 3rd - $550,000;
  4th Place - $308,000; 5th Place - $230,000
 
2008 Finish
PlayerScorePlayerScore
Sweden261England274
Spain264South Africa274
Australia270Thailand274
Japan270United States275
Germany272Three teams at276
 
Past World Cup Team Winners
YearWinner (Score) -- Runners-Up
2008Sweden (Robert Karlsson/Henrik Stenson) -- Spain
2007*Scotland (Colin Montgomerie/Marc Warren) -- United States
2006*Germany (Bernhard Langer/Marcel Siem) -- Scotland
2005#Wales (Stephen Dodd/Bradley Dredge) -- England, Sweden
2004England (Luke Donald/Paul Casey) -- Spain
2003South Africa (Rory Sabbatini/Trevor Immelman) -- England
2002Japan (Shigeki Maruyama/Toshi Izawa) -- United States
2001*South Africa (Ernie Els/Retief Goosen) -- Denmark, New Zealand, USA
2000United States (Tiger Woods/David Duval) - Argentina
1999United States (Tiger Woods/Mark O'Meara) -- Spain
1998England (David Carter/Nick Faldo) -- Italy
1997Ireland (Paul McGinley/Padraig Harrington) -- Scotland
1996South Africa (Ernie Els/Wayne Westner) -- United States
1995United States (Fred Couples/Davis Love III) -- Australia
1994United States (Fred Couples/Davis Love III)
1993United States (Fred Couples/Davis Love III) -- Zimbabwe
1992United States (Fred Couples/Davis Love III)
1991Sweden (Anders Forsbrand/Per-Ulrik Johansson)
1990Germany (Bernhard Langer/Torsten Giedeon)
1989Australia (Wayne Grady/Peter Fowler)
1988United States (Ben Crenshaw/Mark McCumber)
1987*Wales (Ian Woosnam/David Llewellyn)
1986Not Held
1985Canada (Dave Barr/Dan Halldorson)
1984Spain (Jose Canizares/Jose Rivero)
1983United States (John Cook/Rex Caldwell)
1982Spain (Jose Canizares/Jose Rivero)
1981Not Held
1980Canada (Jim Nelford/Dan Halldorson)
1979United States (Hale Irwin/John Mahaffey)
1978United States (John Mahaffey/Andy North)
1977Spain (Seve Ballesteros/Antonio Garrido)
1976Spain (Seve Ballesteros/Manuel Pinero)
1975United States (Johnny Miller/Lou Graham)
1974South Africa (Bobby Cole/Dale Hayes)
1973United States (Johnny Miller/Jack Nicklaus)
1972Taiwan (Hsieh Min Nan/Lu Liang Huan)
1971United States (Jack Nicklaus/Lee Trevino)
1970Australia (David Graham/Bruce Devlin)
1969United States (Orville Moody/Lee Trevino)
1968Canada (Al Balding/George Knudson)
1967United States (Jack Nicklaus/Arnold Palmer)
1966United States (Jack Nicklaus/Arnold Palmer)
1965South Africa (Gary Player/Harold Henning)
1964United States (Jack Nicklaus/Arnold Palmer)
1963United States (Jack Nicklaus/Arnold Palmer)
1962United States (Arnold Palmer/Sam Snead)
1961United States (Jimmy Demaret/Sam Snead)
1960United States (Arnold Palmer/Sam Snead)
1959Australia (Del Nagle/Peter Thompson)
1958Ireland (Harry Bradshaw/Christy O'Connor)
1957Japan (Torakichi Nakamura/Koichi Ono)
1956United States (Ben Hogan/Sam Snead)
1955United States (Ed Furgol/Chick Harbert)
1954Australia (Kel Nagle/Peter Thompson)
1953Argentina (Antonio Cerda/Roberto de Vicenzo)

* - Won in Playoff

# - Weather Shortened

 
Past World Cup Individual Winners
YearWinner (Score) -- Runners-Up
2008No Individual Competition - at Mission Hills Golf Club, China
2007No Individual Competition - at Mission Hills Golf Club, China
2006No Individual Competition - at Sandy Lane Resort, St. James, Barbados
2005No Individual Competition - at Victoria Clube, Vilamoura, Portugal
2004No Individual Competition - at Real Club de Golf, Seville, Spain
2003No Individual Competition - at Kiawah Island, South Carolina
2002No Individual Competition - at Vista Vallarta, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
2001No Individual Competition - at Taiheiyo Club, Gotemba City, Japan
2000No Individual Competition - at Buenos Aires Golf Club, Argentina
1999Tiger Woods (United States) - at Mines Resort, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
1998Scott Verplank (United States) - at Gulf Harbour, New Zealand
1997Colin Montgomerie (Scotland) - at Kiawah Island, South Carolina
1996Ernie Els (South Africa) - at Erinvale Golf Club, South Africa
1995*Davis Love III (United States) - at TPC Mission Hills, China
1994Fred Couples (United States) - at Dorado Beach, Puerto Rico
1993Bernhard Langer (Germany) - at Lake Nona, Florida
1992Brett Ogle (Australia) - at La Moraleja, Spain
1991Ian Woosnam (Wales) - Le Querce, Rome
1990Payne Stewart (United States) - at Grand Cypress, Florida
1989Peter Fowler (Australia) - at Las Brisas, Spain
1988Ben Crenshaw (United States) - at Royal Melbourne, Australia
1987Ian Woosnam (Wales) - at Kapalua, Hawaii
1986Not Held
1985Howard Clark (England) - at La Quinta, California
1984Jose Canizares (Spain) - at Olgiata, Rome
1983Dave Barr (Canada) - at Pondok Indah, Jakarta
1982Manuel Pinero (Spain) - at Piere Marques, Acapulco
1981Not Held
1980Sandy Lyle (Scotland) - at El Rimcon, Bogota
1979Hale Irwin (United States) - at Glyfada, Greece
1978John Mahaffey (United States) - at Princeville, Hawaii
1977Gary Player (South Africa) - at Wack Wack, Manila
1976Ernesto Acosta (Mexico) - at Palm Springs, California
1975Johnny Miller (United States) - at Navatanee, Bangkok
1974Bobby Cole (South Africa) - at Caravas, Venezuela
1973Johnny Miller (United States) - at Neuva Andalucia, Spain
1972Hsieh Min-Nan (China) - at Royal Melbourne, Australia
1971Jack Nicklaus (United States) - at Palm Beach, Florida
1970Roberto de Vicenzo (Argentina) - at Jockey Club, Buenos Aires
1969Lee Trevino (United States) - at Singapore Island
1968Al Balding (Canada) - at Olgiata, Rome
1967Arnold Palmer (United States) - at Club de Golf, Mexico City
1966George Knudson (Canada) - at Yomiuri, Tokyo
1965Gary Player (South Africa) - at Club de Campo, Madrid
1964Jack Nicklaus (United States) - at Kasnapali, Hawaii
1963Jack Nicklaus (United States) - at St. Nom-la-Bretsche, Paris
1962Roberto de Vicenzo (Argentina) - at Jockey Club, Buenos Aires
1961Sam Snead (United States) - at Dorado Beach, Puerto Rico
1960Flory van Donck (Belgium) - at Portmarnock, Dublin
1959Stan Leonard (Canada) - at Royal Melbourne, Australia
1958Angel Miguel (Spain) - at Club de Golf, Mexico City
1957Torakichi Nakamura (Japan) - at Kasumigaseki, Tokyo
1956Ben Hogan (United States) - at Wentworth Club, Surrey, England
1955Ed Furgol (United States) - at Columbia, Washington
1954Stan Leonard (Canada) - at Laval-sur-Lac, Montreal
1953Antonio Cerda (Argentina) - at Beaconsfield, Montreal

* - Won in Playoff

Note:Previously called Canada Cup (1953-66), Philip Morris World Cup
(1989, 91-92), Kraft General Foods (1990), World Cup of Golf (1993-99), WGC-EMC World Cup (2000-02), WGC-World Cup (2003-06).

Top Players in the Field (World Ranking)
ArgentinaRafa Echenique (292)/Tano Goya (197)
AustraliaRobert Allenby (29)/Stuart Appleby (145)
BrazilRafael Barcellos (NR)/Ronaldo Francisco (NR)
CanadaStuart Anderson (557)/Graham DeLaet (208)
ChileHugo Leon (696)/Martin Ureta (1223)
ChinaWen-Chong Liang (86)/Lian-Wei Zheng (612)
Chinese TaipeiWen-Tang Lin (93)/Wei-Chih Lu (374)
DenmarkSoren Hansen (44)/Soren Kjeldsen (33)
EnglandRoss Fisher (20)/Ian Poulter (13)
FranceChristian Cevaer (176)/Thomas Levet (98)
GermanyAlex Cejka (212)/Martin Kaymer (12)
IndiaJyoti Randhawa (207)/Jeev Milkha Singh (57)
IrelandGraeme McDowell (51)/Rory McIlroy (10)
ItalyEdoardo Molinari (63)/Francesco Molinari (37)
JapanRyuji Imada (146)/Hiroyuki Fujita (65)
KoreaCharlie Wi (134)/Y.E. Yang (30)
New ZealandDanny Lee (140)/David Smail (99)
PakistanMuhammad Munir (1132)/Muhammad Shabbir (NR)
PhilippinesMarciano Pucay (542)/Angelo Que (427)
ScotlandDavid Drysdale (162)/Alastair Forsyth (252)
SingaporeLam Chih Bing (265)/Mardan Mamat (381)
South AfricaRory Sabbatini (66)/Richard Sterne (107)
SpainSergio Garcia (8)/Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano (60)
SwedenRobert Karlsson (25)/Henrik Stenson (7)
ThailandThongchai Jaidee (59)/Prayad Marksaeng (97)
United StatesJohn Merrick (139)/Nick Watney (31)
VenezuelaAlfredo Adrian (1145)/Jhonattan Vegas (578)
WalesStephen Dodd (242)/Jamie Donaldson (163)

Sports Network Selections

Pick to Win - Ireland
Darkhorse - Thailand
 
Last Week's Pick to Win (Rory McIlroy) - Finished 3rd
Last Week's Darkhorse (Ernie Els) - Finished tied for 50th
 
NOTES:
This tournament consists of two-man teams representing 28 different countries, featuring the top-18 available players from the Official World Golf Ranking as of June 22, 2009 who are native-born citizens of 18 different countries. The 18 players select a player of their choosing from the same country who is ranked within the top-100 on the Official World Golf Ranking. Where there is no other player from that country ranked in the top 100, the exempt player's partner was deemed to be the next highest-ranked available player from that country outside of the top 100. Nine countries from the World Qualifiers completed the field of 28 countries, which includes the host nation, China.

Thirteen players who are ranked in the top-50 of the latest world rankings are competing: Henrik Stenson (7), Sergio Garcia (8), Rory McIlroy (10), Martin Kaymer (12), Ian Poulter (13), Ross Fisher (20), Robert Karlsson (25), Robert Allenby (29), Y.E. Yang (30), Nick Watney (31), Soren Kjeldsen (33), Francesco Molinari (37) and Soren Hansen (44). The most-formidable duos are the Swedish duo of Henrik Stenson and Robert Karlsson, who are the defending champions, and the English pair of Ian Poulter and Ross Fisher. The United States team will be represented by Watney and John Merrick (139).

Last year, Sweden's Stenson and Karlsson teamed to fire a nine-under 63 in the final round to run away with the title at the World Cup. Sweden completed the event at 27-under-par 261 for the first win for the country since 1991. That year, Anders Forsbrand and Per-Ulrik Johansson were victorious by a single stroke over the team from Wales. The Swedes posted the 63 in foursomes or alternate-shot format. It was easily the low round of the day. Spain's Miguel Angel Jimenez and Pablo Larrazabal took second place at 24-under-par 264, three shots back.

The Swedes played steady golf throughout the final round. They opened with a birdie on the first and came back with birdies on three and five at Mission Hills Golf Club. The duo combined to get up and down for birdie on the seventh. That moved them to 22-under and into a share of the lead. After Spain also birdied the seventh, the Swedes responded with a birdie on nine to create another tie at minus-23. Around the turn, the Swedes turned it on. They birdied the 11th, then Stenson rolled in a six-footer for birdie on 12 to push them to 25-under. Stenson chipped in for birdie on 14 and they followed with another birdie on 15 to climb to 27-under, where they were four strokes clear of the Spanish team. The Swedes carded routine pars on the final three holes to secure the title.

In 2007, the Scottish pair of Colin Montgomerie and Marc Warren only needed a par on the third playoff hole to defeat the American duo of Heath Slocum and Boo Weekley and win this event. Montgomerie and Warren teamed for a six-under 66 in the final round, while the United States posted a five-under 67. The two countries finished regulation at 25-under-par 263 at the Olazabal Course at Mission Hills Golf Club in China. The victory in 2007 was Scotland's first- ever in the history of this event.

In 2006, the German pair of Bernhard Langer and Marcel Siem only needed a par on the first playoff hole to defeat the Scottish duo of Montgomerie and Warren to win this event. Langer and Siem teamed for a five-under 66 in the final round, while Scotland posted a two-under-par 69. The two countries finished regulation at 16-under-par 268 at the Country Club Course at Sandy Lane Resort in Barbados. The victory was Germany's first win at this event since 1990. Langer successfully paired with Torsten Giedeon that year to visit the winner's circle. Langer was also the individual champion of the World Cup in 1993.

In 2005, due to heavy rain and wind on Sunday, the final round of this event was cancelled and Wales was declared the winner. Bradley Dredge and Stephen Dodd combined for a 27-under-par-189 total to earn the second win for Wales at this event. Former Masters winner Ian Woosnam and David Llewellyn won the title for Wales in a playoff in 1987.

Angel Cabrera and Ricardo Gonzalez of Argentina fired an 11-under 61 in the second round back in 2005's alternate-shot format, which was the lowest foursomes total in tournament history. The previous mark of eight-under 64 was shot by Paul Casey and Luke Donald when they won in 2004. Cabrera and Gonzalez finished in a tie for sixth. The four-shot win by Trevor Immelman and Rory Sabbatini of South Africa over England in 2003 was the largest in tournament history.

This tournament has been a forerunner in the development of the game on a global basis since its birth in 1953. The event has a distinguished list of champions, including Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, Ben Hogan, Tiger Woods, Gary Player, Seve Ballesteros, Langer, Ernie Els, Montgomerie, Sam Snead, Lee Trevino, Johnny Miller, Hale Irwin, Payne Stewart, Nick Faldo and Roberto De Vicenzo.

Next week, the PGA Tour moves to California for the Chevron World Challenge, where Vijay Singh captured the 2008 title. The PGA Tour will also be in Florida for the PGA Tour Qualifying Tournament, where Harrison Frazar won the 2008 event. In two weeks, the European Tour travels to South Africa for the first tournament on the 2010 schedule, the Alfred Dunhill Championship, where Richard Sterne captured last year's event.

11/24 15:21:03 ET

As of November 24, 2009, at 03:21 PM ET