Ryder Cup heroes chase World Cup glory
Half of Europe’s Ryder Cup team will be competing in golf’s World Cup in Barbados in December – but there are a huge number of big name absentees again.
The six highest-ranked Americans, led by Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson, have all turned down the event, as have Australia’s top eight, South Africa’s top three and Spanish stars Sergio Garcia and Jose Maria Olazabal.
Defending champions Wales, again represented by Stephen Dodd and Bradley Dredge, will once more face Irish pair Padraig Harrington and Paul McGinley, as well as tournament favourites England, represented by Luke Donald and David Howell.
Colin Montgomerie is playing for Scotland for the first time since 1999 and will be partnering European Tour rookie Marc Warren.
Stewart Cink and JJ Henry, respectively ranked 23rd and 60th in the world, fly the flag for the United States, while Australian pair John Senden and Mark Hensby are ranked 89th and 101st and with no Ernie Els, Retief Goosen or Trevor Immelman the South African duo are Tim Clark and Rory Sabbatini.
Spain’s representatives are Miguel Angel Jimenez and Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano, while Henrik Stenson will be hoping for a Ryder and World Cup double when he partners Carl Pettersson.
Stephen Ames, who plays under the Canadian flag in this week’s American Express world championship at The Grove near Watford, reverts to being Trinidadian for the World Cup, with his brother Robert switching from being his caddie to his partner.
The event takes place between December 7 and 10, with the winners each taking home around €600,000.
It was announced yesterday the 2007 and 2008 editions will be at Mission Hills in China.
Dodd and Dredge won in Portugal last November, while the 2004 winners were Donald and Paul Casey in Spain.
Ireland (Padraig Harrington, Paul McGinley)
Argentina (Angel Cabrera, Andres Romero)
Australia (Mark Hensby, John Senden)
Barbados (Roger Beale, James Johnson)
Canada (Mike Weir, Jim Rutledge)
Colombia (Camilo Villegas, Manuel Merizalde)
Denmark (Thomas Bjorn, Soren Hansen)
England (Luke Donald, David Howell)
France (Raphael Jacquelin, Jean Van de Velde)
Germany (Bernhard Langer, Marcel Siem)
Japan (Toru Taniguchi, partner to be announced)
Scotland (Colin Montgomerie, Marc Warren)
South Africa (Tim Clark, Rory Sabbatini)
South Korea (SK Ho, Charlie Wi)
Spain (Miguel Angel Jimenez, Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano)
Sweden (Henrik Stenson, Carl Pettersson)
Trinidad and Tobago (Stephen Ames, Robert Ames)
United States (Stewart Cink, JJ Henry)
Wales (Stephen Dodd, Bradley Dredge)
Qualifiers: Singapore (Mardan Mamat, Lam Chih-bing), Italy (Francesco Molinari, Emanuele Canonica), plus three more yet to be decided
