Wednesday, November 21, 2007
The Odd Couple

Here’s a scenario for you… A group of young guns come through and look like taking the sport by storm. Big things are expected as a golden generation of English players come to the fore. The early optimism seems misplaced as early potential fails to turn into success. The sporting media dismiss their chances of domination and all the hacks write ‘told you so’ articles about how the now not so young bucks were never really ‘world class’ anyway. Sound familiar? No we’re not talking about the footy but the bunch of English golfers who since their amateur days have been touted for big things. Since then Paul Casey, Luke Donald, Justin Rose and Ian Poulter have played in Ryder Cups, had top ten Major finishes and tour wins on both sides of the pond. But finally now it seems they are taking the next step.

Which is why, with two of the world's most in-form golfers flying the flag of St George, England are justifiable favourites to win the WGC World Cup at Mission Hills, China, this weekend.


"...in case they get a hole in one. Geddit, two pairs of trousers in case they.. ah forget it"

Justin Rose is Europe's No 1 after ending the 2007 season in style by taking the Order of Merit title with success at the Volvo Masters in Valderrama. It was Rose's second tournament victory of the year and serves as a crucial step in a rocky career that now appears destined to encounter a Major win.

In holding off Padraig Harrington to take the Harry Vardon Trophy, Rose has proved he has the mental fortitude to perform at the highest level and the 27-year-old will relish the competition in China, not least because he will be partnered by his close friend, Ian Poulter, who is also firing on all cylinders.

Poulter captured his first trophy of the year at the Phoenix Dunlop tournament in Japan and is looking forward to teaming up with Rose, with whom he used to room on the Challenge Tour. "We have been very good mates for eight years now," said Poulter, who came fifth when partnering Paul Casey in 2005. "We are neighbours in Lake Nona and play quite a few practice rounds together over there. It's going to be brilliant at Mission Hills and more than anything it will be great fun."

Is this the beginning of a remarkable twelve months for English golf? Well, a World Cup win would be a great way to start. This time, like usual, England expects.

The World Cup of Golf Line-up:
Argentina: Andres Romero & Ricardo Gonzalez
Australia: Nick O'Hern & Nathan Green
Austria: Markus Brier & Claude Grenier
Canada: Mike Weir & Wes Heffernan
China: Liang Wen-Chong & Zhang Lian-Wei
Colombia: Gustavo Mendoza & Jorge Benedetti
Denmark: Anders Hansen & Soren Hansen
England: Justin Rose & Ian Poulter
Finland: Mikko Ilonen & Pasi Purhonen
France: Raphael Jacquelin & Gregory Havret
Germany: Martin Kaymer & Alex Cejka
Holland: Robert-Jan Derksen & Maarten Lafeber
India: Jyoti Randhawa & Gaurev Ghei
Ireland: Michael Hoey & Gareth Maybin
Italy: Edoardo Molinari & Francesco Molinari
Japan: Hideto Tanihara & Tetsuji Hiratsuka
Korea: Lee Seung-Ho & Lee Sung
New Zealand: Richard Lee & Stephen Scahill
Paraguay: Carlos Franco & Fabrizio Zanotti
Philippines: Tony Lascuna & Gerald Rosales
Puerto Rico: Wilfredo Morales & Miguel Suarez
Scotland: Colin Montgomerie & Marc Warren
South Africa: Retief Goosen & Trevor Immelman
Spain: Jose Manuel Lara & Miguel Angel Jimenez
Sweden: Robert Karlsson & Peter Hanson
Thailand: Thongchai Jaidee & Prayad Marksaeng
United States: Heath Slocum & Boo Weekley
Wales: Stephen Dodd & Bradley Dredge

For more on the World Cup of Golf click here...







11/21/2007 12:32:50 PM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)  #  Comments [1] 


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