USA confident for World Cup of Golf at Mission Hills

The United States are confident they can mount a strong challenge for the World Cup of Golf at Mission Hills this week and end a nine-year drought since they last took the trophy.

Tiger Woods and David Duval notched the 23rd victory for the United States in 2000 in a tournament that has featured stellar US golf names including Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Sam Snead and Ben Hogan since it started in 1953.

“I think we are both playing well this year and we are looking to come and play well and compete for the championship here. I think our games match up nicely for this format,” said John Merrick, ranked 139 in the world, referring to himself and team-mate Nick Watney.

He said talking to Fred Couples, who won four World Cups in a row with Davis Love III from 1992-95, made him realise what he had to match up to.

World number 31 Watney, who has won twice on the US PGA Tour, including this year’s Buick Invitational, said the barren years for the United States showed the strength of the world game.

“We are here to try to end that drought,” he said. “I don’t know if not winning since 2000 is any indication of golf in the United States. I just think it’s an indication that everyone else is really good as well.”

Twenty-eight nations will battle for the title at Mission Hills in southern China in the $5.5 million strokeplay team event, featuring the likes of Sergio Garcia and Asia’s first Major winner, Yang Yong-Eun.

The Omega Mission Hills World Golf Championship is a 72-hole event with each team comprising two players.