Nov22 Mission hills world cup

Pasi Purhonen and Mikko Ilonen of Finland combined for a 9-under 63 to take the early lead Thursday in the first round of the World Cup of golf at Mission Hills Golf Club in southern China.

Purhonen, who coaches the Finnish amateur team and last played on the European tour in 2004, carded five birdies and an eagle. Ilonen had three birdies but dropped a shot.

Several teams expected to contend went out late in the 28-team field, which included Retief Goosen and Trevor Immelman of South Africa, Englishmen Justin Rose and Ian Poulter, Americans Heath Slocum and Boo Weekley, and Bradley Dredge and Stephen Dodd of Wales.

Defending champion Marcel Siem and Bernhard Langer of Germany chose not to defend their title. Germany was represented by Alex Cejka and Martin Kaymer.

The Canadian team of Mike Weir of Bright’s Grove, Ont. and Wes Heffernan of Calgary were tied for 14th, three shots behind the Finns.

Purhonen got Finland off to a good start with an eagle on No. 3, lashing a 227-yard three-wood to the green and then dropping a 15-foot putt.

“I knew if I gave him (Purhonen) a chance he would do everything he could to be ready,” said Ilonen, ranked No. 63 on the world list. The top-ranked player on each team gets to choose his partner.

“I knew he would be in shape for the tournament, and that’s what it turned out to be,” Ilonen added.

The French pair of Raphael Jacquelin and Gregory Havret were a shot behind at 64 on the 7,251-yard Olazabal Course – one of 12 at the Mission Hills complex. Paraguay’s Carlos Franco and Fabrizio Zanotti were three back after a 66.

Though it’s a stroke-play tournament, the format follows match-play rules. Thursday’s first round is fourballs (better ball). The unusual event alternates daily between fourballs and foursomes (alternate-shot).

Although the event dates from 1953 – Hogan, Snead, Palmer and Nicklas have all won it – it’s had trouble getting traction. After being part of the World Golf Championships (WGC), it was cut loose after last year and begins a 12-year run at Mission Hills as an event co-sanctioned by all the major golf tours, including the United States and Europe.

Only two players from the top-20 ranking are playing, both Englishmen – Rose (8) and Poulter (20). The top-ranked American, Weekly (43), has 13 other Americans listed ahead of him in the world rankings.

U.S. PGA commissioner Tim Finchem said by moving to a permanent venue, he hoped the top American players might be attracted to play – perhaps including No. 1 Tiger Woods and No. 2 Phil Mickelson.

Even prize money of US$1.6 million to the winning team was not enough to lure players like Woods.

“The competitors are not members of a labour union; they are not under contract to play,” Finchem said. “They can go and play as they choose.”

The last high-profile pair to win the event was Retief Goosen and Ernie Els in 2001. Woods won in 1999 with Mark O’Meara and a year later with David Duval.