USA Win Word Cup as Ireland Fade

The United States ended their 11-year wait for a 24th Omega Mission Hills World Cup victory as Matt Kuchar and Gary Woodland landed the title on Hainan Island.

The most successful nation in the history of the competition won their first World Cup since Tiger Woods and David Duval in 2000, as tournament debutants Kuchar and Woodland combined for a five under par 67 in the final round foursomes.

That left them 24 under par and gave them a two shot win over Germany and England – for whom Ian Poulter and Justin Rose mounted an incredible late charge with a 63, the best foursomes score of the week by three shots.

Overnight leaders Ireland had problems from the moment they three-putted the first hole for bogey – World Number Two Rory McIlroy missing from two feet.

America were having no such problems, Kuchar sinking a 15 footer at the first as they started with back-to-back birdies.

A two-putt birdie at the long sixth and another 15 footer from Kuchar at the next gave the USA an advantage and although they came under pressure from Ireland and Germany, they were not to be denied.

They dropped a shot at the par three 11th after Kuchar’s tee shot found sand, but responded with consecutive birdies – the impressive Woodland holing a 50 footer at the 13th – and parred their way in for victory.

Martin Kaymer and Alex Cejka looked the most likely challengers on the back nine after a Kaymer approach to five feet at the second and a chip-in birdie from Cejka at the ninth saw them turn only one behind.

But despite being bogey free for their final round, and Cejka sinking a 20 foot putt at the 12th, they struggled to make the required birdies over the closing stretch – eventually signing for a 69.

Ireland looked to be back on track after their poor start when McIlroy stuck his approach to two feet at the third and sunk a ten foot birdie putt two holes later.

But he and Graeme McDowell three-putted again at the sixth, and although McIlroy chipped in at the tenth, when the US Open Champion missed from inside three feet for a second time at the 12th their challenge effectively ended.

A level par 72 saw them finish level with Australia, the Netherlands and Scotland on 21 under par.

Rose and Poulter were the stars of the day – but an eight shot overnight deficit proved too much, the highlights of their round being Poulter’s 12 foot eagle putt on the 16th and Rose’s 20 foot birdie at the last.

Australia Lead Omega World Cup

Australia took a two-shot lead after firing a superb 11-under 61 on the opening day at the Omega Mission Hills World Cup in China.

Richard Green and Brendon Jones combined for seven birdies and two eagles in perfect scoring conditions to lead the way ahead of Northern Ireland pair Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell and Scots Stephen Gallacher and Martin Laird.

Green and Jones started brightly enough with four birdies on the front nine but it was their back-nine effort that took them to the top as they picked up seven shots in six holes from the 12th.

"We combined very well. Brendan obviously started very well and built the momentum," said Green.

"This helped me progress with my game towards the back nine. I was able to contribute a little bit, and get the eagle on the par-four 16th. That really helped us at that stage."

The duo hope their performance will register back home.

"Golf in Australia at the moment is all about the Australian PGA Championship at Coolum and do they even know the World Cup is on here in China?" said Jones.

"It would be nice to get a line in the newspapers to say we are leading the World Cup and hopefully go two places better than finishing third three year back.

"We just got blown away that last day in 2008 with Sweden shooting nine under so if we get that opportunity again this week then we will learn from our mistakes."

US Open champion McIlroy wasn't at his very best but he holed a good par putt at the last as he and McDowell carded seven birdies and an eagle in their bogey-free nine-under 63.

McDowell said: "It would have been really disappointing not to have parred the last so it was good to see my partner knock that one in for a four.

"We gelled really well today and Rory's a pretty decent little partner, as well."

The Scots ensured a tie for second place after the opening fourballs thanks to Laird holing out from a bunker at their final hole.

The Netherlands and United States are a shot further back in tied fifth on eight-under.

England's high-profile pairing of Justin Rose and Ian Poulter are in touch after an opening 66 but they needed four straight birdies from the 13th to reach respectability.

Poulter tweeted later: "-6 today team England or you could say @JustinRose99 I didn't hole a thing today. Looking forward to Foursomes tomorrow."

The fancied South African duo of Charl Schwartzel and Louis Oosthuizen were one of the disappointments of the day after only carding a four-under 68 but the two major winners feel they left plenty of shots out there after a poor day on the greens.

"I'm guessing in the foursomes, if we keep hitting the ball like we are, we can easily shoot seven-under-par," said Schwartzel. "We can go low in the foursomes. We're both hitting it well; we're both rolling the ball well - so if we can just find some lines, we can cause some damage."

Oosthuizen agreed. "We play almost every practice round together, and know each other's games, and we're pretty similar distance-wise and all those things, so we're looking forward to tomorrow."

First round leaderboard (after opening fourballs)

-11 Australia

-9 Scotland

-9 Ireland

-8 United States

-8 Netherlands

-7 Denmark

-7 Spain

-7 Colombia

-7 Germany

Major Winners on World Cup Mission

The partnership between Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell partnership will be put to the test once again this week at the OMEGA Mission Hills World Cup in China.

Two years ago the pair were denied glory by the Italian brothers Francesco and Edoardo Molinari.

This time around, the Irish duo have been installed as favourites to go one better and win the title.

McIlroy, who at number two in the world is the highest ranked player in the field said: “Graeme and I really enjoyed the experience at Mission Hills two years ago, when we came close to winning the title.

“We only missed out by a shot, and are looking forward to forming the Irish team again and trying to go one better this time.”

The 22-year-old reigning US Open champion hasn’t played competitively since finishing fourth at the WGC-HSBC Champions event in Shanghai two weeks ago.

In contrast, McDowell will be making his fifth competitive start in a row at the high class Mission Hills Resort, Hainan Island.

McDowell added: “I was delighted when Rory selected me to be his partner again.

“There is nothing quite like representing Europe in The Ryder Cup or Ireland in the World Cup – It’s a real buzz.

“We worked well as a partnership two years ago, and we can’t wait to try to claim the title.”

The 32-year-old finished a lowly 38th in his latest outing at the Dunlop Phoenix Tournament in Japan on Sunday, an event reduced to 54-holes by heavy rain.

“Disappointing week on the greens this week,” McDowell tweeted.

“Struggled with my speed. Ball striking and short game are right there.

“Bring on the World Cup.”

Rory and Graeme are close friends off the course and following McIlroy’s much publicised switch from ISM, they are now part of the same management team at Horizon.

On-course the two Ulster golfers have developed into a highly effective partnership.

In 2009 they played together at the Seve Trophy winning three points out of four as GB&I crushed Europe.

And then last year they came together again in the cauldron of the Ryder Cup to win one and half points out of three.

They are a proven combination but they will have to see off some other high quality pairings if they are to become the first Irish team to win since Padraig Harrington and Paul McGinley in 1997.

The Molinari brothers are back to defend their title and they will be joined in the 28 team field by Masters champion Charl Schwartzel and 2010 Open Champion Louis Oosthuizen.

The United States will be represented by Matt Kuchar and his partner Gary Woodland.

Both men recognise the honour and privilege of representing the Stars and Stripes.

Kuchar, who was part of the Presidents Cup side that beat the International team in Australia on Sunday said:. “It’s exciting to think about the World Cup and representing the United States.

Woodland said: “Matt is a very consistent player, always in play.

“Hopefully it pans out pretty well.

“I have a little length to add to it, so hopefully I can drive it out there.

“He can knock it close and we both get our putters going and we can make a lot of birdies.”

“That is what we are looking for and hopefully we can play well and get the job done.

“Our form at the minute is quite good and hopefullyb that will continue in this event.”

England’s Ian Poulter has named his close friend Justin Rose to fly the flag for England.

This comes four years after they finished fourth on their only appearance as a double act at the original Mission Hills Resort in Shenzen.