September 19, 2013. Graeme McDowell is eager to make wining effort at the 57 th ISPS HANDA World Cup of Golf being held at Royal Melbourne Golf Club from November 21-24. Northern Ireland’s star golfer wants to end his country’s 16-year victory draught at Melbourne this year.
World No. 11 will be making his third appearance at the World Cup this time.
“I’ve won three times this year so it has to go down as a great season, and it’d be great to round it off by playing well at the World Cup of Golf. I’ve played the World Cup a few times in the past, and always really enjoyed it. The format has changed slightly this year, but it still retains that team element,” said 34-year-old McDowell.
McDowell came agonizingly close to winning the World Cup of Golf in 2009, when he and playing partner Rory McIlroy finished joint runners-up with Sweden behind Italy’s victorious Molinari brothers, Edoardo and Francesco.
Like McDowell, current Asian Tour number one Kiradech Aphibarnrat of Thailand too, is eyeing for victory along with compatriot Thongchai Jaidee in the World Cup of Golf.
“I’ve learnt a lot since my World Cup debut and I have gone on to win the Maybank Malaysia Open this year. It was a very important win for me as it showed that I can win against the big name players in a co-sanctioned event. I’m better prepared now and looking ahead to Melbourne, it’s important to play well as we’re playing for our country and every putt is very important,” said Kiradech.
“It will not only impact you but also your partner. I’m confident that Thongchai and I can put up a better showing this time round. I hang out a lot with him in Europe for the past six months and have been practicing a lot together. We know each other really well no,” he added.
It will be interesting watch as many bigwigs like American Matt Kuchar and Italian Matteo Manassero join them in tussle over the World Cup of Golf.
