August 27, 2016: Tournament officials today announced a final field whose diverse accomplishments, backgrounds and native countries will make up the 28 two-man teams which will descend on Melbourne, Australia, to represent their countries in the World Cup of Golf at Kingston Heath Golf Club from November 23-27.
“The field this year for the World Cup of Golf is a perfect example of why this tournament is consistently one of the most unique and exciting event’s on golf’s calendar,” said Executive Director Matt Kamienski. “The 56 players competing in the World Cup of Golf include both household names, who represent the very best in the game, as well as top emerging competitors from countries across the globe.”
The field includes:
· Six major championship winners
· 27 Olympians
· 18 past participants of either The Ryder Cup or Presidents Cup
· 2 sets of brothers
· 4 players in the top 10 and 17 of the top 50 in the Official World Golf Ranking
· Players from countries representing six different continents
· 4 past World Cup champions
· A player who shot 58 on the Web.Com Tour this year
· Players with a combined 317 victories from around the globe
· Seven Asian nations
Partners officially chosen as 56 players form 28 two-man teams from across the globe
Seven Asian nations will now make up the elite 28-team field in Melbourne, with India’s S.S.P. Chawrasia getting a late spot following the withdrawal of Paraguay’s Fabrizio Zanotti. Chawrasia, a three-time Asian Tour champion, has picked Chikkarangappa S. as his partner.
Three-time Asian Tour number one Thongchai Jaidee of Thailand picked Kiradech Aphibarnrat while Filipino Miguel Tabuena chose three-time Asian Tour winner Angelo Que, who will make his fourth World Cup of Golf appearance. Byeonghun An of Korea will partner K.T. Kim while China’s Wu Ashun picked Li Haotong as his teammate. Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama opted for Ryo Ishikawa.
Kiradech, who finished tied ninth with Prayad Marksaeng at Royal Melbourne in 2013, said: “I am happy that Thongchai has asked me to be his partner for the World Cup of Golf. Playing with him, our confidence will be high and I think we can have a good chance to hold the trophy. Thongchai is in good form this season and I’m playing quite well over the last few months as well including at the recent Olympics (where he finished tied fifth).
“I look forward to playing in Melbourne again. I finished really well in the individual category in 2013 (tied fifth) which was my best year as a professional and I have been striking the ball well this year. I love the way the golf courses are set up in Melbourne, and it’s always very nice weather there too. I’ve heard that Kingston Heath is a fantastic golf course and is one of the best in the world. I’m looking forward to getting back there.
Que, who finished tied 10th in the 2008 World Cup, said: “It’s an honour to have the opportunity to play in my fourth World Cup of Golf and I must thank Miguel for picking me as his partner. I’m looking forward to returning to Melbourne as it’s a fantastic destination to play golf and also to enjoy what is a vibrant city.
“My best finish in the World Cup team format was tied 10th in 2008 and I’m confident Miguel and I can strike up a good partnership and fly the Philippine flag high in Australia. Miguel has developed into a top player so I’m looking forward to playing and partnering with him for our country.”
China’s Li, who was victorious on the European Tour this season, said: “I am really excited to be playing the World Cup of Golf for the first time. It is extra exciting right now because Ashun and I just represented China at the Olympics in Brazil and now we get to play together in Australia. Both of us have had important wins this year on the European Tour so we want to keep doing well and keep inspiring young players in China during an important year for golf.
“I have played with many Australians in China and around the world, and enjoy their sense of humour, so I am looking forward to meeting many more in Melbourne at the World Cup. I think Australia will be the favourites, with Jason Day and Adam Scott and the home crowd, but Ashun and I will do our best for China.”
No country has enjoyed more success in the World Cup of Golf than the United States, with 24 titles in the history of the event. Rickie Fowler and Jimmy Walker, who will each be playing in the World Cup of Golf for the first time, will face a challenging field if they are to make it 25 victories for the United States. Defending champions Jason Day and Adam Scott will again represent the tournament’s host country as they try to win Australia’s sixth World Cup of Golf.
Of the 28 teams in the field, 14 have at least one World Cup of Golf victory.
United States 24
Australia 5
South Africa 5
Spain 4
Canada 3
England 2
Germany 2
Ireland 2
Japan 2
Sweden 2
Wales 2
Chinese Taipei 1
Italy 1
Scotland 1
The 2016 tournament will return to a 72-hole, stroke play, two-man team event format. The first and third days of competition will be the foursomes (alternate shot) format and the second and final days are fourball (best ball) play.
Tickets and hospitality packages starting at $30 are now available by visiting the World Cup of Golf website at www.WorldCupofGolf.com.
About the World Cup of Golf: The 2016 World Cup of Golf will mark the fifth time in the tournament’s history that it will be played in Australia and the first at any course other than Royal Melbourne.
Previous World Cup of Golf events in Australia:
Year Winning Country/Players
1959 Australia (Peter Thomson/Kel Nagle)
1972 Chinese Taipei (Hsieh Min-nan/Lu Liang-huan)
1988 United States (Ben Crenshaw/Mark McCumber)
2013 Australia (Jason Day/Adam Scott)
Asian Tour Release
