Top golfers vie World Cup title this weekend

Ireland, Australia tied for first place after 2nd round of $7.5m tournament


HAIKOU, China— All eyes in the golf world will now turn to China this weekend, where some of the world’s top players are competing for the 56th World Cup at the Mission Hills Resort on Hainan Island.

The brand new par-72 Blackstone course in Haikou, more than 6,500 meters in length and completed in 2010, is hosting the global tournament for the first time on the island dubbed the “Chinese Hawaii.”

Competition favorites Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell of Ireland pulled in another impressive performance on Friday to tie for first place with Australia.

The past and present U.S. Open champions McDowell and McIlroy, who started two shorts behind the Aussie duo on the second day of the competition, carded six birdies to finish four under 68 and a total of 131.

Aussie duo Brendan Jones and Richard Green, who carded a stunning 61 on the first day, also had a strong start with three birdies and an eagle front nine, but had a little hiccup later on to finish two under 70. Scotland’s Martin Laird and Stephen Gallacher finished third with 132. 

Meanwhile, Korean pair Kim Hyung-sung and Park Sung-joon, who tied 10th with 66 on the first day, dropped to 19th place after finishing the second day with 71.

Korea’s best finish at the tournament was a tie for third in 2002. Despite Friday’s performance, the Korean pair, who play in the Japanese Tour, said they can finish strong this year.

“I’m having a little bit of a hard time, but my partner is doing very well. So we’re going to be all right or even better tomorrow,” Kim said.

“The course is a little bit longer than other courses we played but the condition is really good, we’re going to be all right,” Park added.

The World Cup, which first started in 1953 as the Canada Cup, is a biennial tournament where a two-man team represents their country over 72 holes of stroke play.

The format has teams play alternatively four-ball, or best ball, in the first and third round and foursomes in the second and fourth round with the team hitting the fewest strokes winning the title.

There have been some remarkable winning teams, like Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer -- the pair won four times in the 1960s. Tiger Woods also won the title with Mark O’Meara and also David Duval.

This year, 28 nations, including South Korea, are here vying for the title and a total of $7.5 million in prize money. The wining duo will take $1.2 million each on Sunday.

China is fast becoming one of the major destinations for international golfers, and the evidence can be seen at this gigantic golf resort.

Located about 20 minutes from Haikou International Airport, Mission Hills Group transformed a landscape of ancient volcanic terrain into a high-end 10-course golf resort.

A 518-room five star hotel, spa villas and shopping arcade, are on site each incorporating native lava rock and centuries old trees to create an exotic atmosphere.

World No.2 golfer McIlroy, playing in China for the fourth time within two months, said that he enjoys coming to play here.

“All the golf courses in China are all modern designs, very similar so I enjoy coming here to play,” he said.

The third round of four-ball competition tees off at 8:45 a.m., Korean time on Saturday and the final foursome round is scheduled to start 10 a.m. Sunday. 

By Oh Kyu-wook (596story@heraldcorp.com)