The World Cup of Golf has been played 57 times in 25 countries and carries an $8 million purse this year – the winning team will split $2.56 million.
The Kingston Heath Golf Club in Melbourne is staging the tournament for the second time and will play host to two-man teams from 28 countries. Some cynics claim the tournament is little more than an exercise in exposure for the US and European PGA Tours outside their normal parameters and there is certainly some justification in that theory. It’s a tournament that tends to be shunned by the world’s top players, many of whom are enjoying a holiday – Australia were successful when it was last staged in 2013 but their best player, Jason Day, isn’t playing this year though his winning partner of three years ago is. Adam Scott will play alongside Marc Leishman for the hosts this year and Australia are general 5/1 favourites.
World Cup Of Golf History
The World Cup Of Golf has undergone several format changes since its inception in 1953. The first tournament was staged in Montreal, Canada and was won by Argentina.
This will be the fifth time that the tournament has been staged in Melbourne and Australia have won it five times, as have South Africa. But they are way behind the United States, who have won it 24 times in total. England, Ireland and Wales have been successful twice – Scotland once. The legendary Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus are the most successful players in the tournament’s history, having each lifted the trophy six times.
Kingston Heath is one of Australia’s best golf courses and is consistently ranked among the top 50 courses in the world. The course is renowned for its superbly crafted greens and bunkers with the par-3 15th hole being one of the classic short holes in world golf. However, if you’re in Europe and want to watch all the action you are going to have to stay up late, or get up extremely early.
Rickie Fowler and Jimmy Walker represent the United States this year and are a best 9/1 with Betfred to come out on top.
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Fowler and Walker certainly have the talent to claim a 25th for the USA but they are not the most reliable pair ever to don the Stars And Stripes. Japan – Hideki Matsuyama and Ryo Ishikawa – are a general 8/1 and respected, though conditions at Kingston Heath are likely to be very quick and that might not suit. Of the home nations, Scotland look a decent each-way bet at a best 50/1 with Russell Knox choosing best friend Duncan Stewart as his partner but SWEDEN (a widely available 12/1) can win the World Cup Of Golf for the first time since 2008.
Nobody has been more impressive this year than Alex Noren, who has risen to ninth in the world rankings. He is one of only three players in the world’s top 10 playing in Melbourne and can act as inspiration for partner David Lingmerth in what is not the strongest field ever assembled for this event.
World Cup Of Golf Current Best Odds
Australia (5/1), Japan (8/1), USA (9/1), Spain (10/1), Sweden (12/1), England and Ireland (14/1), Belgium (16/1), Denmark and South Korea (22/1), Thailand (25/1), Italy (28/1), New Zealand (33/1), France and South Africa (40/1), Scotland (50/1), Canada (66/1), China (100/1), Wales (125/1), Germany (130/1), Austria and Netherlands (150/1)
