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US ends 11-year World Cup drought
Source: Agencies |
November 28, 2011, Monday
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Matt Kuchar and Gary Woodland ended the United States' 11-year drought in the World Cup by shooting a 5-under 67 yesterday to win by two strokes.
The American pair fired six birdies in the alternate-shot final round at Mission Hills Blackstone course in Haikou, south China's Hainan Province, to finish on 24-under 264 overall, notching the 24th US win in the history of the tournament.
English pair Ian Poulter and Justin Rose had the final day's best round with a 63 to tie for second at 22-under with Germany's Martin Kaymer and Alex Cejka (69).
Ireland's Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell led by two strokes going into the final round but could only manage an even-par 72 to finish joint fourth with Australia, the Netherlands and Scotland.
The American victory was the first since Tiger Woods and David Duval claimed the title 11 years ago. The event was annual up to 2009, and this year's tournament was the first in the new biennial format.
"We really clicked. It's fantastic to win for the US," said Woodland.
The US duo built a two-point lead over Germany from the halfway stage and after a rare slip with a bogey at the par-3 11th, the Americans responded with birdies on the next two holes and then pars the rest of the way to cruise to victory and a first prize of US$1.2 million.
"Undoubtedly the shots on the 12th and 13th were key. It was a great moment and to shoot a par when you expected a bogey," said Kuchar.
England seemed well out of contention heading into the final day eight shots off the lead, but soared into contention. However, they needed more than one of the leading teams to falter. Instead it was only Ireland which came back to the field.
World No. 2 McIlroy was well below his best, fluffing a series of shots, including a putt on the 18th which would have given Ireland a share of the runners-up check.
The rot set in for the tournament favorites when they suffered a penalty stroke on the 6th and the Irish duo recorded four bogeys.
They shared fourth with Australians Richard Green and Brendan Jones (69), plus Scotland's Stephen Gallacher and Martin Laird (66) and the Dutch duo Robert-Jan Derksen and Joost Luiten (68).
Like Ireland, South Africa also had a pair of major winners who faltered on the final day, with Charl Schwartzel and Louis Oosthuizen only able to record a 74 to quickly drop out of contention.
Defending champion Italy, represented by Edoardo and Francesco Molinari, also had a final-round 74 to finish 17th, ten shots off the pace.
At Coolum, Greg Chalmers claimed his second tournament Down Under in two weeks by winning the Australian PGA Championship yesterday, making par in a three-man playoff while his rivals found trouble off the tee.
The left-handed Chalmers, who closed with a 5-under 67, added the PGA to the Australian Open title he won in Sydney two weeks ago. He will have a chance to complete the so-called Australian Triple Crown when he competes in the Australian Masters in Melbourne beginning on December 15.
Marcus Fraser got into the playoff with a 50-foot birdie putt on the 18th in regulation to complete a final round 69, while Robert Allenby had a 68 as the playoff Australian trio finished with 12-under totals of 276 on the Hyatt Regency resort course.
Fraser strayed into a pond then a bunker in the playoff while Allenby drove into the rough and after recovering well, missed a 10-feet par putt.
Fellow Australian Adam Scott shot 68 and compatriot Aaron Baddeley, who led before two late bogeys, had a 72 to finish at 10-under, two shots out of the playoff and tied for fourth.
The American pair fired six birdies in the alternate-shot final round at Mission Hills Blackstone course in Haikou, south China's Hainan Province, to finish on 24-under 264 overall, notching the 24th US win in the history of the tournament.
English pair Ian Poulter and Justin Rose had the final day's best round with a 63 to tie for second at 22-under with Germany's Martin Kaymer and Alex Cejka (69).
Ireland's Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell led by two strokes going into the final round but could only manage an even-par 72 to finish joint fourth with Australia, the Netherlands and Scotland.
The American victory was the first since Tiger Woods and David Duval claimed the title 11 years ago. The event was annual up to 2009, and this year's tournament was the first in the new biennial format.
"We really clicked. It's fantastic to win for the US," said Woodland.
The US duo built a two-point lead over Germany from the halfway stage and after a rare slip with a bogey at the par-3 11th, the Americans responded with birdies on the next two holes and then pars the rest of the way to cruise to victory and a first prize of US$1.2 million.
"Undoubtedly the shots on the 12th and 13th were key. It was a great moment and to shoot a par when you expected a bogey," said Kuchar.
England seemed well out of contention heading into the final day eight shots off the lead, but soared into contention. However, they needed more than one of the leading teams to falter. Instead it was only Ireland which came back to the field.
World No. 2 McIlroy was well below his best, fluffing a series of shots, including a putt on the 18th which would have given Ireland a share of the runners-up check.
The rot set in for the tournament favorites when they suffered a penalty stroke on the 6th and the Irish duo recorded four bogeys.
They shared fourth with Australians Richard Green and Brendan Jones (69), plus Scotland's Stephen Gallacher and Martin Laird (66) and the Dutch duo Robert-Jan Derksen and Joost Luiten (68).
Like Ireland, South Africa also had a pair of major winners who faltered on the final day, with Charl Schwartzel and Louis Oosthuizen only able to record a 74 to quickly drop out of contention.
Defending champion Italy, represented by Edoardo and Francesco Molinari, also had a final-round 74 to finish 17th, ten shots off the pace.
At Coolum, Greg Chalmers claimed his second tournament Down Under in two weeks by winning the Australian PGA Championship yesterday, making par in a three-man playoff while his rivals found trouble off the tee.
The left-handed Chalmers, who closed with a 5-under 67, added the PGA to the Australian Open title he won in Sydney two weeks ago. He will have a chance to complete the so-called Australian Triple Crown when he competes in the Australian Masters in Melbourne beginning on December 15.
Marcus Fraser got into the playoff with a 50-foot birdie putt on the 18th in regulation to complete a final round 69, while Robert Allenby had a 68 as the playoff Australian trio finished with 12-under totals of 276 on the Hyatt Regency resort course.
Fraser strayed into a pond then a bunker in the playoff while Allenby drove into the rough and after recovering well, missed a 10-feet par putt.
Fellow Australian Adam Scott shot 68 and compatriot Aaron Baddeley, who led before two late bogeys, had a 72 to finish at 10-under, two shots out of the playoff and tied for fourth.
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