U.S. team takes World Cup
In another signal that the United States is serious about reclaiming its former golf dominance, Americans Matt Kuchar and Gary Woodland rallied to win the Omega Mission Hills World Cup in Hainan, China.
The pair’s victory was America’s 24th overall in the event, but its first since Tiger Woods and David Duval captured the trophy in 2000. It also followed the U.S. defeat of the International squad in the Presidents Cup one week prior.
Starting the final round two shots behind the formidable Irish team of Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell, Kuchar and Woodland ran home six birdies in the alternate-shot format, closing with a 67 and 24-under-par total. That was two better than England and Germany, while Australia, the Netherlands and Scotland matched Ireland’s -21 figure to tie fourth.
The steady Kuchar and explosive Woodland proved quite a pairing. They seized a two-stroke lead at Sunday’s midway point before giving a shot back at the par-3 11th. Birdies on 12 and 13 rebuilt the advantage, which they maintained the remainder of the round.
“We really clicked,” said Woodland, one of golf’s longest drivers. “It’s fantastic to win for the U.S.”
England’s Ian Poulter and Justin Rose turned in the final round’s best performance, a 9-under 63. Meanwhile, McIlroy and McDowell struggled to an even-par 72, derailed by four bogeys and a handful of uncharacteristically sloppy shots.
This week, an all-star cast will assemble in Thousand Oaks, California, for the Chevron World Challenge, hosted by Tiger Woods.
Categories
Recent Tweets
- No public Twitter messages.
Tags
Adam Scott Alvaro Quiros Anthony Kim Ben Crane Bill Haas Brandt Snedeker Bubba Watson Charl Schwartzel Dustin Johnson Ernie Els European Tour FedEx Cup Felipe Aguilar Garth Mulroy Geoff Ogilvy George Coetzee Graeme McDowell Hunter Mahan Ian Poulter Jamie Donaldson Jason Day Joost Luiten Justin Rose Keegan Bradley Lee Westwood Luke Donald Martin Kaymer Matteo Manassero Matt Kuchar Miguel Angel Jimenez Nick Watney Peter Hanson PGA Tour Phil Mickelson Presidents Cup Rafael Cabrera-Bello Retief Goosen Robert Allenby Robert Rock Rory McIlroy Sergio Garcia Simon Dyson Thomas Bjorn Tiger Woods Webb Simpson