World Cup Pairings for Mission Hills

The 18 exempt nations that will contest the 2008 Omega Mission Hills World Cup have been revealed with Scotland, represented by Alastair Forysth and Colin Montgomerie, set to defend the title. Scotland will seek to win back-to-back titles at Mission Hills Golf Club, China, from November 27-30 with Montgomerie looking to retain the trophy he and Marc Warren claimed in 2007 after defeating the USA in a play-off. Scotland have a strong record in the World Cup, having narrowly missed out on the title in 2006 when they lost to Germany in a play-off but they will face some stiff competition this year on their return to the Omega Mission Hills World Cup in China. Montgomerie said: “I am really looking forward to being part of the team to defend Scotland’s World Cup title. Alastair will be a great partner and I really hope we can enjoy the success that Marc Warren and I enjoyed last year. I thoroughly enjoy matchplay so will be looking forward to the week very much.” Sweden is the highest ranked nation in the field, represented by World Number Seven Henrik Stenson, who will be partnered by World Number 17 Robert Karlsson, winner of last week’s Mercedes-Benz Championship. England, with Ian Poulter the seeded player partnering Ross Fisher, will also be among the favourites. Spain will look to claim a first victory since 1984, led by Miguel Angel Jiménez alongside Pablo Larrazabal, while five times winners South Africa will look to seal a third victory since the turn of the millennium, represented by Rory Sabbatini and Richard Sterne. Ireland, who first won the World Cup 50 years ago, will bid for a first win since 1997, with Graeme McDowell and Paul McGinley forming their team. Germany, twice winners of the tournament, will attempt to win a third World Cup with Martin Kaymer teaming up with Alex Cejka , while 2005 winners Wales will also try to seal a third win, represented by Bradley Dredge and Richard Johnson. Four times winner s Australia, represented by Richard Green and Brendan Jones, will also head to China, as will Taiwan, winners in 1972, and Japan, the 2002 champions, while the USA will be attempting to win for the 24th time. The nations looking for their first World Cup win are Chile, Denmark, for whom Ryder Cup player Søren Hansen will lead the challenge with Anders Hansen, France, represented by European Tour Champions Grégory Bourdy and Grégory Havret, India, New Zealand and Thailand. China has also qualified automatically as host nation and will join the 18 exempt nations which are: Australia (Richard Green, Brendan Jones) Chile (Felipe Aquilar, Mark Tullo) Denmark (Søren Hansen, Anders Hansen) England (Ian Poulter, Ross Fisher)France (Gregory Havret, Gregory Bourdy) Germany (Martin Kaymer, Alex Cejka) India
(Jeev M Singh, Jyoti Randhawa) Ireland (Graeme McDowell, Paul McGinley) Japan (Ryuji Imada, Toru Taniguchi) New Zealand (Mark Brown, David Smail) Scotland (Alastair Forysth, Colin Montgomerie) South Africa (Rory Sabbatini, Richard Sterne) Spain (Miguel Angel Jiménez, Pablo Larrazabal) Sweden (Henrik Stenson, Robert Karlsson) Taiwan (Wen-Tang Lin, Wen-Teh Lu) Thailand (Prayad Marksaeng, Thongchai Jaidee) USA (TBC) Wales (Bradley Dredge, Richard Johnson) The remaining nine nations will be determined at qualifiers in Europe, Asia and South America. The Fortis International Challenge takes place this week at the Kota Permai Golf and Country Club in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, from September 18-21; and then in Europe – at the Sierra Golf Club in Pętkowice, Poland, from September 25-28. The South American qualifier then takes place at the Caracas Country Club in Venezuela when the Marriott Venezuela Playa Grande Nations Cup which will take place from October 7-10. The 2007 Omega Mission Hills World Cup launched a new and exciting era in the history of the championship first played in 1953 as the Canada Cup. The championship is set to continue through 2018, and most probably beyond, at Mission Hills following the signing of an agreement in January 2007 which brought the prestige watch manufacturer Omega together with the Club which introduced the game of golf to China by first hosting the World Cup in 1995. John Jay Hopkins, the noted Canadian industrialist, brought to reality a dream that golf could promote goodwill between nations with the inaugural World Cup played in Montreal in 1953 then called the Canada Cup and re-titled The World Cup in 1967. The International Federation of PGA Tours will, as custodians, oversee the 54th edition of the event.