World Cup of Golf set to begin

Colin Montgomerie returns to Mission Hills in China where Scotland defend their World Cup of Golf title this weekend.

The 45-year-old looked in decent shape for two days during last week’s Hong Kong Open where he opened with rounds of 68 and 65 en-route to posting a top-20 finish.

After 54 years of disappointment, Scotland finally got their hands on the prestigious trophy 12 months ago when they fended off the United States in a play-off.

Over the previous half-century Scotland had finished second a remarkable six times but shrugged off the tag of bridesmaid to claim the $1.6m first prize.

Whether or not the Scots can claim back to back wins remains to be seen, but it won’t be easy.

Let’s take a look at some of the runners and riders…

 England: England are represented by Ryder Cup hero Ian Poulter and World Cup debutant Ross Fisher. Undoubtedly this is one of the strongest pairings of the event with both players showing some decent recent form. England are a best price of 5/1 with Sportingbet. 

 Sweden: The Swedes have an arguably even stronger team with two Ryder Cup players in Henrik Stenson and Robert Karlsson. Karlsson won the final European Order Of Merit with a brilliant run of form towards the end of last season and Stenson has a great record in this event finishing 2nd in 2005 and 3rd in 2006. The Swedish team are 4/1 with Totesport, Stan James and Canbet.

 Germany: The two-time winners have a solid partnership in Martin Kaymer and Alex Cejka. Germany, champions in 2006, have posted five straight top-eight finishes in the event. Sky Bet are offering odds of 16/1 for the Germans to lift the cup.

 Scotland: Reigning champions Scotland have gone for a change in half of the personnel on show with Alastair Forsyth replacing Marc Warren in partnership with Scottish stalwart Colin Montgomerie, who is playing in the event for the tenth time. If you fancy Scotland to retain the title then you will be rewarded with odds of 25/1 from Paddy Power. 

 India: The Asians will field Jyoti Randhawa, an excellent player who has seven victories on the Asian Tour to his name and Jeev Milka Singh who has two victories on the European Tour, including the Bank of Austria Open in 2008. 22/1 with Bet365 looks good value about this team who both have winning experience in Asia. 

 Denmark: Close friends Soren and Anders Hansen will be hoping to improve on last year’s 10th place finish. But do they have enough in the bag to produce the win? Odds of 11/1 with Sky Bet are probably worth an each way punt.

 United States: The most prolific nation in World Cup history has not won the trophy for eight years – their longest wait ever. However, they must not be discounted and in Ben Curtis and Brandt Snedeker have put together a pairing more than capable of lifting the title for a 24th time. The US are a decent value bet at 12/1 with Bet365.

The Caddy’s tip // Get behind those English boys!

Watch all four days of the Omega Mission Hills World Cup on Sky Sports.
Live coverage starts on Thursday from 3.30am on Sky Sports 1.

Photo of the week

Englishman Oliver Wilson plays his tee shot on the 18th hole during the first round of the Hong Kong Open in Fanling. If only he knew that massive disappointment wasn’t far away…

Lin sings in Hong Kong

Well I hate to say that I called it, but Oliver Wilson blew another chance to break his European Tour duck in Hong Kong after a shaky finish saw him end up out of the frame which opened the door for Taiwan’s Lin Wen-tang to triumph.

Three bogeys in Wilson’s last four holes dashed his hopes but his cheque for a tie for sixth place sees him maintain second spot behind Sergio Garcia in the Race To Dubai.

In a dramatic finale in Hong Kong, Rory Mcllroy and Francesco Molinari shared second place after losing a play-off with Lin Wen-tang.

Bernhard Langer failed in his bid to become the oldest winner on the European Tour. After shooting 63 on Saturday, the 51-year-old German shot 69 to finish tied for sixth with Wilson and three others.

Credit must go to Lin Wen-tang who played near faultless golf in a three-under final round of 67, but my main concern is still with Oliver Wilson. I think that he is a great player and a fantastic competitor but when the hell is he going to win something!

14-year-old Jason Hak makes the cut

Oliver Wilson may well be leading the way at the Hong Kong Open, but I’m sure even he wouldn’t begrudge 14-year-old Jason Hak hogging a few of the headlines.

Hak became the youngest golfer ever to make the cut at a European Tour event. A highly impressive feat, and let us hope that his new found fame means he will be able to afford a decent haircut and some contact lenses…

The record breaking teenager beat the record set by current world No 2, Sergio Garcia.

Hak is just 14 years and 304 days and shot an impressive par 70 in each of the first two rounds at his home tournament, the $2.5million Hong Kong Open, finishing right on the cut line of 140.

Garcia was 15 years and 46 days old when he made the cut at the Turespana Open Mediterrania in Valencia, Spain in 1995.

So remember the name, I guess! Jason Hak…