Marc Leishman to pair with Cameron Smith at World Cup of Golf in Melbourne
The first batch of golfers to commit to playing in the World Cup of Golf in Melbourne (21-25 November) have been announced and Australia’s Marc Leishman will be playing with Cameron Smith.
The World Cup of Golf will be played at Metropolitan Golf Club in Melbourne and will feature 28 team of two golfers representing their countries and the first big names in the field have been announced including Marc Leishman, Tyrrell Hatton, Thorbjorn Olesen, Martin Kaymer and Matt Kuchar.
As Australia’s highest ranked player (after Jason Day was ruled out with another baby on the way) Marc Leishman (22nd in the world) was given the task of choosing his playing partner for the event. In the end Leishman chose the next best ranked Australian Cameron Smith (33rd) over Adam Scott who is currently ranked 41st in the world.
From the announcement on the World Cup of Golf website:
And in true captains’ style, Leishman called Smith and 2016 teammate Scott personally to deliver the news.
“I told Cam he’s in this morning and Scotty he’s not, tough call!,” Leishman said.
Smith, 24, has been in red-hot form in the past month and will lead the Australian charge along with Leishman and Day at the season ending TOUR Championship in Atlanta next week after a late-season charge that will see the Queenslander make his debut in the final chase for the FedExCup.
“It’s been one of my biggest goals all year to play my way onto the team and represent Australia in the World Cup,” Smith said. “I’m looking forward to playing with Marc and hope we can bring home our country’s sixth title.”
Other notable players to commit were American Matt Kuchar who will be paired with Kyle Stanley (#27), Englishman and world number 26 Tyrell Hatton, Belgium’s Thomas Pieters, German Martin Kaymer and defending World Cup of Golf champion Denmark’s Thorbjorn Olesen.
It will be the 59th time the prestigious World Cup of Golf has been played. Golf will be played over four days with the 72-hole stroke play format comprised of two players. The first and third days are foursomes (alternate shot) play and the second and final days are four-ball (best ball) play.