World Cup of Golf field finalised

Tournament officials today announced a final field whose diverse accomplishments, backgrounds and native countries will make up the 28 two-man teams which will descend on Melbourne, Australia, to represent their countries in the World Cup of Golf at Kingston Heath Golf Club from November 23-27.

The field includes:

• Six major championship winners
• 27 Olympians
• 18 past participants of either The Ryder Cup or Presidents Cup
• 2 sets of brothers
• 4 players in the top 10 and 17 of the top 50 in the Official World Golf Ranking
• Players from countries representing six different continents
• 4 past World Cup champions
• A player who shot 58 on the Web.Com Tour this year
• Players with a combined 317 victories from around the globe

“The field this year for the World Cup of Golf is a perfect example of why this tournament is consistently one of the most unique and exciting event’s on golf’s calendar,” said Executive Director Matt Kamienski. “The 56 players competing in the World Cup of Golf include both household names, who represent the very best in the game, as well as top emerging competitors from countries across the globe.”

2016 World Cup of Golf Field:

No country has enjoyed more success in the World Cup of Golf than the United States, with 24 titles in the history of the event. Rickie Fowler and Jimmy Walker, who will each be playing in the World Cup of Golf for the first time, will face a challenging field if they are to make it 25 victories for the United States. Defending champions Jason Day and Adam Scott will again represent the tournament’s host country as they try to win Australia’s sixth World Cup of Golf.

Of the 28 teams in the field, 14 have at least one World Cup of Golf victory –

United States    24

Australia              5

South Africa       5

Spain                     4

Canada                 3

England                2

Germany             2

Ireland                  2

Japan                    2

Sweden               2

Wales                    2

Chinese Taipei   1

Italy                       1

Scotland               1

More information on the 28 countries in this year’s World Cup of Golf and their best-ever finishes in the event:

The 2016 tournament will return to a 72-hole, stroke play, two-man team event format.  The first and third days of competition will be the foursomes (alternate shot) format and the second and final days are fourball (best ball) play.

Tickets and hospitality packages starting at $30 are now available by visiting the World Cup of Golf website at www.WorldCupofGolf.com.

About the World Cup of Golf:  The 2016 World Cup of Golf will mark the fifth time in the tournament’s history that it will be played in Australia and the first at any course other than Royal Melbourne.

Previous World Cup of Golf events in Australia:

Year       Winning Country/Players

1959       Australia (Peter Thomson/Kel Nagle)

1972       Chinese Taipei (Hsieh Min-Nan/Lu Liang-Huan)

1988       United States (Ben Crenshaw/Mark McCumber)

2013       Australia (Jason Day/Adam Scott)

About Melbourne, Victoria

Voted the world’s most liveable city for the past six years, Melbourne is a leader in staging international sporting and cultural events, with its super-friendly people ready to welcome World Cup of Golf visitors. The city is famed for its laneways and cafe culture, known as Australia’s coffee capital, and is home to vibrant arts, music and fashion scenes. Melbourne’s food credentials are attracting global attention and the city is the gateway to Victoria, including 21 wine regions, the stunning Great Ocean Road scenic drive and abundant native Australian wildlife. Victoria’s landscapes offer everything from international surf beaches, islands and coastal experiences to Alpine mountain ranges and inland lakes. Victoria is also a popular destination for domestic and international golfing tourism, famed for its sandbelts and home to picturesque, challenging courses that suit every ability.

Media assistance is available for World Cup media wishing to develop destination related content, research locations for outside broadcasts, interview local personalities and access rights free footage. Please contact destinationpr@tourism.vic.gov.au with any requests. Destination information is also available at www.visitmelbourne.com

About the International Federation of PGA Tours

The International Federation of PGA Tours was formed in 1996 by golf’s five world governing bodies – the European Tour, Japan Golf Tour Organization, PGA TOUR, PGA Tour of Australasia and Sunshine Tour (South Africa PGA Tour) with the purpose of providing a forum for the world’s professional golf organizations to discuss issues of mutual importance and, together, develop and promote the game of golf on a global basis.  As part of its mission, the Federation initiated the World Golf Championships in 1999.  The Asian Tour joined the International Federation of PGA Tours in November 1999.

In step with global growth of professional golf, the International Federation of PGA Tours announced an expansion and restructuring of its membership in 2009, adding the International Golf Association and additional professional golf tours, including – for the first time – women’s golf tours: China Golf Association; Korea Professional Golfers’ Association; Professional Golf Tour of India; LPGA Tour; Ladies European Tour; Australian Ladies Professional Golf Tour; Japan LPGA; Korean LPGA; and Ladies Asian Golf Tour.

About the International Golf Association

The International Golf Association (IGA) is a not-for-profit corporation, chartered in the State of New York in 1956.  IGA is governed by its six-member Board of Directors.  Jonathan Linen is the IGA Board Chairman.  Through its association with the International Federation of PGA Tours, IGA continues its international goodwill through golf mission and looks forward to the 2016 return of the World Cup of Golf to Melbourne and a new Sandbelt region course in historic Kingston Heath Golf Club.

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