DID YOU KNOW? – ISPS HANDA WORLD CUP OF GOLF
• The USA hold the record for the most number of wins with 24. Australia and South Africa are next with five. Then come Spain with four, followed by Canada with three. Next with two come England, Germany, Ireland, Japan, Sweden and Wales. Four nations have triumphed once. They are: Argentina, Chinese Taipei, Italy and Scotland.
• The USA have hosted the World Cup on most occasions – 11 times. Spain are next with five along with China. In all, 25 countries have had the honour of hosting the event. Mission Hills Golf Club in China and Royal Melbourne in Australia hold the distinction of being the most used venue – first being used in 1995 then 2007, 2008 and again in 2009 and 1959, 1972, 1988 and 2013 respectively.
• Arnold Palmer (1960, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1966 and 1967), along with Jack Nicklaus (1963, 1964, 1966, 1967, 1971 and 1973) jointly hold the record for most victories by a player – six. The duo also established the record for most victories by the same partnership in 1963, 1964, 1966 and 1967. That standard was matched by Fred Couples and Davis Love III in 1992, 1993, 1994 and 1995.
• Ernie Els and Wayne Westner, representing South Africa in 1996, in front of their home fans at Erinvale Golf Club claimed the title. In doing so established a new record for the largest winning margin of 18 shots. This beat the previous best of 14 by Ben Hogan and Sam Snead at Wentworth Club in 1956.
• With 25 appearances, Jean Garaialde of France holds the record for the most years of competing in the World Cup. He first played in 1954 with his final representation coming in 1982.
• Flory van Donck of Belgium is the oldest player to participate in the World Cup. He was 67 when making the last of his 19 appearances in 1979. The youngest competitor was Marko Vovk, who was only 15 when he played for Yugoslavia in 1979.
• Defending champions Australia will aim to become the first nation to successfully defend the World Cup since the USA achieved the feat in 1999 and 2000.
• Sam Snead and Jack Nicklaus are the only players to win the World Cup in tandem with three different players. Snead won with Ben Hogan in 1956. He followed that with victory in 1960 with Arnold Palmer, Jimmy Demaret in 1961 and Palmer again the following year. Nicklaus won four times with Arnold Palmer in 1963, 1964, 1966 and 1967. Lee Trevino was his partner in 1971 and Johnny Miller in 1973.
• There will be a total of 36 European Tour Members competing at Kingston Heath in 2016.
• Three players competing in 2016 have tasted World Cup success. They are: Adam Scott (played with Jason Day for Australia in 2013), Francesco Molinari (played with Edoardo Molinari for Italy in 2009) and Bradley Dredge (played with Stephen Dodd for Wales in 2005).
