The quest to qualify for the Omega Mission Hills World Cup moves to Europe this week as the European Qualifier is staged at the Estonian Golf and Country Club.
A total of 18 nations, including hosts Estonia, will vie for three places at the US$5.5 million Omega Mission Hills World Cup which will be played from November 26 – 29 at Mission Hills Golf Club, China.
Like the Omega Mission Hills World Cup itself, the first and third rounds of the qualifier will use the fourball better ball format while the second and final rounds will use the foursomes (alternate shot) format.
Scotland’s Alistair Forsyth is hoping to secure his return to Mission Hills this year having teamed up with Colin Montgomerie in 2008 when Scotland were defending champions.
“Mission Hills was brilliant last year,” said Forsyth. “The World Cup has really grown in stature and the organisation of the event was great.
“The World cup is different, it’s a bit special. It’s the only time outside The Ryder Cup that we get the chance to play in a team format and to represent our country. It’s good fun as well. Hopefully we will make it back to China this year.”
Forsyth, a veteran of four World Cups, forms a new partnership with David Drysdale this year who is hoping to make his first Omega Mission Hills World Cup appearance.
“I haven’t played in the World Cup before and I never represented my country at amateur level so this will be a totally new experience,” said Drysdale.
“I’m looking forward to playing with Alistair. We practically grew up together. I remember he knocked me out of the fifth round of the Scottish Boys. It will be good to play on the same side and it definitely helps to be playing with a friend although you could say that about any of the Scottish players, we all know each other really well.”
Forsyth echoed Drysdale’s confidence in their partnership. He said: “David and I are about the same age and we came through the ranks together. We turned pro at the same time and played on the Tartan Tour together. It definitely helps that we are friends. We got together last night and had a brief chat about the things we need to do this week. The most important thing is that there is no need to apologise when we are on the course. We will play our own game in the foursomes and we can then chat about tactics for the fourball.”
Like Scotland, Wales are also eager to play their way back into the World Cup. Stephen Dodd and Jamie Donaldson will fly the Welsh flag in Estonia and have high hopes for a return to the World Cup and the opportunity to chase a third victory for their country.
The Omega Mission Hills World Cup Qualifier is Donaldson’s first World Cup outing with the more experienced Dodd.
“This is my first World Cup experience but I do have experience of the fourball and foursomes format from my days as an amateur so I know what to expect. It also helps to play with a partner with so much World Cup experience. Having won the World Cup in 2005, Stephen certainly knows what he’s doing.”
Canadian Graham DeLaet is hoping to secure his return to Mission Hills this year having partnered Wes Heffernan in the 2008 edition of the Omega Mission Hills World Cup. DeLaet recalled his first World Cup experience as he prepared to play in the Pro-Am in Estonia.
He said: “Playing in the World Cup last year was a lot of fun. We played pretty well apart from missing a few putts on the weekend. It was great to play with the top players in the world and to feel like we could compete at their level. We definitely have high expectations this week. We believe that if we play well, we should get through.”
DeLaet, a regular on the Canadian Tour, will partner Stuart Anderson in the Qualifier. Both players come to the World Cup Qualifier following wins on the Canadian Tour this season and are currently lying in first and third respectively on their home Tour’s Order of Merit.
The World Cup Qualifier is Anderson’s second taste of the traditional foursomes and fourball format having played in the World Cup in Seville in 2004 and he is relishing the challenge.
“I’m very excited about being in Estonia,” said the Canadian. “I had to look on the map to see where it was but it is great to be here. We were in town last night and saw ice hockey on TV so we are feeling right at home.
“Graham and I have played a lot of golf together but this will be the first time that I will be cheering for him. We’ve been in a couple of final groups together this year and we’re used to trying to beat each other. Having both played in the World Cup before we know we can compete and if we play well this week, we should qualify.”
Estonia’s hopes of qualifying for their first World Cup rest on their leading professionals Martin Toom and Mark Suursalu.
Mait Schmidt, President of the Estonian Golf and Country Club, stressed how important it is for the development of golf in Estonia to have the home nation competing in the Omega Mission Hills World Cup Qualifier.
“This is a great experience both for the players and for all of Estonian golf. It is vital that we take advantage of opportunities like this to showcase golf in Estonia. We are extremely proud to be hosting the Omega Mission Hills World Cup Qualifier and we hope all of the players enjoy their Estonian experience.”
THE TEAMS
Morocco: Amine Joudar, Tarik Benslimane
Scotland: Alistair Forsyth, David Drysdale
Croatia: Miro Raic, Darko Ljubanovic
Wales: Stephen Dodd, Jamie Donaldson
Israel: Oren Geri, Itamar Cohen
Portugal: José-Filipe Lima, António Sobrinho
Poland: Maximillian Saluda, Marcin Stelmasiak
Namibia: Joe Nawanga, M. Adri Basson
Algeria: Mus Deboub, Farid Guedra
Estonia: Martin Toom, Mark Suursalu
Canada: Graham DeLaet, Stuart Anderson
Slovenia: Janez Grilc, Miha Studen
Finland: Toni Karjalainen, Juhapekka Peltomaki
Greece: George Diakou, Eugenios Papadopoulos
Serbia: Nemanja Savic, Danilo Kraljevic
Switzerland: Jean-Luc Burnier, Gerold Berchtold
Iceland: Bjorgvin Sigurbergsson, Sigurpall Sveinsson
Austria: Michela Moser, Christoph Bausek
