World Champions Cup at The Concession to feature golf teams from USA, Europe and International
SARASOTA — Make room, Ryder Cup. Step aside, Presidents Cup. You too, Solheim Cup. The three global team majors in professional golf have a baby brother.
The inaugural World Champions Cup, pitting players from Team International, Team Europe, and Team USA in a first-of-its-kind international team competition, will debut Dec. 7-10 at The Concession Golf Club in Bradenton.
Each team will be composed of six golfers, including a playing captain, and all will be active PGA Tour Champions members. Jim Furyk, the 2003 U.S. Open champion will captain Team USA, World Golf Hall of Famer Ernie Els will captain Team International, and 2011 British Open winner Darren Clarke will captain Team Europe.
Previously, Vijay Singh (International), Bernhard Langer (Europe), and Steve Stricker (USA) were announced as automatic qualifiers. On Tuesday, three more automatic qualifiers were announced — Retief Goosen (International), Colin Montgomerie (Europe), and David Toms (USA). The remaining three players for each team will consist of two selections by tournament chairman Peter Jacobsen and a play-in position based on the year-end Champions Tour Charles Schwab Cup standings.
A new team golf format
The biggest difference between the World Champions Cup and other team events is that all three teams in Bradenton will be playing simultaneously. The first two days of the tourney, Thursday and Friday, will feature nine-hole matches, with all 18 players participating, and points earned for each hole won.
Following a pro-am on Saturday, Sunday will consist of two nine-hole singles matches, at the conclusion of which the winning team will hoist the first World Champions Cup.
“Basically, you’re going to get two drives from each team, and then you choose your best drive, and then you play out from there,” said the 53-year-old Els, winner of 75 PGA Tour events, including two U.S. Open and BritishOpen championships. “I think it’s a great format. It keeps everybody involved in a particular hole. Basically, the best score on the hole wins the hole or gets the most points on that particular hole. Everybody plays for nine holes; no one gets eliminated. Then you take it into singles on Sunday. We’ll be playing 18 holes of stroke play, and anything can happen.”
Said Clarke, “As individuals, we’re all trying to beat each other, and then, all of a sudden, we get together whenever the team matches arise, and we’re all pulling for the guys that we’re trying to beat, not only as teammates but the opposition.”
Clarke seemed particularly happy with the addition of Montgomerie, considered one of the greatest Ryder Cup players of all time. He’s represented Team Europe eight times and never lost a match. Five times Montgomerie finished a major as the runner-up.
“I don’t think you can put a value on just how competitive Colin is, especially when it comes to team events,” Clarke said. “He always wants to win, but there’s definitely a little more fire in him when he puts on the uniform to represent Europe, and I’m eager to see that competitive spirit return to the World Champions Cup this December.”
As for Langer, a two-time Masters champion and owner of 122 pro wins, Clarke always has admired the complete package the German-born 66-year-old brings to the course.
“His single-mindedness, his determination, his focus, and everything,” Clarke said, “I think, is an inspiration to us all. It’s the way Bernhard does things.”
In May, Furyk was named one of the United States’ vice captains for this year’s Ryder Cup. Playing in events representing his country, he said, are his personal favorite.
“I just can’t tell you how these are my favorite events that I ever play in,” he said. “To represent something bigger than yourself, to wear the American flag on your sleeve, to be in a group and play for a team is something I’ve always admired. As Ernie said, I think the matches are going to be really friendly, but they’re going to be highly contested and extremely competitive because we’re getting 18 of the best players in the world now over the age of 50.”
Tickets for the World Champions Cup can be purchased at WorldChampionsCup.com. Champions Passes, which allow access to the grounds and various grandstands across the course, start at $40 per day, with prices increasing the week before the tournament.
For those who can't make it in person, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday play will be broadcast on ABC and ESPN.
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Team USA, Europe, and International to compete at World Champions Cup golf tournament
