World Cup: The irony of words, and how they are used, isn't lost on anyone reading the marketing bumph associated with the World Cup.

"Four times a year," it goes, "the world revolves around a little white sphere." This is a reference to the four tournaments that come under the umbrella of the World Golf Championships (WGC) and, of them all, this is the only one that forsakes individualism and makes it a team affair.

It should be the most cherished prize in the WGC stable, an irresistible lure to those who want to find greatness. But it isn't. In this case, the world is not revolving around a golf ball. Quite simply, too many of the game's superstars have stayed away. Just why it should be so bewilders many, among them Padraig Harrington and Sergio Garcia, the two highest-ranked players in the world competing here at Real Club de Golf de Sevilla.

"You definitely could wish for everybody to turn up and believe that this is up there next to a major. But, I don't know, it's obviously not that high in (some) people's minds," said Harrington, who teams up with Paul McGinley as Ireland's two-man team for an eighth successive time.

Diplomatically, he added: "Officially the year has ended in the United States and people are looking to get their winter break in. It is hard to play every event during the year and, unfortunately, this is one that loses out."

Harrington, the world number eight, is the top-ranked player in the field. You don't have to be a rocket scientist to figure out that seven players above him in the rankings declined a place in the field - which has a $4 million prize fund, of which $1.4 million goes to the winners.

But, for those not here, Miguel Angel Jimenez had little sympathy, calling them the "unlucky boys. I feel sorry for them".

Garcia was more inclined to focus on those who have shown up. "I think we have a lot of big names, a lot of great players. I think there's at least six or seven really strong pairings . . . I know why I'm playing, because I love it."

The thought of taking the World Cup off his itinerary never occurred to Harrington, who won't put his feet up for another month once his business here is concluded. He goes on to take in tournaments in Korea, Hong Kong and California.

"It's very important for Irish people to represent their country," he said. "It's part of our heritage, and especially as this is one sport where we're particularly successful. There's no chance I would miss the World Cup.

"Because we're from a smaller country, and we have lots to prove at times, it's the reason why we turn up for team events to represent our country. I would love to see golf in the Olympics. Just to represent my country in the Olympics would be amazing."

In fact, the Ireland team of Harrington and McGinley is one of the favourites to take the prize here on a course - measuring 7,134 yards with a par of 72 - redesigned by Jose Maria Olazabal.

"I don't think it's a world-class course," remarked McGinley, "but I think it's a very, very good venue. It's not a major type of set-up, but it is a really good, well-conditioned course that will yield some birdies on the par fives."

The 1997 victory in this event at Kiawah Island by the Irish duo seems a long time ago now. Since then, the competition has dropped the strokeplay format and become part of the WGCs, and the destiny of the title will be determined by two rounds of fourball betterball (the first of which takes place today) and two rounds of foursomes.

Still, the memory of that win under the old format lingers. "It will always be special because it was the first event for either of us on the world stage to go to, to perform well at and to win," said McGinley. "We were not fancied going into it and it was a special event and will always be big . . . obviously, the Ryder Cup has surpassed that since, and Padraig has won tournaments which are bigger since, but it will always have that special feeling because, first of all, you're representing Ireland, and secondly, as I've said, it was our first real win on the world stage."

Nobody needs to remind either Harrington or McGinley that they haven't matched that 1997 performance in their appearances since, and one thing they have learned is that it doesn't pay to read each others lines. "We've a terrible track record at reading putts," confessed Harrington.

McGinley agreed. "If I say black, he'll say white," added his partner-in-arms.

Unlike last year, when the duo effectively played their way out of contention by the midway stage before rallying over the weekend to eventually finish tied-fifth with the US, behind winners South Africa, the belief - especially in this format - is that a fast start is essential.

"I'm a great believer in destiny, that the golfing gods have a big part to play," said McGinley. "You can't predict when you're going to play great. It just happens. One day you hit good shots and they finish two feet from the hole and you make birdie. The next, you could hit exactly the same shot and it runs 12 feet by and you have a tricky downhill putt and you miss. That's the fickleness of the game."

The opening round of better ball will provide a hint of what is in store. Will it be the call to answer destiny? Or deception?