Golf:America's 11 highest-ranked golfers have all turned down the chance to take part in the World Cup in China in November. Their 12th man Nick Watney has agreed to play but his partner has yet to be announced.
Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell are teaming up for Ireland in the absence of Pádraig Harrington, while Ian Poulter and Ross Fisher will represent England.
With no players in the world’s top 100, Scotland and Wales both have to take part in the qualifier in Estonia next month.
The 11 from the United States who have rejected the €3.9million tournament are Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Kenny Perry, Steve Stricker, Jim Furyk, Sean O’Hair, Anthony Kim, Lucas Glover, Zach Johnson, Stewart Cink and Ben Curtis.
Darren Clarke, meanwhile, returns to the Netherlands this weekend to defend his KLM Open title from 12 months ago.
After playing in his 50th major last weekend Clarke will attempt to successfully defend his KLM Open title at Kennemer Golf and Country Club in Zandvoort.
He claimed his 12th European Tour title at this €1.8million event 12 months ago when he cruised to a four-stroke win over fellow countryman Paul McGinley, who will attempt to go one better this year.
The Ulsterman’s winning score of 164 (-16) was the lowest aggregate total recorded at the 6,626 yards, par 70 course, which will this year be used as the host venue for the ninth time after making its debut on The European Tour International Schedule in 1976, when Seve Ballesteros of Spain captured his first KLM Open title and indeed the first of his 50 European Tour titles.
“Every win is special but I particularly enjoyed the victory at Kennemer last year, not only for the golf I played over the four days but also for the fact that it carried on the good form I’d shown four months earlier, when I won in China,” said Clarke.
“It was also great to have my two boys, Tyrone and Conor, there to watch me hole the winning putt. To stand there with the trophy in one arm and my boys in the other was a very special moment for me.
“I’ve always enjoyed my trips to The Netherlands and in particular to Kennemer, which is an excellent golf course. So I’m very much looking forward to going back to defend the title.”
Colin Montgomerie and Jose Maria Olazábal are both also bidding for a Dutch double this week, with the Scot having joined Clarke in flying to Amsterdam after competing in the US PGA Championship in Hazeltine.
Olazábal’s victory at Kennemer G&CC in 1989 was particularly memorable and hard-fought, as it came courtesy of a nine hole play-off with England’s Roger Chapman and Northern Ireland’s Ronan Rafferty – which remains a European Tour record to this day.
