DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Dec. 20, 2004 – Reigning U.S. Open champion Meg Mallon and Hall of Famer Beth Daniel will pair up as the two-player team to represent the United States in the inaugural Women's World Cup of Golf, officials from the LPGA and Ladies European Tour have announced. A total of 20 teams from nations around the globe have been finalized for the event, which is set for Feb. 11-13, 2005, at the Fancourt Hotel and Country Club Estate in George, South Africa.
The $1 million event, which will become the first worldwide team competition co-sanctioned by both tours, will include seven major champions and former world No. 1s Karrie Webb from Australia and Laura Davies from England, although reigning No. 1 Annika Sorenstam has decided not to play.
Sweden, despite missing Sorenstam, will go with Sophie Gustafson and Carin Koch. Other strong teams include Catriona Matthew and Janice Moodie of Scotland, Paula Marti and Ana B. Sanchez of Spain, Webb and Rachel Hetherington of Australia, Davies and Karen Stupples of England and Jennifer Rosales and Dorothy Delasin of the Philippines.
The tournament also will include some of the rising stars in the sport, such as Finland's 19-year-old phenomenon Minea Blomqvist, and 14-year-old amateur Ashleigh Simon. Blomqvist is the 2004 LET Rookie of the Year, while Simon, still a student in South Africa, won the Women's South African Open earlier this year.
The Women's World Cup of Golf will consist of a three-day, 54-hole competition with a different format on each day: 18 holes of foursomes, 18 holes of four-ball, and 18 holes of stroke play. The winners will be determined by combining each team's scores from all three days.
The complete list of participating teams:
Australia: Karrie Webb & Rachel Hetherington
Austria: Natascha Fink & Tina Schneeberger
Canada: Lorie Kane & Dawn Coe-Jones
England: Laura Davies & Karen Stupples
Finland: Minea Blomqvist & Riikka Hakkarainen
France: Stephanie Arricau & Patricia Meunier-Lebouc
Germany: Martina Eberl & Elisabeth Esterl
Italy: Diana Luna & Giulia Sergas
Japan: Ai Miyazato & Rui Kitada
Korea: Jeong Jang & Bo Bae Song
Mexico: Lorena Ochoa & Alejandra Martin Del Campo
New Zealand: Gina Scott & Lynnette Brooky
Philippines: Jennifer Rosales & Dorothy Delasin
Scotland: Catriona Matthew & Janice Moodie
South Africa: Laurette Maritz & Ashleigh Simon
Spain: Ana Belen Sanchez & Paula Marti
Sweden: Carin Koch & Sophie Gustafson
Taiwan: Candie Kung & Ya-Ni (Ruby) Tseng
USA: Meg Mallon & Beth Daniel
Wales: Becky Brewerton & Becky Morgan
Source: PGA
