The USA team of Ben Curtis and Brandt Snedeker may not know what they are going to wear when the Omega Mission Hills World Cup begins on Thursday, but they are certainly looking forward to the start of the prestigious team event and having the honour of representing their country.

Curtis, part of the victorious US Ryder Cup Team in September at Valhalla, and Snedeker are both competing in China for the first time and are relishing the experience.

"I'm just looking forward to it," said Curtis. "It's a great experience to be able to come to China to represent your country, and to play in this event. I think every golfer in the world would want to play in this event at some point during their career, and so to be able to have this opportunity; it's just going to be a lot of fun."

Snedeker, who arrived in China after finishing joint eighth in last week's Dunlop Phoenix tournament in Japan, is embarking on something of a world tour and China was one place top of his list of must-see destinations.

"I love seeing different cultures," he said. "I happened to be in Japan last week, and I was in New Zealand, Fiji; I've been all over the place. And China was someplace I wanted to go, after I spent some time with people after the Olympics, and they just talked and raved about how great Beijing was and how everything was awesome over here, and really got me excited to come over here and play. It's exceeded all of my expectations so far, the hotel and resort is fantastic and everybody is so nice, so I'm very happy to be here."

Last year the United States came within a whisker of winning the title when Boo Weekley and Heath Slocum were denied by Scotland in a play-off. The team might have a different look this year but Curtis and Snedeker are determined to continue the proud tradition of the US teams of the past who have won the World Cup 23 times since 1953.

"I talked to Boo last year when he got back, and he had a great time and obviously a chance to win and didn't get it done," said Snedeker. "But he had nothing but great things to say, great place and loved the golf course. I know he really wanted to come back this year but just didn't work out. I'm glad to be here and glad to have Ben as my partner, so it will be fun."

Both players got their first taste of the Olazábal course at Mission Hills on Tuesday and liked what they saw.

Curtis said: "it's going to be a good test of golf. It's going to be a lot of fun, and I think you're going to see a lot of birdies. It just seems like it's a course that you can play every day, and you'll find a new experience and just keep enjoying it."

Snedeker added: "The fairways are obviously pretty generous, but it's in great shape and it's going to be a good test, the greens are real small and I was very impressed. We only played nine holes, but a very good layout and it should make for some very exciting golf."

As for the clothing, the matter hadn't even been discussed although Snedeker did admit they would be trying to "mix and match".

While Snedeker says "I won't be bringing any coloured belts or funny-coloured shoes", he may have to take the lead from Curtis, who wears NFL team logos and colors on his shirt and visor. Curtis did admit later that he brought mostly Buffalo Bills gear with him because - in true American style - the Bills' primary colours are red, white and blue.

ABOUT OMEGA

The prestige watch manufacturer OMEGA was founded in Switzerland in 1848 and since then has continually set the pace in the many fields of watchmaking, from sports timekeeping and design awards to watches for professional use in space or underwater. OMEGA is closely associated with a world of achievements including the conquest of space, timekeeping at 23 Olympic Games and numerous precision records as well as the launch in 1999 of the revolutionary Co-Axial calibre, one of the 20th century's major innovations in mechanical watchmaking designed with the English master watchmaker George Daniels. Having just finished the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, OMEGA will continue to be the Official Timekeeper for the Vancouver 2010 and London 2012 Olympic Games.

ABOUT MISSION HILLS GOLF CLUB, CHINA

Founded in 1994, Mission Hills Golf Club, China, seeks to create ‘international goodwill through golf'. The Club occupies over 20 square kilometres of land from Shenzhen to Dongguan in Southern China, and boasts 12 signature courses designed by golf legends from five continents: Jack Nicklaus, Ernie Els, Vijay Singh, Jumbo Ozaki, Zhang Lian-Wei, José Maria Olazábal, David Leadbetter, Greg Norman, Annika Sorenstam, David Duval, Nick Faldo and Pete Dye. In light of this feat, the Club was accredited by the Guinness World RecordsTM as the World's Largest Golf Facility. Besides, Mission Hills is the host venue for the Omega Mission Hills World Cup of Golf from 2007 to 2018.

As a complete golf destination, the Club houses a five-star hotel, four luxury clubhouses, world-class spa, three golf academies managed by international elite golf coaches, and palatial residences. It was voted "Golf Resort of the Year" in the Rest of the World Category in 2005 by the International Association of Golf Tour Operators (IAGTO). The Olazábal Course, the proud venue of the OMEGA Mission Hills World Cup in 2008, has been ranked the number one resort course in Asia by Golfing Magazine in the 2008 issue.

ABOUT THE INTERNATIONAL GOLF ASSOCIATION

Established by Canadian industrialist John Jay Hopkins in 1953, the International Golf Association has pursued the mission of "International Goodwill through Golf" for over fifty years. As the owner of the World Cup name, IGA has sanctioned the world's most prestigious international team golf competition throughout six decades. IGA is governed by its Board of Directors, which includes Chairman Jonathan S. Linen (Advisor to the Chairman, American Express), Deane R. Beman (Former PGA TOUR Commissioner), J. B. McCoy (Retired Chairman, Bank One Corporation) and Bill Souders (Former Executive Vice-President and Director, Xerox Corporation).

ABOUT THE INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION OF PGA TOURS

The International Federation of PGA Tours, formed in 1996, was created to enhance the competitive structure of professional golf worldwide while preserving the traditions and strengths of the six member Tours. The member Tours are the Asian Tour, European Tour, Japan Golf Tour, PGA TOUR, PGA Tour of Australasia and Southern Africa Tour. The Canadian Tour and the Tour de las Americas are Associate Members of the Federation. Three major initiatives were outlined: the formation of the International Federation of PGA Tours; joint sanctioning by the members of the International Federation of PGA Tours of significant competitions for the game's top players; and a structure for a generally accepted worldwide ranking system.

For further information, please contact:

Helen Jiang
PEOPLE Marketing Solutions
Tel: ＋86 159 215 95018
Email: helen.jiang@people-china.com.cn