Nov. 18, 2004 – Asian teams compete in the WGC-World Cup in Seville, Spain this week hoping that a blend of youth and experience will bring glory and reinforce the region's rise on the international stage.
Korea, Myanmar and Chinese Taipei booked their places in the 24-team competition by finishing as the top three nations in the Asian Tour's World Cup Qualifier last month and the teams have similar make-ups in their line-up.
Each nation is anchored by a veteran, with former Asian number one Kyi Hla Han leading Myanmar, Shin Yong-jin spearheading Korea and Wang Ter-chang carrying the Chinese Taipei's charge. "I'll make the decisions for the team as I'm the older player," joked the 43-year-old Han as he prepared to partner Soe Kyaw Naing, who is eight years his junior.
Home side Spain will be led by Sergio Garcia and Miguel Angel Jimenez while other teams tipped to contend include Argentina's Angel Cabrera and Eduardo Romero, England's Paul Casey and Luke Donald, Ireland's Padraig Harrington and Paul McGinley and defending champions South Africa, represented by Trevor Immelman and Rory Sabbatini.
Korea will be without US PGA Tour star Choi Kyung-ju this year but in 40-year-old Shin, they will have a man capable of carrying the team's weight. Coupled with the exciting talents of 23-year-old Kim Dae-sub, Korea are looking to spring a surprise at Royal Seville Golf Club.
"Choi could have earned an automatic place in the World Cup through the world rankings but he declined to play. I guess that gave us the opportunity to qualify. We'll be hoping to make the best from this," said Shin, last year's Korean Tour number one.
While Shin represents the old guard for Korean golf, Kim is the future of Asia. As a 17 year old amateur, Kim won the Korean Open in 1998 and amazingly repeated the feat three years later. He subsequently turned pro in 2001 and has won twice in the paid ranks on the domestic tour. Both the Korean players will be making their World Cup debuts.
"Shin is very experienced and it is good to play with him. It is great to have the opportunity to play in the World Cup and face some of the best players in the world," said Kim, who holed a 40-foot birdie putt to help Korea win the qualifier in a play-off against Myanmar.
Han, Asia's top player in 1999, will tee off in his fifth World Cup appearance, 24 years after his debut in Colombia while it will be Soe's third outing in the US$4 million event, which is part of the World Golf Championships.
The 42-year-old Wang, whose previous appearance in the World Cup came in 1992, will partner the upcoming Lu Wei-chih, who is 18 years his junior. When Chinese Taipei won the World Cup in 1972 in Melbourne through Hsieh Min-nan and Lu Liang-huang, the 24-year-old Lu Wei-chih was not born yet.
"It is a tremendous opportunity to play in the World Cup. We won the title many years ago and it is good to have the chance to take on some famous players," said Lu, who holds the Asian Tour's low round of 61 this year.
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