US duo out to end drought

Merrick: optimistic of chances

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John Merrick and Nick Watney insist they intend to end America's drought at this week's World Cup in China.

World Cup stats package

America's last win in the tournament came in 2000 when Tiger Woods teamed up with David Duval - their 23rd victory in total in a tournament that only started back in 1953.

Some of the greatest names in the history of the sport have represented America in the event, including Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer and Ben Hogan.

However, in recent years the top American players have declined to take part and that is again the case this time around with the likes of Woods, Phil Mickelson, Steve Stricker, Jim Furyk, Kenny Perry, Stewart Cink, Lucas Glover and Anthony Kim just a few of those having turned down the opportunity to represent their country.

Instead it will be world number 31 Watney and 139-ranked Merrick who compete at the Mission Hills Golf Club this week, but Merrick believes in their chances.

"I think we are both playing well this year and we are looking to come and play well and compete for the championship here," Merrick stated.

"I think our games match up nicely for this format."

Watney added: "We are here to try to end that drought.

"I don't know if not winning since 2000 is any indication of golf in the United States. I just think it's an indication that everyone else is really good as well."

Merrick went on to insists that the tournament is highly-respected in the United States, despite the absence of their top names.

"I think it's taken pretty seriously," he continued. "It's a global event.

"There's players from all over the world that play, and, yeah, I think it's a big deal. We want to represent the country well and put (on) a good showing."

A total of 28 nations are competing at this week's event where the first and third days of action are fourball competition and second and final days foursomes.

Tee-off times in the first round of the The 55th Omega Mission Hills World Cup, Mission Hills GC, Olazabal Course, China:
(All times Local, (x) denotes amateurs)

Starting at hole 1:
0745 Que/Pucay (Phi), Molinari/Molinari (Ita)
0800 Imada/Fujita (Jpn), Goya/Echenique (Arg)
0815 Smail/Lee (Nzl), Levet/Cevaer (Fra)
0830 Jaidee/Marksaeng (Tha), Vegas/Adrian (Ven)
0845 Hansen/Kjeldsen (Den), Chih-bing/Mamat (Sin)
0900 Allenby/Appleby (Aus), Barcellos/Francisco (Bra)
0915 Munir/Shabbir (Pak), Dodd/Donaldson (Wal)
0930 Poulter/Fisher (Eng), Wen-Tang/Wei-Chih (Tpe)
0945 Sabbatini/Sterne (Rsa), Drysdale/Forsyth (Sco)
1000 Delaet/Anderson (Can), Kaymer/Cejka (Ger)
1015 Watney/Merrick (USA), Ureta/Leon (Chi)
1030 McIlroy/McDowell (Irl), Wi/Yang (Kor)
1045 Garcia/Fernandez-Castano (Spa), Singh/Randhawa (Ind)
1100 Wen-Chong/Lian-Wei (Chn), Stenson/Karlsson (Swe)