Baker-Finch calls for annual World Cup

Australian Olympic team captain Ian Baker-Finch says an annual presence is key to the golf World Cup's future success.

Ian Baker-Finch

Ian Baker-Finch says an annual presence is key to the golf World Cup's future success. (AAP)

Ian Baker-Finch says the key to keeping the World Cup relevant in a packed international schedule is to convince golf's biggest stars to play it every year on the world's best courses.

The 1991 British Open champion said it was vital the PGA Tour-run event regained annual status for the first time since 2009.

"I'd like to see it on every year. Why have it every second or third year?" Baker-Finch told AAP.

"We need the best players, from the best nations, on great courses in golfing nations.

"I love it here on the Melbourne sandbelt.

"Go to Scotland, Ireland, Great Britain or the USA where golf is a part of their sporting culture.

"That's how it always was when Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer played regularly and won it six times."

Australian world No.7 Adam Scott backed Baker-Finch's stance on the future of the team event.

"I'm sure there's a place for it," Scott said.

"Especially if they keep taking it to venues of this calibre, everyone will be up for playing it."

Fresh from captaining the Australian men's and women's Olympic golf team in Rio, Baker-Finch believes the World Cup should also serve as a dress rehearsal for the 2020 Tokyo Games.

"I'd like to see it go to Japan maybe the year before the Olympics in 2020. Maybe use it as a test event at the course," he said.

While Japan fielded a star-studded team of Hideki Matsuyama and Ryo Ishikawa and the United States sent world top-20 players Rickie Fowler and Jimmy Walker to Kingston Heath, nations such as South Africa were missing drawcards Charl Schwartzel and Louis Oosthuizen.

Baker-Finch, 56, said the option for the highest-ranked available player to choose his teammate hadn't promoted the strongest field.

"I love the World Cup, but I don't like the selection process," Baker-Finch said.

"It should be the best player and the next best player. And if that player isn't available, the next one after him. It shouldn't be that you pick a buddy."

World Cup tournament boss Matt Kamienski said the Cup's November scheduling was unlikely to change.

"This type of event, which is not an official money-list or world ranking points event has worked at this time of year," Kamienski said.

"I think it will stay unless something comes up."


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Source: AAP



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