World Golf team selections raise eyebrows

Team selection rules at the World Cup of Golf have caused controversy with Scotsman Russell Knox overlooking higher-ranked players to pick a childhood friend.

While the Australians have played it straight, selections among other World Cup of Golf teams have been controversial ahead of this week's tournament at Kingston Heath.

Under the rules of the tournament, the highest ranked player in the 28-country competition has the right to choose his teammate.

Following the injury-enforced withdrawal of world No.1 Jason Day, seventh-ranked Adam Scott opted to go for Australia's next highest-ranked player in Marc Leishman for their title defence.

But it hasn't been so straight forward in the English and Scottish camps.

Two-time winner England was set to be represented by US Masters champion Danny Willett and former world No.1 Lee Westwood.

However Willett withdrew with a back injury and with the same complaint affecting Justin Rose, world No. 37 Chris Wood was the next highest-ranked Englishman.

Wood then decided to dump Westwood out of the team and pick his good friend Andy Sullivan, leaving Westwood seething after he had already booked his flight to Melbourne.

Wood said he believed Sullivan, who was also part of the Ryder Cup team, would give him a better chance of winning.

"Sully ticked all the boxes," Wood said at the time of his choice.

"I can understand Lee's frustration after being named in the team, only to be left high and dry when Danny pulled out.

"Maybe the rules need looking at in those circumstances. But I couldn't let that affect my decision."

World No.18 Scotsman Russell Knox also caused some ripples around the golfing world when he overlooked three higher-ranked players in favour of his childhood friend, world No. 315 Duncan Stewart.

The pair played together at a Florida college however Stewart's career foundered and he worked in a slaughterhouse and drove a delivery van to help pay the bills.

He took out a bank loan to have one last crack and it paid off, winning a Challenge Tour event in Spain on a sponsor's exemption in April and finally earning a European Tour card.

Stewart thought Knox was joking when he said he wanted him as his partner - as did many others including former British Open champion Paul Lawrie.

Stewart said his long-time friend was worthy of a position, with only himself and Martin Laird earning more points this year among Scottish players.

"A lot of Scottish people at the time weren't happy about it," Stewart said.

"But I did nothing wrong and I followed the guidelines.

"Duncan's the only other Scottish player to have won a professional tournament this year so for me it was a no-brainer."


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Source: AAP



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