THE World Cup of Golf begins a new era at the world’s largest golf club in Shenzhen and Dongguan today.

Mission Hills, a complex with 12 premier golf courses all designed by top players, is hosting the event for the second time after 1995 and will remain the home of the tournament at least until 2018.

Competition is sure to be fierce among the 56 golfers gathering here to represent 28 countries.

Chinese veteran Zhang Lianwei and his successor, China’s No. 1 Liang Wenchong, are looking to accelerate the growth of golf on home soil.

The game has boomed in China since Zhang finished 27th with Cheng Jun in the 1995 World Cup at Mission Hills.

There are now more than 200 golf courses in China and the European and Asian Tours have staged a combined total of six tournaments on the mainland in 2007 before increasingly large and knowledgeable galleries.

Zhang, the first player from China to win a European Tour event and play in the Masters, has been the talismanic figurehead for nearly two decades and his crusading spirit is still strong.

“I’m looking forward to playing this week at Mission Hills,” said the 42-year-old. “The Chinese crowd will inspire us to play well. It will not be easy but I think we have a chance to win.

“A good display from us will do a lot for golf in China. It will help attract more people to the game.”

Zhang and Liang have a 100 percent record playing together for Asia in two Dynasty Cup clashes against Japan.

“The World Cup is a team competition, which means both players have to perform. Liang and I have played so much together we know each other’s games. I think we are a great match,” he said.

Liang has virtually wrapped up the Asian Tour moneylist race with winnings of US$525,570 and will take his eye of that particular goal for a week to bid for team glory with his mentor Zhang.

The 29-year-old has captured the imagination of the ever-growing number of golf fans in China this year after his victory in the Singapore Masters and he attracted large crowds during last week’s Hong Kong Open.

“I am looking forward to the World Cup, it is a big event,” said Liang. “I have improved a lot both mentally and physically over the past year.

“I am hitting the ball better than I did when I first came on tour and after my win in Singapore I feel I have a chance to win every week.”

Other big names at the event include Justin Rose, Miguel Angel Jimenez, Retief Goosen and Colin Montgomerie.

Jimenez will be partnered by Jose Manuel Lara. “Hopefully we’ll keep the same mood,” said Jimenez. “I enjoy playing in China and have won in Shanghai and Hong Kong, so why not a win for Spain?”

South Africa’s team of Goosen and Trevor Immelman have both won the tournament with other partners, Goosen with Ernie Els in 2001 and Immelman with Rory Sabbatini two years later.

The United States, champions 23 times in the various manifestations of the tournament over the 54 years since it started as the Canada Cup, will be represented by childhood friends Boo Weekley and Heath Slocum in China.

Justin Rose is the highest-ranked player in the tournament and he will team up with Ian Poulter, a winner last weekend in Japan, to represent England.

Bradley Dredge and Stephen Dodd paired up to win for Wales two years ago, while Scots Colin Montgomerie and Marc Warren will be looking to go one better than last year’s second place after a playoff with Germany’s Bernhard Langer and Marcel Siem.

Today’s opening round will be played in a fourball format. Friday will feature foursomes, or alternate shot, action before the format switches back to fourballs Saturday and then to foursomes on the final day.

(SD-Agencies)