AMERICANS Heath Slocum and Boo Weekley made their Thanksgiving Day celebrations taste that little bit sweeter by capturing the first-round lead in the Omega Mission Hills World Cup with an 11 under par 61 in the opening series of fourballs at the Mission Hills Golf Club on Thursday.

The selection of Weekley and Slocum, who were picked after 13 other higher-ranked American players had declined to play in the US$5 million tournament, had come under the spotlight but they proved critics wrong with a sparkling display.

Alex Cejka and Martin Kaymer, representing defending champion Germany, shot 62 for second place. Six other teams were on 63: Finland, Wales, Scotland, South Africa, Thailand and England. Local favorites Zhang Lianwei and Liang Wenchong were on 65.

Thursday’s first round was played under a better-ball format, with Friday’s play over an alternate shot format.

Both Slocum and Weekley, who attended high school together in Milton, had eagles.

Slocum got his on No. 3, dropping a 25-foot putt. Weekley got his on the par-4 12th when his 6-iron found the hole from 185 yards.

Pre-tournament favorite England with the pairing of Justin Rose and Ian Poulter fared better than their soccer team, hoping to restore pride after a humiliating exit from the European Championships.

Poulter and Rose both dressed in red and white outfits, showing off the colors of England’s flag even after the soccer flop.

“I definitely wasn’t going to wear all black, that’s for sure,” Poulter said.

The event, which dates back to 1953, is beginning a 12-year run at Mission Hills and PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem said by moving to a permanent venue, he hoped the top American players might be attracted to play — perhaps including No. 1 Tiger Woods and No. 2 Phil Mickelson.

Even prize money of US$1.6 million to the winning team was not enough to lure players like Woods.

“The competitors are not members of a labor union. They are not under contract to play,” Finchem said. “They can go and play as they choose.”

The last high-profile pair to win the event was Retief Goosen and Ernie Els in 2001. Woods triumphed in 1999 with Mark O’Meara and a year later with David Duval. (SD-Agencies)