England’s Justin Rose, South African Tim Clark, Australia’s Geoff Ogilvy and South Korean-born Kevin Na will face a United States foursome of ”young guns” in Scottsdale, Arizona, on Tuesday in the second Tommy Bahama Challenge.
Zach Johnson returns from last year’s triumphant US squad, joined this time by Ben Crane, Ryan Moore and Arron Oberholser at Grayhawk Golf Club’s Raptor Course in a 30-and-under showdown.
The first event after the US PGA Tour season, called ”Challenge Season” by the tour, opens a month of made-for-television events also known as the ”silly season”. Golfers can make big money by hitting the links during the PGA break.
The medal-match format used last year has been replaced by a match-play format. If the teams deadlock, US captain Gary McCord and his TV golf broadcast partner David Feherty align teams for an alternate-shot sudden-death play-off.
The US won last year’s event in such a play-off.
The winning team split $400 000. The losers divide $280 000.
Winners of individual matches play off for a new car and $20 000.
Na is the only Internationals player back. He halved with Johnson last year. — Sapa-AFP