Mike Weir and Ian Leggatt to Represent Canada in EMC-World Cup
Tue, 03 Mar 2009 01:45:16
""We are pleased that Mike Weir and Ian Leggatt will represent Canada in this year's EMC World Cup in Puerto Vallarta,"" said Steve Wilson, Executive Director of the EMC World Cup. ""Canada has a rich tradition of success in this tournament, and we look forward to watching Mike and Ian represent Canada again this year.""
This will mark the second straight year that the duo has played together, having finished tied for sixth last year at The Taiheiyo Club in Gotemba City, Japan. In 2000, the first year that the EMC World Cup was part of the World Golf Championships series, Weir teamed with Glen Hnatiuk to finish tied for 10th in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
""Ian's a player I feel very confident playing with"", said Mike Weir. ""He's an explosive player, who can make a lot of birdies. He's been having a great year, and I'm looking forward to having Ian as my playing partner again. We're not going over there to just compete and show up. We're going over there to represent Canada the best we can.""
Weir, the 31st-ranked player in the Official World Golf Ranking, has won three times on the PGA TOUR, including the 2000 World Golf Championships, American Express Championship. He ranks 66th on the current PGA TOUR Money List with $821,654. He has made the cut in 21 of 23 tournaments he has played in this year.
Leggatt, who in February won the Touchstone Energy Tucson Open for his first career PGA TOUR title, is in the midst of his best season on tour. He currently ranks 41st on the PGA TOUR money list with $1,186,699. In addition to his victory in Tucson, Leggatt also finished tied for fifth at the Buick Classic and tied for seventh at the SEI Pennsylvania Classic, in his most recent outing.
""I am thrilled to be going to Puerto Vallarta to play with Mike and represent Canada"", said Ian Leggatt. ""With the alterate-shot format, we complement each other because we hit it in opposite directions', and I feel like he and I together are going to have a great chance to win.""
Canada won the World Cup of Golf, the forerunner to the EMC World Cup, three times. In 1968 George Knudson and Al Balding were victorious, as were the teams of Dan Halldorson and Jim Nelford in 1980 and Halldorson and Dave Barr in 1985.
The EMC World Cup is one of four tournaments worldwide that make up the World Golf Championships. Players qualify for the EMC World Cup by virtue of their standings in the Official World Golf Ranking. The highest ranked available players representing 18 countries will automatically qualify for the event, as will the host nation, Mexico. In addition, five teams will become eligible via the Davidoff Nations Cup, to be played October 10-13,in Malaysia.
This year's EMC World Cup will be the final of four World Golf Championships contested in 2002. It will be played Dec. 10-15 at Vista Vallarta's Nicklaus Course in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. The Accenture Match Play Championship was held Feb. 18-24 at La Costa Resort and Spa in Carlsbad, California, USA with Kevin Sutherland earning the title. The NEC Invitational was played Aug. 20-25 at Sahalee Country Club in Sammamish, Washington, USA, with Australian Craig Parry emerging victorious. Tiger Woods won his sixth World Golf Championships title at the American Express Championship, Sept. 17-22, at Mount Juliet in Thomastown, Co. Kilkenny, Ireland.
The 2003 EMC World Cup at Kiawah Island, South Carolina, will be played the week of Nov. 10-16.
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