Denmark won
the ISPS HANDA World Cup of Golf for the first time as Søren Kjeldsen and
Thorbjørn Olesen claimed a thrilling four-shot victory at Kingston Heath Golf
Club. The Danes had been a dominant force all week; with a stunning round of 60
in the fourballs on Friday helping them carry a four-shot lead into a final day
where they played the same format.

They did not have it all their own way, however, and the lead was cut to one
shot on the back nine as the United States and China both kept applying
pressure, whilst France and Sweden made late surges.

But a run of five birdies in six holes from the tenth reasserted the Danes’
dominance, and Kjeldsen and Olesen ultimately ran out comfortable victors after
finishing on 20 under par courtesy of a closing round of 66.

"It’s been an absolutely incredible week.  I’ve enjoyed it so much.  I’ve enjoyed the camaraderie with
Thorbjorn.  I’ve been so impressed by his
game, his attitude, and I think we’ve had a great time and that reflects in the
result," said Kjeldsen.

Olesen also enjoying the camaraderie generated by the team
format, "I had that feeling every time on the green when I got there, I really
wanted to hole the putt and I felt like I could hole the putt, and all of a
sudden on the back nine they just started rolling in.  It was not just for me, it was for Søren and
me.  That’s very special when you hole a
putt and you can fist pump or something after it, it makes it a lot more fun.

The French pair of Victor Dubuisson and Romian Langasque shared second place
alongside China – represented by Wu Ashun and Li Haotong – and the United
States duo of Rickie Fowler and Jimmy Walker.

Wu
and Li were disappointed they did not push the Danes till the finish line,
missing birdie chances on 17 and 18. Still, it was China’s best outing in the
World Cup of Golf as Li and Wu improved on Chen Ching-Po and Lu Liang-Huan’s
third-place finish in 1966..

Wu
said: "We almost got the trophy. We played very well this week, also today.
Playing with my partner Li was very exciting. After four holes and making two
birdies, I thought we had a chance to touch the trophy as we were only two
behind. My partner is a great player. We’ll keep in touch, keep practising hard
and I know we can do better next time. Chinese players can win the tournament."

The
slender Li felt he left some shots out on the course as they shared US$880,333
for their gallant effort.  "We feel average as we didn’t really play our
best. We still have a lot of chances to win this trophy, so I’m looking forward
to it. This will certainly help the game in China. We have a big future," said
the 21-year-old, who was born in 1995 – the year China hosted its first World
Cup of Golf.

Team USA
came to Kingston Heath Golf Club with winning the ISPS HANDA World Cup of Golf
their number one priority. While it didn’t finish the way they planned Fowler
and Walker enjoyed their week Down Under.

"We had a fun week.  I know
both of us didn’t play as well as we would have liked to, but it was fun.  Not a bad finish, but not what we exactly
wanted coming down here," said Fowler.

"I think Jimmy puts it into some good words, just being able
to put on that red, white and blue, anytime you get a chance to, it’s
special.  I’m glad that both of us were
able to come down here."

With Walker adding, "Not many times you get to do this, represent
your country in the World Cup.  I know it
was kind of on our bucket list to do and the U.S. is very deep in talent, so to
be able to come down here and do it was very cool.  To have Rickie pick me and ask me to come
play was very special."

Shooting 9-under 63 in the final round, the French duo of Victor Dubuisson and
Romain Langasque were happy with their performance at the ISPS HANDA World Cup
of Golf.

"It
was a great day.  I think we can’t really
do any better.  9-under, it’s a great
score.  The pin positions were so
difficult.  Romain started the round
really well, he made some very important putts on that first seven holes," said
Dubuisson.

Langasque added, "I was really under pressure before this
week because to play with Victor in a big tournament like this one, and I’m so
happy to finish the tournament with that position, 9-under in the last
round.  That’s amazing."

Alex Noren
and David Lingmerth combined for a brilliant closing 62 to finish shots five
back for Sweden.

Defending champions and host team; Australia produced a last round
charge to give the crowds something to cheer about.

Marc Leishman and Adam Scott combined on Sunday of the ISPS HANDA
World Cup of Golf to shoot 7-under 65.

While there were plenty of birdies to celebrate the Aussies
left their run too late finishing in a share of 9^th on 11-under the
card.

"It was nice to finally see a few putts drop and some red numbers on
the leaderboard.  So it’s definitely a
lot more enjoyable out there today when you can play like that. You know, it’s
unfortunate that we couldn’t start that on Thursday, but it’s something to
build towards for next week," said Leishman.

Scott added, "It was tough conditions Thursday and Friday in
the wind.  And we didn’t play poorly, but
we didn’t play good enough to be at the top of the leaderboard. We just didn’t
have the momentum over the weekend to catch up. 
But there were some good signs."

Denmark’s
previous best finish at the World Cup of Golf had been in 2001, when Thomas
Bjørn and Søren Hansen finished in a tie for second after losing in a play-off,
and for Kjeldsen it was a first victory in his sixth outing, while Olesen was
making his third appearance.