In
Rickie Fowler and Jimmy Walker, the USA has one of the strongest teams to enter
this year’s World Cup of Golf at Kingston Heath. Fowler is a perennial Top 20
OWGR player, while Walker won the most recent major, his first, when he
triumphed at the PGA Championship at Baltusrol in July.

While the pair may not seem very similar at
first glance, the two friends share plenty off of the golf course, including a
love of cars, the same coach and more than the odd laugh.

"I think we’re going to both enjoy each
other’s company," says Walker. "We like the same things, enjoy talking about
cars and we’ve just got a lot of things in common.  I think that that will translate onto the
golf course."

"I think outside all that, obviously we
love hanging out, we spend a lot of time on the golf course but also off," adds
Fowler. "I made a trip to his place in Texas to hang out for a few days last
year and we try and plan trips to see (coach) Butch (Harmon) in Vegas
together." 

Fowler is conspicuous on the course, often
seen in loud colours, never hiding his emotions, and calls himself as an
adrenaline junkie. By contrast Walker appears conscientious, quiet and dresses
accordingly.

Beneath those visual differences there is a
great friendship, and a huge respect in the way each approaches the game.

"I’m really honoured that Rickie asked me
to play," says Walker. "He’s a great partner. 
We’ve had success in the past and I look forward to continuing that this
week."

"We’re both pretty easy-going out there on
the golf course, so he’s not going to get too upset at me, I’m not going to get
upset at him," adds Fowler. "Go hit it and find it and we’ll move forward."

There’s inspiration too from a fellow
American who, alongside Fred Couples, owned and won the World Cup of Golf for the USA for four consecutive years in the 1990s.

"Davis (Love III) sent both of us a text the
other day," says Walker. ""Go do what Freddie and I did back in the day,
bring it home." I can remember watching that when that happened. He knows
what’s going on.  He knows two of his
guys are going down here to play and have a chance to bring it home.  I know both of us enjoyed that."

Both players will be making their World Cup
of Golf debuts at Kingston Heath, but there’s a steely belief they have the
game to deliver a 25^th American win, on Melbourne’s famed sandbelt.

"Well, I know my partner feels good, I feel
good," says Walker. "I think we’ve got our eyes set on the trophy.  We were looking at it yesterday at the
opening ceremonies and it would be fun to hoist that at the end of the week."

"I’ve played well down here," says Fowler.
"Jimmy’s played well down here and this style of golf definitely fits our games
and we both like to hit shots."

In a high profile pairing, Australia and
the USA will play the opening round together on Thursday. There will be a
competitive edge playing alongside the home team of Adam Scott and Marc
Leishman, but also a lot of laughs.

"Love playing with Scotty, same with Leish,
says Fowler. "My caddie, his best friend is Marc’s caddie, Matty, so it’s going
to be a fun day.  It would be nice if we
could kind of keep the mojo going, play well and stay with those boys through
the week."

Asked if the quality of the courses could
one day see a PGA TOUR event played regularly in Australia, both agreed, before
Fowler provided another reason why he would be tempted to keep returning.

"I love it down here, I love coming down
here.  It’s comfortable, there’s no
language barrier and that’s nice since I only speak the one language.  I’ve got to work on broadening my horizons
there."

There will be no need to translate Fowler
and Walker’s broad smiles, if the Americans grab a 25^th title for
their nation on Sunday afternoon.