All 18 exempt nations have now been confirmed for the 2009 Omega Mission Hills World Cup to be played at Mission Hills Golf Club, China, from November 26 to 29.
The field, selected through each nation's leading player on the Official World Golf Ranking as of Monday, June 22, is headed by Sergio Garcia – Number Four on the Official World Golf Ranking at the cut-off date – who will represent his country, Spain, for the first time at Mission Hills.
Six Asian teams have earned direct entry into the World Cup. Reigning Asian Tour number one Jeev Milkha Singh will represent India, Thongchai Jaidee will spearhead Thailand's challenge for the second straight year, Lin Wen-tang will lead Chinese Taipei, US-based Charlie Wi will represent Korea while Ryuji Imada, who featured for Japan and finished tied third last year, will return for another crack at the prestigious team title.
China qualify automatically as host nations of the World Cup and will be represented by Liang Wen-chong who makes his fourth World Cup appearance.
Garcia, a five-time Ryder Cup player, can now select his team-mate to compete over the course designed by his countryman, José Maria Olazábal, provided that the player nominated is inside the top 100 on the World Ranking as of June 22 or the second deadline of August 17.
This will be Garcia's fourth attempt to win the World Cup. He played in 2001, 2004 and 2005, with his best finish coming in his native Spain five years ago when he and Miguel Angel Jiménez finished just one shot behind champions England over another Olazábal-designed course, the Real Club de Golf Sevilla in Seville.
Jiménez and Pablo Larrazabal led after three rounds at Mission Hills in 2008 but were overhauled on the final day by Henrik Stenson and Robert Karlsson's brilliant closing foursomes round of 63 to the Spanish pair's 70. Garcia is hoping he can drive Spain to victory this year, but knows the competition will be fierce.
