Cejka was complimentary about his partner's effort: "It was a little bit tougher to play today than it was in the first round last year. But you know, Martin played really solid golf today. Made a lot of birdies, an eagle, and I just tried to contribute a couple of times too. We'll see. We have three more rounds to go. We are delighted to be here. So far, leading, I think it's a great start for Germany."
Many felt that Kaymer was unlucky not to receive a Captain's pick from Nick Faldo for the Ryder Cup, although he was invited to attend as a guest, and the experience will be of benefit to him as he will surely make the team on his own merit in the future. Kaymer spoke of the benefits of attending the Cup: "Usually you play only your own golf, and this week, like the Ryder Cup week, is another thing. I learned a lot of things, for example how to play foursomes, although it was a different format. That was match-play, and here it's stroke-play. You can be aggressive in best-ball - that's how we played to day. But tomorrow is going to be another story."
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Martin Kaymer produced the goods for Germany. His approach on 18 set up a final birdie chance, but for once he failed to convert.
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Second on their own, and a shot behind Germany, are Australian pairing Richard Green and Brendan Jones. They took the opposite road to the Germans, making only three birdies to the turn but then hitting hard on the back nine, both playes contributing a further three birdies to take them to nine-under. They played regulation foursomes, with Green and Jones each birdying two par-5s.
The Australians passed up the chance to play in one of their home country's biggest tournaments, the Australian Masters, to compete at Mission Hills, but neither of them regrets the decision for an instant.
"The Australian Masters is a great tournament, and one I've always wanted to play well at," said Green. "I won it in 2004, and only found out the other day that it might be the last time it's at Huntingdale. But we're at the World Cup; both myself and Brendan have focused on the World Cup and winning for Australia and doing as good a job as we can. Someone had to come out here and do it, and we both, probably out of all the guys, are the two who really want to be here."
Canada and the USA fought a North American head-to-head, and the two countries finished joint third at eight-under along with Spain. Brandt Snedeker, the "junior" partner of the US pair, a distant 58th in the World Rankings compared with his Open-winning partner's more august 25th, had good cause to feel pleased with his contribution, which included an eagle two on the par-4 fourth when he holed out from the fairway.
"I had about 138 yards, I think, somewhere around there," he said. "It was a perfect, smooth 9-iron and I just hit it - my first good shot of the day! Luckily enough, it bit and kind of rolled, and I heard the crowd go crazy and I could tell it was in." In joint sixth alongside Ireland on seven-under are New Zealand, Denmark, and Sweden. They will all be looking forward to consolidating their challenge, while at the bottom of the board Italy, South Africa and Venezuela will be licking their wounds and vowing to do better tomorrow.
Last word to Australia's Brendan Jones: "This is my first time to China, and you know, I'm having a great time. Food's been great, people have been very friendly, and the resort here at Mission Hills is probably one of the best I've ever seen. So yeah, having a really good time."
The two Australians have clearly brought the right attitude to the Omega Mission Hills World Cup. Have they brought the game to match?
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A foretaste of problems to come - Liang Wenchong's shot from the woods on hole 3 hit a tree, and he was forced to play again from a similar position.
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(China.org.cn November 28, 2008)
