Howell and Donald World Cup favourites

AFTER David Howell’s admirable 20 under par, three-shot victory over Tiger Woods in Shanghai on Sunday, it is only reasonable that he and Luke Donald should be the bookmakers’ favourites for the World Cup of Golf at the Victoria Course at Vilamoura on Portugal’s Algarve on Thursday.

The format of two foursomes and two fourball sessions suit the English pair and they will take beating. That said, despite the absence of all the leading Americans and European number one Colin Montgomerie, there is still a considerable amount of talent among the 24 nations who are hunting the $4 million prize fund.

Among the more fancied pairs are Padraig Harrington and Paul McGinley of Ireland who continue a partnership that began back in 1997 when they captured the title for this country for the second time at Kiawah Island.