Donald decides on Howell as his World Cup partner

DAVID HOWELL has been confirmed as Luke Donald's partner for England's defence of the World Cup - the title Donald won with Paul Casey last year.

As the leading Englishman in the world - he is 14th - Donald could pick his partner for the event in Portugal from November 17-20 and, with Casey having fallen down the rankings, he has gone for the next highest player.

Donald, who was chosen by Casey last season, admitted it was a hard decision not to return the favour.

"My first step was to discuss the situation with Paul and he fully understood that I wanted to make my decision based on current form," he said.

"I have spoken to David and he is looking forward to representing England. We both feel that we have a great chance of defending the trophy."

Colin Montgomerie is among a number of stars who have turned down the event, but the Scottish duo of Stephen Gallacher and Scott Drummond will not have to go through qualifying because of other withdrawals. The same applies to Welsh pair Stephen Dodd and Bradley Dredge.

The withdrawals of Vijay Singh, Mike Weir and Thongchai Jaidee mean Fiji, Canada and Thailand are not among the 18 nations who are exempt from qualifying.

Ireland are expected to be represented by former winners Padraig Harrington and Paul McGinley again.

Sergio Garcia, number six in the world and one half of the 2004 Spanish side with Miguel Angel Jiménez which finished second, has confirmed he will play in the Algarve along with a partner to be confirmed.

Angel Cabrera, of Argentina, who finished second in his native country in 2000 with Eduardo Romero, will also take part.

The 2005 BMW Championship winner will, in common with several countries, make his nomination of a partner in due course.

South Africa will have Scottish Open champion Tim Clark and one other, France's top player is Thomas Levet, and with Bernhard Langer rejecting the event again Germany will have Alex Cejka and Marcel Siem.

IRISH veteran Mary McKenna stayed in touch with the pacemakers in the first round of the Senior Ladies British Open Amateur Championship at Newport, South Wales yesterday.

The Donabate star - who has appeared in nine Curtis Cup matches and won the seniors title when it was last contested in Wales in 2001 - returned an opening five over par 78.

But for an inexplicable collapse on the home stretch she would have been closer to the top of the leaderboard. She is five strokes behind leader Rozalyn Adams, runner-up in the English close seniors championship recently.

McKenna went out in a highly creditable 34 - two under par - with three birdies and one bogey but tired on the back nine and took 44 for a 78. She had five bogeys coming home and a double bogey on the 381-yard par four 10th.

"I just don't know what happened - it was a nightmare," said the former Great Britain and Ireland captain.

Also on 78 is Ireland's Marilyn Henderson, while 1996 champion Valerie Hassett, from Ennis, opened with three bogeys, got to the turn in 39 and had four birdies in the last five holes to finish on 81.

Adams is one stroke clear of Scotland's Christine Watson with 36 holes remaining.