Irish pair relishing World Cup battle

PAUL McGINLEY and Pádraig Harrington couldn’t care less who contests the World Cup of Golf.

While they believe the tournament that gets under way over the Arnold Palmer-designed Victoria Course at Vilamoura this morning deserves a better field, they also insist their focus is fully on their own games.

With the top eight Americans in the world rankings staying away, there is little point in arguing that the World Cup matters far more in Ireland than in the US. Harrington and McGinley won it at Kiawah Island in 1997 and have played together every year since.