Match play can provide some of the most thrilling and nail-biting action in golf, and this week’s UL International Crown will be evidence of just that.
The immaculate Merit Club in Gurnee, Ill., outside Chicago is the stage where the drama will unfold this week, and 32 of the world’s best will square off in match play for the winner’s share of the event’s $1.6 million purse. Teams of four will experience the pride of representing their countries during the four-day competition, which features three days of four-ball play followed by singles matches on Sunday.
Republic of Korea earned the No. 1 seed and will face eighth-seeded China when pool play begins on Thursday. The other first-round matchups are: No. 2 United States vs. No. 7 England; third-seeded Japan vs. No. 6 Thailand; No. 4 Australia vs. fifth-seeded Chinese Taipei.
Each country will play two four-ball matches between each of the other three countries in their pool (Thursday–Saturday). The top two point-earning countries from each pool and one wild card country will advance to play in Sunday’s single matches.
Two points will be awarded per match (two for a win and one for a halve). The total cumulative points from Thursday through Sunday will determine the champion.
Spain won the inaugural International Crown at Caves Valley Golf Club in Owings Mill, Md., but did not qualify for this year’s event, meaning a new champion will be take home the crown on Sunday. Tournament winners, major champions, Rolex Player of the Year award winners and even a Hall of Famer – Australia’s Karrie Webb – are all part of a field that is far from short on star power.
LPGA superstars like Lexi Thompson and Stacy Lewis from the United States, Sei Young Kim from Republic of Korea, Haru Nomura from Japan, Ariya Jutanugarn from Thailand and Minjee Lee from Australia highlight an immensely talented field. Add So Yeon Ryu (Republic of Korea), Yani Tseng (Chinese Taipei), Charley Hull (England) and Shanshan Feng (China), and the field strength grows even deeper.
The UL International Crown is the LPGA’s newest match play addition, joining the legendary Solheim Cup as one of the Tour’s most exciting specialty events. Conducted every two years opposite the Solheim Cup, the UL International Crown places an emphasis on the team dynamic that has been such a popular aspect of golf for decades.
Golf Channel will broadcast the first two days of action from noon to 4 p.m. ET, Saturday’s play from 3-7 p.m. and on Sunday from 2-6 p.m. NBC will televise two hours of the final day from noon to 2 p.m. on Sunday as well, so golf fans will have plenty of great golf to enjoy.
Eight countries, 32 players and one crown. It’s time to see who takes home the title of the world’s best golf nation for the next two years.
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