New format of golf's World Cup to feature 52 players from 26 countries

The upcoming World Cup of Golf has reportedly been re-formatted to feature 52 players in two-man teams from 26 countries in contrast to the full two-man team format, which had been going on over the past six decades.

The new format of the World Cup could witness the bizarre scenario of Australian ace Adam Scott battling for a win in the eight million-dollar event at Royal Melbourne against compatriot Jason Day.

According to Sport24, the World Cup also has another eight players, including Belgian-born Ryder Cup star Nicolas Colsaerts, Fiji's Vijay Singh and Welshman Jamie Donaldson, teeing off on their own to make up a field of 60.

The report mentioned that although eight 'single country players' from the total 60 players will be ineligible to fight for the one million-dollar first place team prize, however, all 60 are eligible for the 1.2 million-dollar first prize cheque for the individual champion.

The report further said that the revised format is an introduction to the one that will be used when golf re-enters the Olympics in 2016 in Brazil, although England, Wales and Scotland, who are competing individually this week, will come under the Great Britain umbrella in Rio.

Unlike all prior World Cup's since the inaugural event in 1953, teammates will compete in different groups over the first two days.

Other teams likely to be in contention include Ireland's Graeme McDowell and Shane Lowry, Spain's Rafa Cabrera-Bello and Miguel Angel Jimenez, and the Japanese pairing of Ryo Ishikawa and Hideto Tanihara, the report added.