Matt Kuchar wins the World Match play title
PHOTO: The big names ... Matt Kuchar, the World Match-play champion, has committed to the golf World Cup at Royal Melbourne. (Getty Images: Stuart Franklin)
MAP: Melbourne 3000
World number six Matt Kuchar, Italian prodigy Matteo Manassero and veteran Thai star Thongchai Jaidee are the first international golfers to commit to playing the revamped World Cup tournament at Royal Melbourne.
Organisers announced this morning the players' intention to represent their countries as tickets went on sale for the November 18-24 event.
Kuchar, who won the WGC-Matchplay and Memorial tournaments this year, will be defending the World Cup title he won for the United States when playing alongside Gary Woodland at Mission Hills in China in 2011.
Since the start of the 2010 season, Kuchar has 36 top-10 finishes on the US Tour, more than any other player over that period.
"Representing my country is a real honour whether in the Ryder Cup, the Presidents Cup or the World Cup," Kuchar said in a statement.
"I am looking forward to defending at Royal Melbourne."
World number 28 Manassero will aim to take the trophy back to Italy after brothers Edoardo and Francesco Molinari won the event in 2009.
Yet to turn 21, Manassero has four career European Tour victories and is fifth in that tour's season standings.
In 2010, he became the youngest winner in European Tour history with victory in the 2010 Castello Masters aged 17 years and 188 days.
"I'm genuinely excited about playing in the World Cup and can't wait to make my debut at Royal Melbourne," Manassero said.
"It's not often that you get the chance to play for your country as well as yourself, so I really want to play well and help make it a great week for Italy.
"When Edoardo and Francesco won in 2009 it was huge news in Italy, so hopefully I can help bring the trophy back home again."
The veteran Jaidee is the only man to win three Asian Tour Order of Merit titles.
"I always enjoy playing in the World Cup, it's a great tournament and obviously a little bit different from the events we usually play," Jaidee said.
"You want to do well when you are playing for your country, so I will give it my best shot."
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