Adam Scott and Jason Day may face off in new World Cup of Golf format
Format switch means fellow Australians could be battling for US$1.2 million first prize
This week's reformatted World Cup of Golf could witness the bizarre scenario of Adam Scott fighting Australian teammate Jason Day for victory in the US$8 million Royal Melbourne event.
In contrast to the full two-man team format over the past six decades, this year's field features 52 players in two-man teams from 26 countries.
But it 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.
Although 52 players will fight for the US$1 million first-place team prize, eight other "single country" players will be ineligible. But all 60 are eligible for the US$1.2 million first-prize cheque for the individual champion.
I was hoping I would be ... playing alongside Jason ... but this event is trying to find a new identity
The revised format is a prelude 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 Cups since the inaugural event in 1953, teammates will compete in different groups over the first two days, with world No2 Scott paired with American Matt Kuchar and Italy's Matteo Manassero today.