KIAWAH ISLAND, S.C., Nov. 15 (UPI) -- The inaugural Warburg Cup, a Ryder Cup-style event featuring some of the best players in golf history, begins Friday at Kiawah Island's Ocean Course.
Captained by Arnold Palmer, the United States hosts an international team in an event limited to players 40 and older. Each team consists of six players aged 40-49 and six over 50.
Among those playing for the United States will be Jack Nicklaus and Tom Watson. The Rest of the World team includes captain Gary Player of South Africa and England's Nick Faldo.
The 24 participants have combined for 48 major titles, including 33 from Nicklaus, Palmer and Watson. Nicklaus has won a record 18 majors.
Sanctioned by the European Senior Tour, the Warburg Cup starts Friday with six foursomes, continues Saturday with six four-ball matches and concludes Sunday with 12 singles.
Each match is worth one point. The first team to compile 12 1/2 wins.
If history is a factor, the Warburg Cup could provide some drama. The Ocean Course hosted the 1991 Ryder Cup, which the United States won when Germany's Bernhard Langer missed a six-foot par putt at the 18th hole in the event's final match.
Langer halved that match with Hale Irwin, who is on the American team that includes Raymond Floyd, Larry Nelson, Mark O'Meara, Curtis Strange, Mark Calcavecchia, Scott Hoch and John Cook.
Langer also is back, joining Ian Woosnam of Wales, Frank Nobilo of New Zealand, Sam Torrance of Scotland, Isao Aoki of Japan, Jose Maria Canizares of Spain and Stewart Ginn of Australia.
A trio of little-known players -- Denis Durnian of England, Des Smythe of Ireland and Ian Stanley of Australia -- round out the Rest of the World roster.
Every member of the winning team will win $150,000 while each member of the losing squad pockets $100,000.
