Americans win World Cup of Golf

HAIKOU, China, Nov. 27 (UPI) -- Americans Matt Kuchar and Gary Woodland teamed for a 5-under-par 67 Sunday, giving the United States a come-from-behind win at the World Cup of Golf in China.

Kuchar and Woodland had six birdies and a bogey in the final round's foursomes for a 72-hole total of 24-under 264. They are the first Americans to win the biennial event since David Duval and Tigers Woods were champions in 2000.

Ian Poulter and Justin Rose had the best round Sunday with a 63 and pulled England into a tie for second with Germany (69 Sunday) at 22-under.

Australia, which led after the first round and shared the second-round lead with Ireland before the Irish tool the lead outright on Saturday with the Netherlands (68) and Scotland (66) for fourth at 21-under. Irish players Graeme McDowell and Rory McIlroy had four bogeys -- two on pars 5s -- en route to an even-par 72 Sunday while Australians Richard Green and Brendan Jones teamed for a final round of 69.

The tournament schedule had the teams playing fourball format Thursday and Saturday and foursomes Friday and Sunday.

Kuchar and Woodland were 17-under in the two days of fourball and 2-under in Friday's foursome and opened Sunday tied for second and two strokes behind McDowell and McIlroy.

But after two holes Sunday, the Americans were in the lead as they had birdies at 1 and 2 while Ireland had a first-hole bogey.

Ireland got a birdie at the third hole to make a three-way tie -- with Australia -- for the lead. But Kuchar made a 12-foot birdie putt at the seventh hole and the Americans weren't caught again.