Spain lead USA & China in Golf World Cup

The ISPS HANDA World Cup of Golf started with a fourball format, and USA's Rickie Fowler & Jimmy Walker set the early pace, finishing at -2, along with the Chinese pair of Wu Ashun & Li Haotong. England’s Chris Wood and Andy Sullivan are two strokes behind leaders Spain after the first round.

Jimmy The Walk & Kid Rick... doin' it for the good ole US of A...

Spain’s Rafael Cabrera-Bello and Jon Rahm posted a three-under-par 69 in the opening foursomes to lead France, USA and China by one shot. They made an eagle, two birdies and a single bogey for a three under par 69 in the alternate shot format.

"It's a score we're proud of," said Cabrera-Bello."It's been a good day. I think we played well. It was obviously tough and tricky with the wind. But Jon played great, I rolled some putts and hit some good shots as well, so I think it was a score we're proud of but also a score we deserve."

Bello & Rahm... sounds like a 70s detective show...

France’s Victor Dubuisson and Romain Langasque posted four birdies and two bogeys, as did Ryder Cup-winning American pair Jimmy Walker and Rickie Fowler. They are all sitting at T2, alongside China’s Wu and Li, one shot ahead of Team England.

Rickie Fowler and Jimmy Walker made key shots for each other as part of their two under par opening round.

"I'm thankful to have a stud partner," said Walker, the 2016 U.S. PGA Championship winner. "Rickie putted really well and made some clutch putts beginning of the round. Putting really saved us today."

Fowler and Walker were partnered for this year's victorious U.S. Ryder Cup Team, and had that experience of playing together to draw on.

Round 1 Video Highlights

"I think we got everything out of it I think we could have," Walker said. "Rickie hit it great, hit some good shots. It was an all-around effort."

"It wasn't playing easy out there. You know, we're going to miss shots in alternate shot, it's just the way it is," Fowler said. 

"I think we did a good job picking each other up when needed. Jimmy hit some great shots, drove the ball well and made some putts when he needed to."

"Are you sure we know each other?..."

Scotland's Russell Knox and Duncan Stewart sit bottom of the leaderboard after a six-over-par 78. This, after Knox had eschewed more obvious picks in order to give the opportunity to 'change someone's life" by picking his old college golf pal Stewart.

Continue the research, I think, is the term...

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