Golf: Danes rule the world as Kiwis gain share of 11th

Dane Thorbjorn Olesen celebrates after sinking his putt on the 18th green yesterday. Photo / AP

Soren Kjeldsen and Thorbjorn Olesen have combined to win a first golf World Cup for Denmark with a four-shot triumph in Melbourne yesterday.

The pair started the day four shots clear of Americans Rickie Fowler and Jimmy Walker and were able to hang tough as several teams challenged.

Their lead was trimmed to a single shot early on the back nine, but the Danes were more than equal to the challenge with six birdies on the back nine, including one on the final hole courtesy of a clutch putt from Olesen.

Kjeldsen and Olesen closed with a six-under 66 in the best-ball format for a four-round total of 268.

Fowler and Walker tied for second with China's Wu Ashun and Li Haotong and Frenchmen Victor Dubuisson and Romain Langasque at 272 at Kingston Heath.

Australians Marc Leishman and Adam Scott saved their best for last, shooting a 65 yesterday to finish in a tie for ninth at 11 under.

"Even daring to dream we'd birdie the whole back nine it wasn't going to be enough," said Scott, who had paired with Jason Day to win the previous edition of the World Cup at Royal Melbourne in 2013.

"We needed a faster start."

Kiwis Danny Lee and Ryan Fox were unable to challenge the leaders during the final round. They finished in a tie for 11th place, 10 shots behind Denmark.

Lee and Fox carded a five-under 67 in the final four-balls round to finish 10-under par.

All 28 two-man teams shot two under or better on the final day, with the best round of 10-under 62 coming from world No9 Alex Noren and fellow Swede David Lingmerth.

It lifted Sweden to outright fifth on 15-under 273, a shot ahead of Italians Francesco Molinari and Matteo Manassero and Japan's Hideki Matsuyama and Ryo Ishikawa.

Kjeldsen and Olesen broke the event open with a scintillating 12-under 60 in the other round of best-ball competition on Friday and were never headed.

- AAP