Harrington the highest ranked in the field

GOLF: World Cup You can throw money at golf's superstars, in this case over $4 million worth of greenbacks, but that's no guarantee they will come. Philip Reid reports.

In fact, Ireland's Padraig Harrington, ranked eighth in the world, is the highest ranked player in the field for the World Cup which starts in Seville on Thursday and one of only two players in the top 10 - Sergio Garcia is the other - competing.

The lack of appeal of this event to the world's top players is extraordinary, and most evidenced by the make-up of the US team. Scott Verplank is only the 11th highest ranked American in the world rankings - he is currently 22nd - but was the first to accept a chance to represent his country in the two-man team competition involving 24 countries.

At the time the teams were finalised, Verplank was actually the 10th highest-ranked American but got the first place after players from Tiger Woods down to Todd Hamilton declined to play. Hamilton wanted to compete but is required in Hawaii next Monday for the Grand Slam of Golf which made Seville logistically impossible so he had to pass up on the opportunity.

Still, the list of those who declined a place on the US team numbered Woods, Phil Mickelson, Davis Love, Stewart Cink, Jim Furyk, Chris DiMarco, Chad Campbell, Kenny Perry and Hamilton. So, Verplank - who last represented the US in New Zealand in 1998 when he won the individual honours - took up the option and nominated Bob Tway, his best friend on tour and a neighbour at Oak Tree Golf Club in Edmond, Oklahoma, as his partner.

"He and I play great together," remarked Verplank at the time of confirming his acceptance on the team, before adding: "But if Bob and I play for the American team, they'll cancel the event next year . . . it's not the Tiger and Phil they were looking for."

Of course it won't be cancelled next year - it has already been confirmed for Villamoura in Portugal - but the make-up of the various teams does make you wonder just where the championship (which features two rounds of fourballs better-ball and two rounds of foursomes) stands for most players.

Apart from the absence of the world's number one Vijay Singh, the top ranked players from South Africa (Ernie Els and Retief Goosen), the USA (Woods and Mickelson), Australia (Adam Scott and Stuart Appleby), Canada (Mike Weir) and England (Lee Westwood) are all missing.

There's no doubting the fact the event means a lot to Harrington and his partner Paul McGinley, who will be representing Ireland for an eighth successive time while the Spanish, not surprisingly, have also shown their devotion to the event with the selection of their two highest ranked players, Garcia (ninth) and Miguel Angel Jimenez (14th). The Spaniards will be looking to become the first home winners of the title since the World Cup came under the umbrella of the World Golf Championships in 1999.

In all, seven members of Europe's winning Ryder Cup team are competing in Seville. England are represented by Paul Casey and Luke Donald, while France's Thomas Levet will team up with Raphael Jacquelin. The South African duo of Trevor Immelman and Rory Sabbatini defend the trophy won at Kiawah Island last year.

Meanwhile, Keith Nolan and Richie Coughlan will try to take a further step towards regaining their US Tour cards when they compete in the second stage of tour qualifying at St Augustine in Florida, starting tomorrow.