World Cup:On the drive in from Bridgetown, the capital of Barbados, on narrow roads reminiscent of our own pot-holed country roads but with sugar-cane fields on either side, all the taxi driver wanted to talk about was the World Cup. Unfortunately, the object of his interest had nothing at all to do with golf's version of determining global superiority which takes place this week at the exclusive Sandy Lane resort, rather next year's cricket equivalent.

It's an age-old problem for this golf event, struggling to grab the attention not only of the general sporting public, but also of its own superstars. If Tiger and Phil and Ernie and Retief prefer to stay away, what message does that send out? Why should anybody worry who'll win this $4 million tournament, which has 24 countries represented by two-man teams playing alternatively fourballs and foursomes over four days?

Nobody could accuse Padraig Harrington or Paul McGinley of not caring. Every year since their victory in 1997, the two Dubliners have teed it up in the World Cup with pride and passion. For them, as Harrington put it, it is "a big deal" to play.

Theirs is a record of participation unequalled by anyone and, yet, the duo have such a high regard for the event that yesterday they each proffered possible solutions that would make it more difficult for the world's top players to bypass.

If Harrington had his way, he would stop it being an annual fixture on the calendar and, instead, a là the soccer and rugby World Cups, only hold it every four years. McGinley, for his part, believes that the timing - stuck in no man's land long after the US Tour has finished and before the next one gets under way - is all wrong. It should, he opined, be moved to a more attractive date in the calendar.

"You know, we take this event seriously in Ireland. The World Cup is a big deal, (but) if it was moved to every four years, it would mean a player would really look for the opportunity to play in the World Cup because it would only happen for most guys a couple of times at most in his career. I mean, how often does a player stay in the top two in his country over that length of time?" said Harrington.

For his part, McGinley wondered if a better date would work the oracle. "I'd say if you get a date in mid-season when guys are playing," he remarked.

"It's out of season in the United States," added Harrington. "So, this date is particularly penal for them . . . it's the date that is offputting. It needs a better date and that's why, if it was every four years, that would encourage an in-season date."

The proposals set out by Harrington and McGinley have some merit, but are unlikely to be considered in the short term. Already, the next two World Cups - in 2007 and 2008 - have been pencilled in to take place in the current format in China.

As far as this World Cup is concerned, Ireland, rightly, come in as one of the favourites for a number of reasons. The alternate fourball better-ball and foursomes format means that you need a partner you like and whose game you understand. Harrington and McGinley have that familiarity, going back to their old amateur days. "Of course it is an advantage. We've had lots of success together and we're comfortable playing together. There's no doubt that's significant," said McGinley.

"We have tremendous history together. We grew up in team events, went to the same school, played for the same football club. So, yeah, it is an advantage."

Plus, the pair have regularly holidayed in Barbados with their families and know the courses at the Sandy Lane resort. Most of that holiday time was actually spent playing on the tougher Green Monkey course, not the Country Club course that is staging the World Cup.

But as McGinley pointed out, "this is the first golf course that Tom Fazio ever designed outside of America, so I think it is a real good test and worthy of an event like this."

While Harrington kicked on from the Ryder Cup in September to go on and claim the European Tour Order of Merit title and win two tournaments - the Dunhill Links and the Dunlop Phoenix tournament in Japan - to become the top-ranked European in the world rankings at eighth, McGinley's post-Ryder Cup performances have been limited and he spent a considerable amount of time yesterday on the range working on technique but not, as he pointed out, any "heavy-duty stuff."

If Ireland are to win, though, it will require a two-man effort. "It's a team event, and you need both players to play well," said Harrington. "No one player is going to carry any team through. I think it has been proven in the past that both guys have to play their very best golf, and both guys have got to hole putts during the week."

Which, usually, is how it is every week; except that, this time, they're doing it for more than themselves.