Belgian Toms take out World Cup kitty
TEAM Australia could not have played much better but walked away from the World Cup cursing an ugly Friday front- nine as a couple of Belgian Toms secured the title and a $ 3 million payday.
Three shots was the final margin of victory for Thomas Pieters and Thomas Detry, with the Aussie duo of Marc Leishman and Cameron Smith tied for second with Mexico.
The Aussies shot an equal low Sunday round of 65 in a stirring fight to the finish and spent time during the final day within two shots of the lead.
Three straight birdies on the back nine had the raucous crowd at Metropolitan issuing “Oi, Oi, Ois” the leaders could hear. But the six- shot deficit the home side started the day with proved too big to reel in and a calm four- under 68 was enough for the Belgians, who have known each other since they were kids and played like it, to secure their country’s first- ever World Cup win.
“We weren’t far away in the soccer World Cup so it’s pretty good to bring it back,” Detry, 25, said, with a Belgian flag draped over his shoulders. “When it happens, you qualify for it, you play for it, you play with your best mate and it’s kind of a dream come true. There’s nothing like representing your country on the other side of the world, it’s just amazing.”
Pieters, his country’s top- ranked player, said he was nervous before he teed off and the noise ahead of him as the Aussies made birdies gave him plenty to think about.
The Belgians carved out a 71 in the horrid conditions, the Aussies a 76. The final margin was three shots.