Lee’s decision leaves Fox in search of playing partner

WELLINGTON: Topranked Kiwi Danny Lee has pulled out of next week’s World Cup of Golf in Melbourne, leaving Ryan Fox in need of a new playing partner.

The inform Lee is a new father and wants to spend time at his Texas base rather than contest the 28nation event at the Metropolitan Golf Club.

Lee, whose world ranking is 90, will leave a sizeable hole to fill for New Zealand, whose nextbest golfer is 259thranked Nick Voke, a recent threetime winner on the PGA Tour China.

Voke is a firstyear professional, meaning Fox may prefer to select the more proven Japan Tour regular Michael Hendry, who last contested a World Cup seven years ago.

A Rory McIlroy has revealed that he may not fulfil the requirements for European Tour membership next season, even though it could cost him the chance to be Ryder Cup captain.

The Northern Irishman needs to play four European Tour tournaments outside the majors and World Golf Championship events but only has two on his schedule. Players must be a member of the European Tour to be eligible to play in the Ryder Cup.

‘‘I am starting my year off in the [United] States and that will be the big focus . . . until the end of August and then we will assess from there,’’ McIlroy said before the seasonending Tour Championship in Dubai.