World Cup Par To Be 72

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31520, 7 November 1967, Page 19

World Cup Par To Be 72

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter—Copyright) MEXICO CITY. The greenkeeper, Gabriel Martinez, and his staff were busy yesterday putting the finishing touches to nine months of preparation of the Mexico Golf Club course in readiness for the World Cup, which will start on Thursday. Work actually began on January 30: since then all the

back nine greens have been relaid. Everything would have been ready sooner, but work was delayed because of unusually heavy rains this year, the heaviest for 50 years. The heavily tree-lined fairways and lush greens are in splendid condition and should provide a good test for the leading golfers from 40 countries. Some of the players from

Japan, Spain and Italy, have already tried the fairways, but putting on the greens was prohibited until serious practice began yesterday. “The greens are in grand condition,” Mr Martinez said, “and the back nine are expected to play very fast.” The course has been lengthened slightly from last year, when the Eisenhower trophy was played there. A further 125 yards was added, making a total of 7250 yards, for which par will be 72. Long, accurate driving and forceful putting will be the main demands on the players. These are, of course, the attributes of the American favourites, J. Nicklaus and A. Palmer. These two have won the trophy, formerly the Canada Cup, three times out of the eight the United States has won.

Palmer, the game’s leading money-winner, has gained nearly all the world’s top golfing honours, but he has not won the international trophy for individual players in five attempts. Entries include R. de Vicenzo, Florentino Molina (Argentina); B. Crampton, A.

Murray (Australia); H. Bannerman, E. Brown (Scotland); A. Palmer, J. Nicklaus (United States); D. Thomas, S. Mouland (Wales); P. Alliss, M. Gregson (England); H. Boyle, C. O’Connor (Ireland); R. J. Charles, W. Godfrey (New Zealand); G. Player, H. Henning (South Africa).