Kingston Heath gets 2016 World Cup of Golf

The 58^th World Cup of Golf will be played at Kingston Heath Golf Club this November, with the format returning to two-man teams.

Teams from 28 countries will tee it up from November 24 to 27 as they compete for a share of an US$8 million purse, with US$2.56 million to be split by the winning team. Defending individual champion from 2013 Jason Day is automatically eligible to play and he will get to choose his team mate, with high hopes Adam Scott will return to play.

The World Cup of Golf has been played 57 times in 25 countries and boasts a prestigious list of winners that includes Jack Nicklaus, Davis Love III, Fred Couples, Nick Faldo, Seve Ballesteros, Arnold Palmer, Bernhard Langer, Sam Snead, Peter Thomson, Ben Hogan, Tiger Woods, Ernie Els and Day.

Winning pair Jason Day and Adam Scott pose with the trophy at the World Cup of Golf at Royal Melbourne in 2013. PHOTO: Michael Dodge/Getty Images.

The 2016 tournament will return to a 72-hole, stroke play, two-man team event format.

The first and third days of competition will be a foursomes (alternate shot) format and the second and final days are fourball (best ball) play.

The top 28 available players of different countries from the Official World Golf Ranking as of August 1 (Monday after the PGA Championship) will choose their teammates for the competition.

VIDEO: Jason Day & Australia wins the 2013 World Cup of Golf

All of the top 28 players have until August 12 to commit to play in the tournament, while the deadline for each exempt player to select his partner is August 26.

“It’s great that the World Cup of Golf is going to Kingston Heath,” said defending champion and World No.2 Jason Day. “The course has tremendous tradition and it is one of the reasons that Melbourne's Sandbelt is considered home to several of the world's great golf courses.”

Kingston Heath, which has previously hosted seven Australian Opens and two Australian Masters, is renowned for its strategic design created by its superbly crafted greens and bunkers.

"Unbelievable golf course, I've always been a huge fan of Sandbelt golf courses. The bunkering is just phenomenal,” said Tiger Woods, during his 2009 Australian Masters victory at Kingston Heath. “You don't get to see bunkering like this in any other place in the world. I've always loved coming down here and playing these golf courses… it' a treat. You don't need a golf course to be 7,700 yards for it to be hard. You can build it just like this.”

PGA Tour Commissioner Tim Finchem said Kingston Heath will be a great venue for the event.

“On behalf of the International Federation of PGA Tours, we are thrilled that a course with the reputation and standing such as Kingston Heath will serve as the tournament’s host venue in 2016,” he said.

Day celebrates with fans after winning the World Cup of Golf. PHOTO: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images.

“The fans in the Sandbelt region of Australia are some of the best in the world and our players consider themselves extremely fortunate every time they are able to play in an event of this stature in the Melbourne area. Our thanks go out to the Victorian Government for their partnership in both the past and future events.”

Chief Executive Officer of PGA Tour of Australasia, Brian Thorburn added: “We’re looking forward to the World Cup of Golf this November. We are thrilled that one of Australia’s truly great golf courses will host some of the world’s great players, showcasing our great game to Australia and the world.”

The 2016 World Cup of Golf will mark the fifth time in the tournament’s history that it will be played in Australia and the first at any course other than Royal Melbourne.