Malaysia the shock contender at golf World Cup

There’s always an outlier in a World Cup and this time, it’s Malaysia.

Although the country has had big golf tournaments it has not produced a truly great player at world level.

The Malaysian Open expired in 2015 and the CIMB Classic, which used to be on the PGA Tour of the United States, has ceased as of this year.

Enter Gavin Green and Ben Leong, world rankings 198th and 397th, who enjoyed themselves at Metropolitan on Thursday.

Green is a well-known Asian tour player; Leong not so much.

They rattled around in 63, nine-under par, with two eagles. For much of the day they held the lead, until England and South Korea and finally Australia jumped up to 10-under. They ended up tied-fourth after the opening day of four-ball play.

"Having Gavin beside me really calmed me down, definitely," said Leong, whose mere sand wedge into the par-five seventh hole produced one of the eagles.

"Once we made it, we just wanted to have fun and do the best we can," said Green.

They surely did.

Please explain

Our weekly podcast giving you insight into the stories that drive the nation.

Listen now