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Coetzee and Van Zyl team up for World Cup of Golf

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MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - NOVEMBER 22: Jaco Van Zyl and George Coetzee of South Africa take a selfie from the stands of the M.C.G. ahead of the 2016 World Cup of Golf at Kingston Heath Golf Club on November 22, 2016 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)

George Coetzee’s top 30s at the Nedbank Golf Challenge and DP World Tour Championship gave him a confidence boost, but this week he’ll face a different challenge at the World Cup of Golf.

The three-time European Tour winner will partner with Jaco van Zyl over four days at The Heath Golf Club in Melbourne, Australia. Rounds one and three are played in a foursomes (alternate shots) format, rounds two and four are betterball.

Coetzee and Van Zyl have toured together for many years, both locally and on the European Tour circuit. They bring a strong combination of finesse and power, and should gel easily as a team.

Van Zyl competed alongside Brandon Stone at the Rio Olympics, but that was a stroke-play tournament. He’ll need to rely on his partner hitting good shots, and vice versa.

There are strong partnerships in the field this week. Belgium has Thomas Pieters and Nicolas Colsaerts, America has Rickie Fowler and Jimmy Walker.

Adam Scott and Marc Leishman are competing in their back yard this week, which makes them undoubted favourites, spurred on by the local crowds.

Nextdoor neighbours Japan have a strong team in Hideki Matsuyam and Ryo Ishikawa, while Spain’s John Rahm and Rafa Cabrera-Bello are undoubtedly strong.