Gregory Shamus/Getty Images

By Joel Beall
Matt Kuchar will be a vice captain for the United States at the Ryder Cup later this month. But he’ll be teeing it up for the red, white and blue later in the fall.

Kuchar will team up with Kyle Stanley for the 2018 ISPS HANDA Melbourne World Cup of Golf. Australia will serve as host of the biennial event for the third straight time, with the Metropolitan Golf Club the site of the proceedings. Twenty-eight countries will be represented, with the 56-player field competing for a $2.24 winner’s share. The first and third days are alternate shot, the second and fourth days best ball.

Headlining for the Aussies is Marc Leishman, who enters as the highest-ranked player at No. 22 in the world. Leishman has picked Cam Smith, who’s posted two third-place finishes in the FedEx Cup Playoffs, as his partner.

“I’m extremely excited and honoured to be representing Australia in this year’s World Cup of Golf,” Leishman said. “Having the opportunity to play in Australia is always a treat but to represent Australia against some of the best players from around the globe is truly special. Playing in the World Cup in 2016 was an incredible experience in Melbourne and I can’t wait to get back to play in this year’s event at Metro.”

Other notables that have committed include European Ryder Cuppers Tyrrell Hatton (England) and Thorbjorn Olesen (Denmark), China’s Haotong Li, Belgium’s Thomas Pieters, and former No. 1 Martin Kaymer, representing Germany. Remaining roster spots will be filled by September 20.

The 59th World Cup of Golf begins on November 1. Olesen and Soren Kjeldsen are the defending champs.