MELBOURNE, Australia – Notes and observations from the first round of the ISPS Handa Melbourne World Cup of Golf where teams played the Fourball format and hosts Australia share the lead with England and Korea. LEADING LIGHTS SMITH JOKE FIRES UP MATE: Cameron Smith says he was only joking but his verbal jab at Australian teammate Marc Leishman certainly had a desired effect as the local hopes surged to a 10-under 62 and a share of the lead at the World Cup of Golf with England and Korea. After Smith made a birdie at the par-4 3rd and a stunning eagle at the par-5 4th to kick start the Australians round the youngster turned to four-time PGA TOUR winner Leishman and smiled. “I gave Leish a bit of an uppercut under the ribs after four and said you can turn up at any time,â€� Smith said. Leishman grinned but seemingly took it personal as shortly after he stiffed an approach to the par-3 6th hole to make birdie and then made further inroads by making birdies on the seventh, ninth and 13th holes. Smith then played his role with three closing birdies in the final five holes. “It was very important for us to get off to a good start,â€� Leishman said. “You don’t want to be fighting back the whole tournament, and the scores were pretty good today, but it wasn’t that easy out there. So we’re happy to be tied for the lead.â€� POULTER SENDS WARNING: Ian Poulter knows team golf better than most. As a Ryder Cup star for Europe he knows a hot start in Melbourne is great, but not the key. “This tournament is won and lost on Friday and Sunday,â€� the English star warned after he a Tyrrell Hatton fired a 10-under 62 to share the lead after the opening round at Metropolitan Golf Club. Of course he was referring to the switching formats. Thursday’s opening round was Fourball, a format they will again play on Saturday. But still to come is the sometimes-diabolical Foursomes, or alternate shot format. “Foursomes is the day where you can take yourself out of the tournament pretty quickly,â€� Poulter said. “In Fourballs you’re always going to make birdies, there’s enough par-5s on the course, and hopefully you don’t make any mistakes. “Today’s about attacking the golf course and making as many birdies as you can. Tomorrow, you’re going to find yourself in situations where you know you can’t afford to miss it right or left, so you’ll be playing a little bit more conservatively. “You’ll be trying to be smart, not make silly mistakes, and if you get the opportunity to make birdie, then obviously go ahead and take it.â€� KOREA CHASING HISTORY: Former PLAYERS champion Si Woo Kim and his partner Byeong Hun An are hoping to bring Korea its first World Cup title. And that’s not all. With an eye to the 2019 Presidents Cup that will also be held in Melbourne the duo are hoping International Team captain Ernie Els might take notice. “The win would be great because I will be even happier because it’s not an individual event, it’s a team event and you’re playing for Team Korea,â€� An said after they posted a co-leading 10-under 62. Should they continue their success they hope to come together at the Zurich Classic Of New Orleans next year to further their case. “It will be very special if we can get some good results,â€� An said. “Team Korea’s best result is fifth so our goal definitely is to beat that. And if that happens, I think you can see us in Zurich next year.â€� NOTABLES VENEZUELA: Three-time PGA TOUR winner Jhonattan Vegas and his partner Joseph Naffah, who is ranked 2012th in the world, put up an inspirational 7-under 65. Naffah is lucky to be playing golf at all let alone on the world stage having gone through three back fusions. Read more about his incredible journey here. BELGIUM: Two years ago Thomas Pieters was a Ryder Cup star but a dip in form saw him miss out on the European team earlier this season. He proved his team golf ability hasn’t deserted him as he and Thomas Detry shot 9-under 63 to be tied fourth. DENMARK: The defending champions Soren Kjeldsen and Thorbjorn Olesen have continued where they left off with a 9-under 63 leaving them just one shot off the lead heading to Friday Foursomes. USA: Matt Kuchar and Kyle Stanley posted a 6-under 66 on Thursday to sit midfield but only four shots off the pace. “Six under, it’s not hurt us, it’s not helped us, but we’re in decent position for the start off to the week,â€� Kuchar said. QUOTABLES We weren’t far away from thinking, okay, maybe it’s now time to go back home and close the season off right now. They put a cage through the front and they put six screws in my back …You have to feed off each other’s energy, especially tomorrow because you’re not going to have a perfect round of golf.That’s an awkward straight‑arm motion. I think I prefer the American style of letting it chuck. That straight‑arm thing, I’m definitely going to have another go at it. It’s awkward, but I think I could be pretty good at it, I think I could bring some heat. SHOT OF THE DAY
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