Chris Wood and Danny Willett are World Cup team mates but the England duo could be fighting each other for victory in this week’s World Cup of Golf in Melbourne.

Reigning Qatar Masters champion Chris Wood could be fighting team mate, Danny Willett for victory in this week’s World Cup of Golf. (Photo – www.golffile.ie)

Sixty-years after the inaugural event in Canada and organisers have abolished the traditional fourball and foursomes format in favour of a 72-hole stroke play event that will mirror the nature of competition when golf returns to the Olympics in 2016.

And in another twist in the $8m event there is 60 players teeing up on the famed Royal Melbourne and with Wood and Willett among 52 players representing 26 countries.

The other eight, including former Masters and PGA Champion, Vijay Singh of Fiji, along with Ryder Cup star Nicolas Colsaerts, will play without a fellow countryman and thus are ineligible to share the $US 1.2m first place team prize.

“The new format is a little strange,” said World No. 2 Adam Scott who will team with fellow Australian Adam Scott.

“I kind of hoping I would be spending the four days playing alongside Jason Day as I thought that would be good for both of us but then this event is trying to find a new identity, I guess.

“So we are running with this new format this year ahead of taking it to the Olympics in 2016, so we will see how it pans out.”