Ireland, represented by Padraig Harrington and Paul McGinley at Kiawah Island, will not win the Golf World Cup but that didn't stop the Dublin duo making a blistering start to their fourth and final round today.
The Ryder Cup heroes relinquished any chances of winning earlier in the week with opening rounds of 74 and 77. Yesterday's 66 was more of a consolation score rather than a realistic effort to get back into contention, especially given the lead South Africa had amassed for themselves.
Trevor Immelman and Rory Sabbatini built up a seven shot lead going into today's final round after yesterday's 63. They lead the United States and France who share second on seven under.
Harrington and McGinley opened with three consecutive birdies today before adding another at the sixth, getting their campaign back to three under. However, they still remained some 11 shots off the pace.
The leading pairs have yet to take to the course, the scene of the famous Ryder Cup showdown later named the 'War on the Shores' where Bernhard Langer missed the crucial six foot putt on the final green to retain the Cup for Europe in 1991.