So, could Austria prove to be the ultimate gatecrashers? While the likes of Tiger Woods and Vijay Singh and Ernie Els stayed away from the party, Austria - a team comprised of a journeyman professional and another who has just lost his card on the European Tour - marked their first appearance in the World Cup with a sensational opening round 60 that left them tied with Ireland after yesterday's fourball.

For Markus Brier, who has never finished inside the top 60 in five seasons on the European Tour, and Martin Wiegele, who finished 210th on the Order of Merit having missed the cut in no fewer than 20 tournaments on the circuit this season, it was a remarkable debut. Especially given that they were lucky to be in the field in the first place.

Austria only secured a place in the 24-team tournament when Thailand - who had finished ahead of them in the qualifying tournament in Mexico - withdrew.

So it was that the Austrian duo, who had secured sponsorship from the Austrian golf federation to enable them compete in Mexico, were drafted in as first alternates.

In many ways, it would seem that fate has looked after the Austrians. Originally, they had entered the qualifying intending to compete in the event in Malaysia but the International Federation informed them they would have to compete in the Mexico qualifiers.

There, they finished three shots out of qualifying; only to get a reprieve when Thailand, three days later, withdrew.

"We've had our ups and downs this year," conceded Brier, "but it all came together today. It's a dream score."

Indeed, for Wiegele, the transformation after a miserable season in which he earned only 21,746 in finishing 210th in the money list and losing his card, was more remarkable.

"It was great," he said. "I've struggled all season and lost my card and then was disappointed to miss out at the second stage of qualifying school . . . so, this is awesome. I've only been a professional for about two years and maybe I wasn't quite mature enough for the European Tour.

"Next year I'll go back on the Challenge Tour and, hopefully, in two years' time I will be mature enough to play on the main tour again."

Before then, though, there is the little matter of the World Cup where Brier and Wiegele find themselves sharing the lead with Ireland going into today's second round.