(Agencies)
Updated: 2007-11-26 11:07

SHENZHEN, China - Boo Weekley and Heath Slocum will leave China with their heads held high after coming up just short in their attempt to emulate some of the greatest names in golf by winning the World Cup for the United States.

Boo Weekley of the United States hits on the 15th fairway during the third day of the World Cup golf tournament in Dongguan, China November 24, 2007. [Agencies]

The unheralded Florida duo topped the leaderboard for most of the four days of the $5 million tournament before losing out to Scots Colin Montgomerie and Marc Warren on the third hole of a sudden death playoff on Sunday.

Weekley, ranked 43rd in the world, and his friend since high school Slocum, 70th, only got their chance to play in the 54-year-old tournament because their better-known compatriots had turned down the opportunity.

Right from the start of the week, though, they endeared themselves to everyone at Mission Hills with some sparkling golf, down-to-earth humour and evident pride in being asked to play for their country.

"It was a great week. It's an honour to come over here and represent your country and play," said 34-year-old Weekley, who admitted to being moved almost to tears when he was asked to make his third trip outside the U.S. to play in China.

"We weren't even supposed to be here and that's a bonus there - to be able to come here and see."

Slocum felt his putting on the last day denied them the chance of winning a 24th World Cup for the U.S. to join the likes of Sam Snead, Ben Hogan, Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods as American winners.

"Boo hit some incredible golf shots," said the 33-year-old. "I had a couple of chances but just failed to execute them. But overall it was a fun week. We were looking for a different outcome. We came close but just fell short."

Both players list hunting and fishing near their homes in the panhandle of Florida as their interests and both had wins on the U.S. PGA Tour this year, a second for Slocum and a first for Weekley.

Whatever else is in store for them next year, both said they would love to return to Mission Hills and have another crack at winning the John Hopkins trophy.

"The people are real nice," said Weekley. "They don't really understand the game or the rules of how quiet it should be, but they learn.

"This is going to be a good venue for the next couple of years and I hope the U.S. would love to have me and Heath back again to represent it."