World Golf Championships bring players together from around the world

By Dave Lancer, PGA TOUR Staff

When the World Golf Championships began 10 years ago, one of the goals was to get the best players in the world together more often. A look at the field at this week's CA Championship at Doral Golf Resort & Spa would indicate that goal has been met.

Tiger Woods won the World Golf Championships -- CA Championship in 2007. (Cannon/Getty Images)

Not only are the world's elite players competing next week, they have since the first World Golf Championships event back in 1999. In fact, over the past 10 seasons, players from no less than 28 different countries have competed in the three tournaments.

The World Golf Championships series has allowed top players from across the globe to compete head-to-head. It has bolstered interest in the game around the world and spread the sport into countries not traditionally associated with the sport.

Among the 28 countries that have provided players to the Championships are ones you would expect to find -- the U.S., Australia, England, South Africa, etc. Importantly, though, the list also includes non-traditional markets like Colombia, Thailand, South Korea, India and China.

In addition, if you include the World Cup events that were formerly held under the World Golf Championships banner, you would add 16 more countries to the mix -- again from places outside the usual locales; countries like Italy, Malaysia, Norway, Austria, Chile and Myanmar.

Here's a list of the 28 countries that have been represented over the years at the three current World Golf Championships events:

• Argentina • India • South Africa • Australia • Ireland • South Korea •Canada • Japan • Scotland • China • Netherlands • Spain • Colombia • New Zealand • Sweden • Denmark • Northern Ireland • Thailand • Fiji • Paraguay • Trinidad & Tobago • France • Philippines • USA • England • Scotland • Wales • Germany •

This year's tournament will be broadcast in 209 countries with a potential 500 million viewers. With that kind of interest in the game, look for the number of countries represented in the World Golf Championships to grow even larger in future years.