Shark Shootout teams blend youth and international talent

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Stan Badz/PGA TOUR

The all-Wisconsin team of Steve Stricker and Jerry Kelly will once again join forces for The Shark Shootout.

NAPLES, Fla. -- Tournament host Greg Norman has matched a collection of golf's most successful individual talents into two-man teams as the 22nd annual Shark Shootout returns for a 10th time to Tiburón Golf Club at The Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort Dec. 8-12.

Norman recently announced the 24-man field that features 10 Ryder Cup participants and eight players with a PGA TOUR victory this season. As a group, they have amassed 156 total career victories, including eight major championships from seven different players.

Stewart Cink, has withdrawn due to a scheduling issue and will be replaced by Fred Funk, who was victorious at the 2010 JELD-WEN Tradition and currently holds the fifth position in the Charles Schwab Cup Championship standings.

"The balance of international stars, American players, rookies, young guys and veterans this year is ideal," Norman said. "And each of these guys enjoys the camaraderie of team golf, which makes for an abundance of partner options. The puzzle came together quite easily."

Throughout its history, this event has included many of golf's greatest players. The Shark Shootout, widely regarded as the PGA TOUR's premier post-season event, will once again feature a modified alternate-shot format during the first round, a better-ball Saturday and a final-round scramble. This year, Golf Channel will televise the first-round action and NBC will broadcast the weekend competition.

Southwest Florida sports fans will be joined by an international television audience to watch a collection of talent and character as golf's best battle it out for three days -- all while raising funds and awareness to benefit CureSearch for Children's Cancer and other worthy charities.

"From top to bottom, this is without a doubt one of the strongest fields The Shark Shootout has ever assembled," Norman said. "I can't wait to tee it up alongside Matt (Kuchar). I've enjoyed watching him play since his magical week at Augusta a dozen years ago, and I just hope I can help him cap off a season with one more victory."

Below is a snapshot of the 12 teams striving to earn this year's title:

Matt Kuchar & Greg Norman: These two will be playing together for the first time. The tournament host had to sit out last year's competition due to a shoulder injury. Kuchar, who leads the PGA TOUR's Official Money List this season, has enjoyed his best year as a professional. The Georgia Tech graduate finished among the top 10 in 11 events, including a victory during the FedEx Cup Playoffs. He was a member of this year's U.S. Ryder Cup team and is ranked 10th in the world.

Jerry Kelly & Steve Stricker: The defending champions are both from Madison, Wis., and were born exactly three months apart (Kelly-Nov. 23, 1966, Stricker-Feb. 23, 1967). They have combined for 12 PGA TOUR victories-- Kelly three and Stricker nine. Kelly has won two Shark Shootout titles in five appearances. His first came in 2006 with Rod Pampling. Stricker, currently ranked fifth in the world, will compete for the third consecutive year.

Justin Leonard & Scott Verplank: This duo has become a perennial Shootout contender in recent years and has been paired together three times in the past five years. In 2006, they lost in a playoff and last year finished tied for second once again. The formidable twosome also has a history in the Presidents Cup, with partnerships in foursomes and four-ball.

Mark Calcavecchia & Jeff Overton: This is a great veteran and rookie combination to watch. Calcavecchia has won the Shootout twice in 16 starts, most recently in 2007 with Woody Austin. Overton will be making his first appearance in Naples following an outstanding season that included three runner-up finishes, a pair of third-place finishes and a trip to the Ryder Cup.

Dustin Johnson & Ian Poulter: No team has a better cumulative world ranking than this one -- Johnson (13th) and Poulter (14th). Although they played against each other in the Ryder Cup, both are good friends and fan favorites. The world watched Johnson in contention on Sunday during both the U.S. Open and PGA Championship and he won twice this year. Not to be outdone, Poulter, the flamboyant Englishman won the World Golf Championships-Accenture Match Play Championship in February.

Chris DiMarco & Anthony Kim: These two have won six times on TOUR and will be playing together for the first time. Both have suffered through injuries during the past few years but are back on the mend. Following a victory at the Shell Houston Open earlier this year, this will be Kim's second Shootout start. He finished eighth with teammate Mark O'Meara in 2007. DiMarco is making his fifth appearance. His best finish was third with fellow Florida Gator Camilo Villegas in 2007.

Darren Clarke & Graeme McDowell: These two Irishmen spent a lot of time together at the Ryder Cup -- Clarke as a vice captain and McDowell as the star player who captured the decisive point for Europe. McDowell returns to the Shootout a more familiar face to the general public after his performance at Celtic Manor -- and for winning the 2010 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach. Clarke, a two-time winner on the PGA TOUR, is playing in his first Shark Shootout.

David Duval & Davis Love III: This team represents a pair of major championship winners who return to Shootout competition after playing key roles during the 1990s. Love won in 1992 with Tom Kite and Duval teamed with Fred Couples for victory in 1999. Combined they own 33 PGA TOUR titles and both have played on numerous Ryder Cup and Presidents Cup teams.

Jason Day & Rory Sabbatini: This International team could be in the mix Sunday. Day, now in his third year on the PGA TOUR, won earlier this season at the HP Byron Nelson Championship. The Australian will be playing in his first Shootout. Sabbatini, a five-time TOUR winner from South Africa, will compete in his third Shootout. His best finish was fourth place with Trevor Immelman in 2006.

K.J. Choi & Mike Weir: Another International duo, both of whom are playing in The Shark Shootout for the first time. The South Korean and Canadian have combined for 15 PGA TOUR titles in the past 11 years. Weir won the 2003 Masters and is a veteran of Presidents Cup matches. Choi is the first Korean to earn his PGA TOUR playing privileges and thus is instrumental in starting the golf craze that exists today in his home country.

Fred Funk & Kenny Perry: Two of the game's nicest guys and great competitors have a combined 14 appearances in the Shark Shootout. Perry is a two-time Shootout champion, most recently in 2008 with Scott Hoch. While Perry made his Champions Tour debut a few weeks ago, Funk has already enjoyed success in the 50-over circuit, winning three major championship titles. Together, the twosome has earned 28 titles on both the PGA TOUR and Champions Tours.

Rickie Fowler & Bubba Watson: These two represent a strong youth movement in the game of golf. Watson earned his first PGA TOUR title this year in emotional fashion and Fowler showed the world his talent and determination in singles matches at the Ryder Cup. These U.S. Ryder Cup teammates could be dangerous as the weekend approaches.