Europe Beats U.S. in 1st Round of World Golf Championship

Europe’s Ronan Rafferty and David Feherty beat American opponents as a six-man European team defeated the United States 8-4 in the first round of the $1.15-million Four Tours World Championship of Golf.

Japan and Australia tied 6-6 in their first-round match on the 7,017-yard, par-72 Tokyo Yomiuri Country Club course. The United States faces Japan and Australia meets Europe in second-round matches Friday. The round-robin portion of the tournament concludes Saturday, with the top two teams advancing to Sunday’s final.

Rafferty beat Mark Calcavecchia 71-73 and Feherty routed Payne Stewart 71-82. Rafferty birdied four of the first five and Calcavecchia missed a chance to tie with a double-bogey on the 224-yard, par-3 18th.

Europe’s Mark James beat Wayne Levi, who retired after playing the first nine holes due to a bad back. Ian Woosnam of Europe, who eagled the par-5 fourth hole, beat Tim Simpson 68-71.

Fred Couples and Jodie Mudd recorded victories for the Americans. Couples beat Nick Faldo 65-69 and Mudd defeated Bernhard Langer 69-70. Couples’ 65 was the best score of the first round.

Nobuo Serizawa, Saburo Fujiki and Naomichi (Joe) Ozaki posted victories for Japan. Serizawa beat Peter Senior 69-70, Fujiki defeated Rodger Davis 67-71 and Ozaki beat Brian Jones 71-73.

Each member of the winning team will receive $80,000 and the members of the second-place team will get $45,000. Third place is worth $35,000 and fourth $30,000.