Rose seeks fifth success

Rose wants a sparkling finale to his season

Justin Rose is hoping he can claim victory at the World Cup in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, and fulfil a prediction he would win five events this season.

The 22-year-old Englishman entered 2002 still searching for his first professional success, but his brother said he was sure success was imminent.

Rose said: "He kept telling me at the beginning of the year that I was going to win five tournaments - and he said the fifth one was going to be a really big one.

World Cup facts

Course: Vista Vallarta, Nicklaus Course (7,153 yards, par 72)

Format: Two-man teams representing 24 countries. First and third rounds, fourballs; Second and fourth, foursomes

First prize: $500,000 per man

Holders: South Africa

"He's no Nostradamus, but you never know. Maybe he had a little feeling and I may as well try and believe it."

This year, Rose has claimed victories twice in South Africa, once in Japan and then at the British Masters at the start of June.

However, the second half of the year has not matched the first and Rose is hoping to end the season on a high.

Paul Casey, a late replacement for the injured Nick Faldo, will partner Rose.

In the absence of defending champions Ernie Els and Retief Goosen of South Africa, the favourites are Americans Phil Mickelson and David Toms.

South African joy in Japan

They renew their Ryder Cup partnership because Tiger Woods was another to stay away this year.

Americans Mickelson and Toms are favourites

And Spain are not even among the 24 teams after Carlos Rodiles and Ivo Giner lost out to Switzerland, Myanmar and Singapore in a qualifying tournament.

England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales were among the 18 exempt nations.

With Colin Montgomerie another absentee, Scotland's pairing is Paul Lawrie and Alastair Forsyth.

Dredge ready for top table

Like Rose and Forsyth, Wales' Bradley Dredge makes his debut in the event.

But in partner Ian Woosnam he has the most experienced player taking part. This is the 44-year-old's 16th appearance and Dredge is his seventh partner.

England won through Faldo and David Carter in 1998, Ireland have won it twice and Wales triumphed in 1987.

The Scots have never lifted the trophy.

Draw for the opening four-balls which start at 1525 GMT on Thursday.

Mardan Mamat and Chih-Bing Lam (Sing) v Dinesh Chand and Vijay Singh (Fij)
Craig Parry and Adam Scott (Aus) v Anders Hansen and Soren Hansen (Den)
Eduardo Romero and Angel Cabrera (Arg) v Carl Pettersson and Niclas Fasth (Swe)
Thomas Levet and Raphael Jacquelin (Fra) v Ian Woosnam and Bradley Dredge (Wal)
Stephen Ames and Robert Ames (Tri) v Paul Lawrie and Alastair Forsyth (Sco)
K.J. Choi and S.K. Ho (Kor) v Jesus Amaya and Rigoberto Velasquez (Col)
Ian Leggatt and Mike Weir (Can) v Sven Struver and Alex Cejka (Ger)
Craig Perks and Michael Campbell (Nzl) v Marc Chatelain and Andre Brossart (Swi)
Justin Rose and Paul Casey (Eng) v Shigeki Maruyama and Toshimitsu Izawa (Jpn)
Padraig Harrington and Paul McGinley (Irl) v Soe Kyaw Naing and Kyi Hla Han (Mya)
Jamie Acevedo and Carlos Larrain (Ven) v Phil Mickleson and David Toms (USA)
Esteban Toledo and Pablo del Omo (Mex) v Rory Sabatini and Tim Clark (Rsa)

Teams (in order of seeding)

1. United States (Phil Mickelson and David Toms)
2. Fiji (Vijay Singh and Dinesh Chand)
3. Ireland (Padraig Harrington and Paul McGinley)
4. New Zealand (Michael Campbell and Craig Perks)
5. Argentina (Angel Cabera and Eduardo Romero)
6. Japan (Shigeki Maruyama and Toshimitsu Izawa)
7. Canada (Mike Weir and Ian Leggatt)
8. Sweden (Niclas Fasth and Carl Pettersson)
9. England (Justin Rose and Paul Casey)
10. Australia (Adam Scott and Craig Parry)
11. Scotland (Paul Lawrie and Alastair Forsyth)
12. South Korea (KJ Choi and Hur Suk-Ho
13. Denmark (Anders Hansen and Soren Hansen)
14. France (Thomas Levet and Raphael Jacquelin)
15. South Africa (Tim Clark and Rory Sabatini)
16. Wales (Ian Woosnam and Bradley Dredge)
17. Trinidad and Tobago (Stephen Ames and Robert Ames)
18. Germany (Alex Cejka and Sven Struver)
19. Mexico (Esteban Toledo and Padblo del Olmo)
20. Switzerland (Andre Brossert and Marc Chatelain)
21. Myanmar (Kyi Hla Han and Soe Kyaw Naing)
22. Singapore (Mardan Mamat and Lam Chih Bing)
23. Colombia (Jesus Amaya and Rigoberto Valasquez)
24. Venezuela (Carlos Iarrain and Jaime Acevedo)