Hanwha LIFEPLUS International Crown: The Format

The fourth playing of the Hanwha LIFEPLUS International Crown takes place this week at TPC Harding Park in San Francisco, Calif. Eight teams from eight different countries representing the LPGA Tour’s top talent are set to duke it out Thursday through Sunday in the Bay Area, featuring one of the more unique formats in professional golf.

Thursday through Saturday: Four-Ball

Each country will play two Four-Ball matches against each of the other three countries in their pool. In Four-Ball, two partners compete together as a side, with each player playing her own ball. A side’s score for a hole is the lower score of the two partners on that hole.

At the conclusion of the three days of Four-Ball competition, the two countries with the most points from each pool will advance to Sunday. One point will be awarded for a win, one half-point for a tie and zero points for a loss. All points from the Four-Ball matches on Thursday through Saturday will be cumulative and will determine the top two countries advancing from each pool.

Pool A

No. 1 United States, No. 4 Sweden, No. 5 England, No. 8 People’s Republic of China

Pool B

No. 2 Republic of Korea, No. 3 Japan, No. 6 Thailand, No. 7 Australia

Thursday Pool A	Thursday Pool B
United States 1A vs. People’s Rep. Of China 8A	Rep. of Korea 2A vs. Australia 7A
United States 1B vs. People’s Rep. Of China 8B	Rep. of Korea 2B vs. Australia 7B
Sweden 4A vs. England 5A	Japan 3A vs. Thailand 6A
Sweden 4B vs. England 5B	Japan 3B vs. Thailand 6B

Friday Pool A	Friday Pool B
United States 1A vs. England 5A	Rep. of Korea 2A vs. Thailand 6A
United States 1B vs. England 5B	Rep. of Korea 2B vs. Thailand 6B
Sweden 4A vs. People’s Rep. Of China 8A	Japan 3A vs. Australia 7A
Sweden 4B vs. People’s Rep. Of China 8B	Japan 3B vs. Australia 7B

Saturday Pool A	Saturday Pool B
United States 1A vs. Sweden 4A	Rep. of Korea 2A vs. Japan 3A
United States 1B vs. Sweden 4B	Rep. of Korea 2B vs. Japan 3B
England 5A vs. People’s Rep. Of China 8A	Thailand 6A vs. Australia 7A
England 5B vs. People’s Rep. Of China 8B	Thailand 6B vs. Australia 7B

Sunday: Foursomes and singles

Two semifinal matches will be played Sunday morning, with each semifinal match consisting of two singles matches and one Foursomes match. Foursomes, also known as alternate shot, is a form of play involving partners where two players compete as a side by playing one ball in alternating order on each hole.

The winning semifinal countries will compete in the final match on Sunday afternoon, and a third-place match will take place between the two losing semifinal countries. Both matches will be the same format as the semifinals, two singles matches and one Foursomes match.

Hanwha LIFEPLUS International Crown: The Format

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