Jimenez said: "We didn't hole the putts today, and I missed the fairway on the par fives where we needed to make birdies. That's the game. We just didn't make enough under par and didn't win. But we played very well and I have a great partner," he continued. "We enjoyed the whole week and I really had fun with my partner. We didn't win the tournament, but apart from that, very fine week."

Larrazabal, the 2008 Sir Henry Cotton Rookie of the Year in Europe, said: "We didn't play like the first and second rounds, but still it was a good performance and a great tournament for us. But you know, I wanted so badly to go home with the trophy, and I'm a little bit sad now."

In harmony throughout - the Swedish duo line up a putt on 17.

Elsewhere in the field England continued their dramatic improvement over the first two days with a 67 to finish in sixth place on -15. Aside from Australia, who finished with a four-over 76, Ireland were the biggest losers of the day, with a five-over 77 that gave them a final score of ten-under and dropped them from 5th place to 16th overall.

Holders Scotland scored par for the day, and finished a distant and disappointing tie for 20th. Hosts China were unable to maintain their improved form of day 3. They too finished with a 72 in a tie with India for 17th. Overall this was no disgrace, but it will come as a disappointment both to the Chinese team of Liang Wenchong and Zhang Lianwei, and to the strong Chinese support, who had hoped at least to better the country’s previous best result of 11th place in a World Cup which the same players had achieved last year.

(China.org.cn December 1, 2008)