Australians look set to chase home the brilliant Belgians

Sky Sports Golf, 1am Sunday

Story so far
Belgium have forged a five-shot lead through three days of the World Cup, the dynamic duo of Thomas Detry and Thomas Pieters carding two rounds of 63 in the fourballs to take control at The Metropolitan.

Detry and Pieters, former teammates at the University of Illinois and in the Eisenhower Trophy for Belgium as amateurs, have loved uniting for their country. Both have been in excellent form on the European Tour and have been swinging with great confidence in Melbourne.

Belgium, as big as 20-1 on Monday morning before going off as well-backed 12-1 chances, are a general 4-11 to turn their advantage into maiden World Cup victory for their nation.

Australia, six shots off the lead in a tie for fifth place, are 11-1 second-favourites. Marc Leishman and Cameron Smith are only a shot behind those in second and will be looking for a fast start on home turf to pressure the pacesetters.

Leaderboard
-19 Belgium (T Detry & T Pieters)
-14 Mexico (A Ancer & R Diaz), Italy (A Pavan & R Paratore), Korea (B An & S W Kim)
-13 Sweden (A Bjork & J Lagergren), Australia (M Leishman & C Smith), England (T Hatton & I Poulter)

Best prices
4-11 Belgium, 11 Australia, 16 Korea, Mexico, England, 18 Italy, 33 Sweden, 100 bar

Final-day advice
Fourballs golf will always suit the combination of Thomas Detry and Thomas Pieters more than foursomes – they are a power-packed, aggressive pair who revel in the comfort of being backed up by the other's ball – but the Belgians are playing so well that the switch to foursomes for Sunday seems unlikely to derail their title charge.

Detry and Pieters have had their A-game this week, quickly overcoming a lack of course knowledge, and they can be expected to complete their assignment in competent enough fashion to claim World Cup glory.

Pieters was the star of the 2016 Ryder Cup – he has proved himself a man of steel in the most pressure-packed team event of them all – so the senior member of the side is unlikely to buckle. And Detry, who seems ultra-relaxed in the company of his pal and appears to be growing in assurance every time he tees up, can probably be relied upon to keep his side of the bargain.

The Belgians both use a Callaway Chrome Soft ball, so will be playing their usual ball for the foursomes, and five shots should be enough of a buffer to repel the chasing pack.

Marc Leishman and Cameron Smith, along with the Melbourne galleries, were groaning deeply when Smith's seemingly perfect approach to the final hole in round three clattered into the flagstick and spun off the green. That shocking chunk of bad luck may have been the moment where Australia's World Cup hopes were sunk.

Australia are still the most likely to give Belgium a game on Sunday – expect the local heroes to card a much better foursomes score than they managed on Friday – but a six-shot deficit leaves precious little margin for error.

Sunshine and moderate breezes are forecast for the leaders, so the weather gods are unlikely to scupper Belgium. Detry and Pieters know that anything around level par should be enough to get the job done. They can play more conservatively than normal and steer their ship safely home.

Racing Post Sport followers are on Belgium ante-post at 12-1, so have no need to get further involved. The best bet at this stage may be the 7-2 about Australia in the outright betting without Belgium.

Wild slugger Renato Paratore can be expected to cost Italy plenty of shots, while the same can be said of Joakim Lagergren for Sweden. Sunday tension is likely to get to Roberto Diaz, so Mexico may struggle to retain their lofty position on the leaderboard too.

Belgium can be expected to triumph, with Australia, Korea and England finishing second, third and fourth. Korea, comprising Byeong Hun An and Si Woo Kim, have the long-game class to handle foursomes golf well. An and Kim should leave playing partners Italy in their wake (1.18am UK and Ireland time).

The ever-angry English pairing of Tyrrell Hatton and Ian Poulter have been trying to impress each other with a game of Who Can Be Most Obnoxious, with Hatton smashing up tee boxes and Poulter disrespecting referees. Foursomes golf requires calm heads and neither of these two misbehaving Englishmen abroad appear to have one this week.

The final pairing of Belgium and Mexico tee off at 1.30am UK and Ireland time.

Outright recommendation
Australia without Belgium
2pts 7-2 bet365, Sky Bet

Foursomes recommendation
Korea to beat Italy
2pts 5-6 bet365

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