Top Kiwi Lee to skip World Cup of Golf

Top-ranked Kiwi Danny Lee has pulled out of next week's World Cup of Golf in Melbourne, leaving Ryan Fox in need of a new playing partner.

The in-form Lee, coming off a runners-up finish at the PGA Tour's Mayakoba Classic in Mexico, is a new father and reportedly wants to spend time at his Texas base rather than contest the 28-nation event at the Metropolitan Golf Club.

World No.90 Lee will leave a sizeable hole to fill for New Zealand, whose next-best golfer is 259th-ranked Nick Voke, a recent three-time winner on the PGA Tour China.

Voke is a first-year professional, meaning Fox may prefer to select the more proven Japan Tour regular Michael Hendry, who last contested a World Cup seven years ago.

Europe-based Fox, ranked 88th, and Lee shared 11th place at the World Cup two years ago.