PREVIEW-Golf-Fisher, Poulter unite in England's World Cup cause

By Nick Mulvenney

BEIJING, Nov 24 (Reuters) - Ross Fisher and Ian Poulter are determined to finish November in the same way they started it by firing England to victory at the 55th World Cup of Golf in southern China this week.

Fisher and Poulter, who won the World Matchplay and Singapore Open respectively to kick off the month, will take on 27 other nations in their bid to claim England's third world title, and a first since 2004, at the $5.5 million tournament in Shenzhen.

"I think it is time that England won the World Cup again," Poulter said in a statement.

"I think when you have four English players in the top 20 of the World Rankings it shows how good English golf is at the moment so it is about time we stepped up to the mark on the world stage. One thing is for sure, we will try our hardest."

The two friends also represented their country last year but a poor start left them well off the pace as Swede's Henrik Stenson and Robert Karlsson claimed the prize at the vast Mission Hills complex.

World number seven Stenson is the highest ranked player in the field but Karlsson has suffered plummeting fortunes since he lifted the John Jay Hopkins trophy as Europe's number one last year.

The 40-year-old missed more than four months of the season with a career-threatening eye condition but second place after a playoff at the Dunlop Phoenix in Japan last week should boost his confidence for the title defence.

The Swedes shot a final round 63 to beat early frontrunners Spain last year and the Spaniards will again be among the teams to beat with world number eight Sergio Garcia and Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano flying their flag.