Eight countries battle for national pride in International Crown

Someday soon, however, the UL International Crown might overshadow its other half in women’s golf.

The second rendition of the International Crown begins Thursday at the Merit Club looking to build upon its promising start at Caves Valley outside Baltimore two years ago. The biennial international team event possesses the kind of nationalistic fervor that makes the Solheim Cup successful, but with the potential to make a greater impact. That’s because the Crown’s scale is so much larger as it encompasses the entire world of women’s golf.

With eight nations qualifying, including the Republic of Korea and Japan, where women’s golf is so much more popular than anywhere else in the world, this…