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Team Asia bounced back yesterday from a first-round drubbing in the inaugural EurAsia Cup, taking three out of five available points in foursome play on day two to close the gap with Europe. |
Yesterday’s results brought the score to 7-3, keeping Team Asia’s slim hopes alive in a tournament clouded by a war of words between its organisers and those who stage the rival Royal Trophy competition.
Asia captain Thongchai Jaidee of Thailand shuffled his pack for the foursomes and it paid off, with two of his three new pairings winning their matches.
South Korea’s Kim Hyung-sung and Prayad Marksaeng of Thailand took a point for Team Asia, as did the pairing of Bangladesh’s Siddikur Rahman and Anirban Lahiri of India.
The other new Asian pairing of India’s Gaganjeet Bhullar and Nicholas Fung of Malaysia lost 2 and 1 to Graeme McDowell and Jamie Donaldson.
In order to win, Asia will need seven-and-a-half points from 10 available in today’s final-round singles play at Glenmarie Golf and Country Club in Kuala Lumpur.
Captain’s pick Fung, 23, who has played solidly, takes on Team Europe captain Miguel Angel Jimenez in the first match today.
Jimenez, 50, who shot two eagles on Thursday, was involved in another two on Friday, as he prepared to face a player young enough to be his son.
“Thongchai said I’ve been playing like a 22-year-old? Well, I move like one too,” joked Jimenez, who is hoping to qualify for September’s Ryder Cup in Scotland.
“I will be the oldest player to play in the Ryder Cup if I make it. I’ve been working hard and the results are showing,” added Jimenez, who is ranked number 39 in the world. “There is no pressure playing someone as young as Nicholas. We are in a good position and I hope we can close out the victory tomorrow.”
Thongchai was delighted with Friday’s results, but admitted it will be an uphill task to overtake Europe.
“There is still a chance, but Europe have been in this position many times before,” he said.
“We have another 10 points to play for. I understand what we need to do to win and I won’t put any pressure on my players. I want them to enjoy the tournament.”
Asian, European Tour hit back
Meanwhile, the war of words over the controversial EurAsia Cup golf competition rumbled yesterday with its organisers, the Asian and European Tours, insisting the latest Ryder Cup-style event would benefit the sport.
The retort followed a harsh dressing-down issued the day before by the organisers of the Royal Tropy, a similar Europe v Asia event launched in 2006, which called the new EurAsia cup an “act of aggression” by the two tours, and an “extremely negative development” for golf.
European Tour Chief Executive George O’Grady and Asian Tour Chairman Kyi Hla Han said in a statement that they “regret” the comments made Thursday by Royal Trophy co-managing director Ivan Ballesteros.
“The EurAsia Cup offers The European Tour and the Asian Tour an opportunity to further develop the game of golf,” they said.
They noted the benefits that have accrued to the sport through the Ryder Cup, the popular regional battle between teams of European and American golfers.
The statement also noted that while the two tours no longer sanctioned the Royal Trophy, they have “been respectful to and supportive” of it, releasing players for the competition even when it clashed with tour events.
The EurAsia Cup kicked off Thursday at the Glenmarie Golf and Country Club in Kuala Lumpur.
The tournament has become the latest skirmish in the battle for control of Asian golf, between the Asian Tour and its rival OneAsia, which supports the Royal Trophy and has been holding tournaments in the region since 2009.
The late Spanish golfing great Seve Ballesteros—Ivan’s uncle—was a leading advocate for the establishment of the Royal Trophy.
Scathing by the standards
In a verbal assault that was scathing by the standards of any sport, let alone the clubby world of golf, Ivan Ballesteros had accused the European and Asian Tours of acting against his late uncle’s wishes.
In a statement, he said the EurAsia Cup undermined the Royal Trophy, violating the spirit of an earlier agreement to respect the older competition.
But the statement by the tour chiefs noted that the Seve Ballesteros Foundation, run by the golfer’s children and heirs, “fully supports the EurAsia Cup through its position as Official Charity.”
