Published : Dec. 13, 2012 - 21:27
Asian and European team captains Naomichi "Joe" Ozaki (left) and Jose Maria Olazabal hold the solid silver Royal Trophy and shake hands during a media briefing before the first day of the tournament play at The Empire Hotel and Country Club in Brunei, Thursday.(Park Hae-mook / The Korea Herald)
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, Brunei — The Royal Trophy Golf Championship promises three days of action-clad drama as Asian and European pro-golfers square off at The Empire Hotel & Country Club in Brunei, Friday.
The triumphant Ryder Cup leader at Medinah, Illinois, Jose Maria Olazabal, hopes to continue his recent winning record at the Royal as the captain of the European side — this time against Asia.
Europe clenched its fifth victory of the last six Ryder contests. He dedicated the victory to Spanish golf legend Seve Ballesteros, for whom the Royal Trophy has been dedicated since its establishment in 2006.
If past is prologue, then nail-biting drama might be in store this year here in Brunei.
The last two battles between the finest golfers from Asia and Europe have produced memorable climaxes.
In 2010 in Thailand rivals faced a tie-breaking sudden death shoot-out as the final singles match came down to the 18th hole. Europe was leading 8-7, but Thongchai Jaidee birdied the 17th, facing down Henrik Stenson in the decisive singles matchup.
Stenson, a battle-hardened Ryder Cup campaigner, had to hole a nerve-shredding seven footer or go home empty handed. The nerves of steel Swede rolled home that winning putt, giving Europe a razor thin 8 1/2 – 7 1/2 victory.
Action, drama and surprises filled 2011’s Royal Trophy, too. The Asian stars completely outplayed their more experienced opponents over the first two days to power into a 6-2 lead.
Their exploits included a historic clean sweep of the Four-ball matches on day two — the first time either team managed to win every match in a session since the Royal Trophy was launched in 2006.
But European Captain Colin Montgomerie led his teammates in a jaw-dropping rally in the singles, winning six of the eight matches and turning the whole competition on its head.
When the dust settled, Europe claimed a hugely improbable 9-7 victory.
This year, too, the Royal Trophy promises just as much action and drama.
Naomichi “Joe” Ozaki of Japan will lead as captain of world-class athletes from Asia, including Korea’s own Yang Yong-eun, Bae Sang-moon and Kim Kyung-tae.
Yang is a two-time PGA Tour champ, most notably the 2009 PGA Championship where he came from behind to defeat Tiger Woods.
“I led the Asian side five times and, as you all know, won only once,” Ozaki said during a press briefing Thursday evening.
“And as you all know, that time, I faced Jose (Maria Olazabal),” he added, as a broad smile broke across his lips.
During the press event, the European and Asian captains paired up their players, and matched them against each other in four groups of foursomes:
Ozaki paired Yang with Kim. They are matched against team captain Olazabal and fellow Spaniard Miguel Angel Jimenez.
Yoshinori Fujimoto and Wu Ashun face Italian brothers Edoardo and Francesco Molinari.
Kiradech Aphibarnrat and Jeev Milkha Singh square off against Marcel Siem and power hitter Nicolas Colsaerts.
Korea’s Bae Sang-moon is paired up with Japanese heart throb Ryo Ishikawa to face Henrik Stenson and Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano.
By Philip Iglauer, Korea Herald correspondent
(
ephilip2011@heraldcorp.com)