Europe VS Asia, Victory on the Last Hole

Last Sunday, Europe regained the Royal Trophy match play event against Asia, with World No.7 Henrik Stenson picking up a shot on the final hole to secure an 81/2 to 71/2 victory.

 

 

Stenson’s singles opponent, Thongchai Jaidee of Thailand, faced a 15-foot putt at No. 18 that would have given him a win over Stenson squared the three-day event at 8-8 to force a playoff, but the putt came up just short. The Swede then sank a seven-foot putt to square the match and give Europe victory in the three-day event.

 

Asia won last year’s competition after losing to Europe in the first two editions of the event in 2006 and 2007. This time Europe repeat it's triumph in the maiden event in 2006 when Stenson beat Thongchai in the anchor match for overall victory. Europe also won in 2007 but were stunned 10-6 by Asia last year.

 

"All credits to my team for fighting. We all contributed at least one point this week,'' European captain Colin Montgomerie said. "Congratulations to my team. Good start for European golf.''

 

Asia's non-playing captain Naomichi "Joe'' Ozaki captain praised the Europeans, but said he was "pleased'' with his team's performance. He said he remained convinced until the end the two teams would end in a playoff.

 

"Actually, I had a vision that Thongchai would make a putt on the 18th hole and we would go to the playoff,'' Ozaki said. "Unfortunately it didn't happen.''

 

The roller-coaster competition saw Asia take the early lead Friday, but fall behind after Saturday's four-ball competition.

 

Asia entered the final day a point down but claimed 31/2 points to 11/2 over the first five singles matches Sunday to take the lead.

 

Charlie Wie of South Korea, Koumei Oda of Japan and Jeev Milkha Singh of India won their matches respectively against Simon Dyson of England, Alexander Noren of Sweden and Robert Karlsson of Sweden.

 

But then Spain's Pablo Martin and Denmark's Soren Kjeldsen won their matches, setting the stage for the final match.

 

Down by three after nine holes, Stenson fought back to even the match with three holes to play. Thongchai, inspired by the cheering crowds, retook the lead on the 17th hole with an 8-foot birdie putt.

 

"I was three down after 10 and I had to dig deep and really find something to make it even,'' Stenson said. "I told the boys I wasn't playing great, but said maybe I could find something if I had to - and I did.''

 

The draw for Sunday's singles I think was most intriguing, with home favorite Thongchai drawn to face Europe's top player Stenson in the final match if it goes that far. Wie will take on Dyson in the opening singles encounter. The rest of the draw has Liang vs. Montgomerie, Oda vs. Noren, Singh vs. Karlsson, Prayad vs. Martin, Ishikawa vs. Hanson and Bhullar vs Kjeldsen.

 

Asia VS Europe