Royal Trophy: Europe meets Asia
It is that time of the year again. Europe, with all gusto and verve, meets an equally ambitious Asian counterpart in the tiny Kingdom of Brunei. Yes, the season’s Royal Trophy has come at last.
Jose Maria Olazbal, charged with putting together the European Tour team, has called up Sweden’s Henrik Stenson, after the latter’s brilliant Ryder Cup performance, earlier this season.
The Swede, at the Ryder Cup, finally broke through a win-less streak of nearly three years. His return to performance had been much awaited.
Moreover, it left Olazabal, who had masterminded Europe’s win, being immensely delighted.
"Henrik's confidence will be sky-high after this latest win, which highlighted his strong character as well as his enormous talent," Olazabal was quoted in a press release.
"It is great to have him on our team. His Royal Trophy record is a phenomenal one, both individually and in terms of helping Europe prevail in tight circumstances".
Besides Stenson, fellow Ryder Cup winners Paul Lawrie, Francesco Molinari, Nicolas Colsaerts and Colin Montgomerie have also been called up by Olazabal for the European line-up. It looks like the ‘Miracle of Medinah’ looks to be pulled off at the Royal in
Brunei too.
The event, the Royal Trophy, is the fifth of its kind, and will be teeing off on December 14, at Brunei’s Empire Hotel and Country Club.
The Jack Nicklaus designed golf course is, by Asian Golf Monthly standards, 2012’s best golf resort in the Asia Pacific.
Colin Montgomerie, who had captained the European teams in 2010 and 2011, had this to say about the event, “It was one of the most remarkable days that I have been part of, and I have been part of a number of remarkable days for European golf. Today probably
beat the lot”.
Asian Captain Joe Ozaki too has assembled an impressive cohort, eyeing the cup. South Korean Major winner, Y. E. Yang, it has been reported, has been called to Brunei.
The summons have gone out to India’s Jeev Milkha Singh too, who, in 1998, was also the first player from India to join the European Tour.
Then there is China’s no. 1, Wu Ashun, who also looks to participate.
“It is a great opportunity for Asian Nations to unite and compete against the European Team. That does not happen in any other sport,” Naomichi ‘Joe’ Ozaki had said in a press release earlier.
His statement emphasized on the importance of the game that works so hard to bring the two continents together.
The Royal Trophy began life as the vision of late Severiano Ballesteros, who hoped to bring to the Asian Continent the same gift of golf growth impetus that his continent had been experiencing since the 1980s, thanks largely to the Ryder Cup.
The legendary five-time Major winner, with dazzling good Mediterranean looks and a swing that can only be described as beautiful, Ballesteros brought the vision to life in Brunei’s Royal Trophy.
All in all, as ball leaves pin, we look forward to splendid afternoons of exhilarating performances the Royal Trophy never fails to deliver.
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