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Asia secure Royal Trophy

Europe lose unbeaten record

Last updated: 11th January 2009

Asia: Royal Trophy winners

I want to thank my players for trying hard this week. We lost, it hurts but that will make us better in the future.

Singles results
Soren Hansen (Den) halved with Ryo Ishikawa (Jpn)
Paul Lawrie (Sco) bt Wen-chong Liang (Chn) 3&2
Nick Dougherty (Eng) bt Charlie Wi (Kor) 1 up
Pablo Larrazabal (Spn) lost to Prayad Marksaeng (Tha) 5&4
Oliver Wilson (Eng) bt Hideto Tanihara (Jpn) 3&2
Johan Edfors (Swe) bt S K Ho (Kor) 5&4
Niclas Fasth (Swe) lost to Toru Taniguchi (Jpn) 7&6
Paul McGinley (Irl) lost to Thongchai Jaidee (Tha) 5&4

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Asia held off a final day revival from Europe to win the Royal Trophy for the first time with a 10-6 victory at the Amata Spring Country Club near Bangkok.

The host continent had opened a five-point advantage after the first two days of the Ryder Cup-style matchplay event and required just two points from Sunday's eight singles.

The first two matches to finish were shared - Prayad Marksaeng defeated Pablo Larrazabal 5&4 after Paul Lawrie had claimed a 3&2 triumph over Liang Wen-chong.

That left the stage set for Toru Taniguchi to sink the winning putt as he romped to a 7&6 success over Niclas Fasth.

European captain Jose Maria Olazabal - deputising for close friend and victorious 2006 and 2007 skipper Seve Ballesteros, who is recovering from surgery on a brain tumour - had hoped for a special performance from his men but it was not forthcoming.

Lawrie won the day's second match but woeful performances from Larrazabal and Fasth, playing in the fourth and seventh games respectively, helped Asia to an unassailable lead.

Improved

Nick Dougherty, Oliver Wilson and Johan Edfors recorded their first points of the week, but their wins ultimately proved in vain.

Olazabal congratulated Joe Ozaki's Asian team for their triumph before hinting Ballesteros would return to reclaim the trophy in 2010.

"My last words are for Seve," said the Spaniard as he addressed his eight-man team.

"He is recovering from some health issues, but even though I'm the captain this year, I might not be the captain next year - and I can assure you he is going to be tougher than I was."

The 42-year-old promised Europe would learn from the loss, adding: "I want to thank my players for trying hard this week.

"We lost, it hurts but that will make us better in the future."