The Royal Trophy 2009

Asian Triumph Puts Captain Ozaki in Dreamland
Amata Springs, Bangkok (Thailand) – 9 Jan 2009 – Asia staged a remarkable comeback on the first day of the Royal Trophy to win the opening Foursomes 3-1, taking a massive stride towards an historic first victory over Europe.

Things looked gloomy for Joe Ozaki and his players early on, as they trailed in all four matches after the first hour of play.

But they showed tremendous fighting qualities, and ninety minutes later they had turned it round to lead in two matches, and they were all square in the other two.

There were plenty more twists and turns to come before a classic day of match play ended with Asia  holding a precious two point lead going into Saturday’s Fourball.

Captain Ozaki had been talking up his team’s chances all week, but he admitted even he did not dare to imagine they would win the opening session in such emphatic style.

He commented: “Compared to my experience at the last Royal Trophy, when the Asian team did not win a single match on the first two days, it felt like I must be dreaming to be 3-1 ahead.

“Now I believe my team has the confidence from today’s performance to go on and play just as well over the next two days.

“I was a little bit depressed at first when we were down in all four matches. But I was confident they would do better on the back nine because my players are all very good. So I was not too downhearted.”

Ozaki’s spirits rose as Thailand’s Thongchai Jaidee and Prayad Marksaeng produced a stunning birdie blitz on the front nine to blow away the Swedish duo of Niclas Fasth and Johan Edfors.

Thongchai and Prayad delighted the home supporters with five birdies in the space of seven holes, cancelling out the 2&1 victory achieved by Paul Lawrie and Soren Hansen after a see-saw duel with Japan’s Ryo Ishikawa and Toru Taniguchi.

The 17 year old Ishikawa showed some of the star quality that has seen him hailed as the new Tiger Woods by holing a couple of outrageous thirty footers to keep his team alive.

But Lawrie and Hansen called on all their Ryder Cup experience to keep the pressure on, and prevent an improbable Asian clean sweep.

Former Open champion Lawrie said: “They holed a few big, big putts just to stay with us, but you expect that in these team matches. Soren and I have both played Ryder Cup and you have to expect the unexpected.

“You have to expect the other guys to hole every putt because it happens so often in these games.

“I was great to be able to get back in front on 15 after Soren’s great pitch. Then he did the same again on 16 and I managed to roll the putt in again, and we were never going to give it back after that.”

Prayad matched Ishikawa by holing two monster putts, but his ‘bombs’ had a much more profound effect on the outcome of his match.

He explained: “Part of the game plan was for me and Thongchai to get the crowds involved, and we did that when I holed long putts on the third and the fifth holes. Getting them excited will help the whole Asian team.

“We felt this was a match we could win because we know we play well together. We thought maybe our opponents would not have quite the same understanding we have built up from playing together many times.

“I was happy with the way I played today, especially as I have been a bit ill. I have had a touch of flu, and an in growing fingernail, but it all seems much better now!”

It kept on getting better for the Asian team, as Charlie Wi and Liang Wen-Chong came back from three down against Paul McGinley and Pablo Larrazabal to win on the final green.

That could also prove a crucial psychological blow, as it was McGinley’s first defeat in his third Royal Trophy appearance. Casting a few seeds of doubt in the mind of a man who has also played on three winning Ryder Cup teams must help the Asian cause.

Hideto Tanihara and S.K.Ho completed a memorable day for the home team as they won the last three holes to defeat the highly-rated English duo of Oliver Wilson and Nick Dougherty.

European captain Jose Maria Olzabal admitted: “The whole European team was very disappointed today. We did not play to our usual standards.

“The players need to push the pedal down when we are in front. I said earlier in the week we must respect the Asian team because they are in good form, and tomorrow we are going to have to play our guts out to try to cut the deficit.”

Ryo Ordered to launch Asian assault
Amata Springs, Bangok (Thailand) – 8 Jan 2009 – Joe Ozaki has thrust Japanese golf sensation Ryo Ishikawa further into the spotlight by nominating him as the player who can inspire a first Asian success in the Royal Trophy.

The Asian team captain will send Ishikawa out with fellow Japanese star Toru Taniguchi in the first match of the competition, and he admitted he wants the 17 year old to get the galleries and his team- mates fired up.

Ishikawa and Taniguchi will be up against a far more experienced pairing in the opening Foursomes match at Bangkok’s Amata Spring Country Club, after being drawn against former Open champion Paul Lawrie and Soren Hansen, who made his Ryder Cup debut four months ago.

 

Captain Ozaki admitted he had been tempted to send out the crowd-pleasing Thai duo of Thongchai Jaidee and Prayad Marksaeng first, but declared: “I wanted our youngest player to go out first and get some momentum that would inspire the team.

“The two Thai players are a good pairing to have as the anchor men in the final match, and I am very pleased with the way the draw has worked out.”

Ishikawa, whose presence has sparked a media circus with scores of photographers and camera crews following his every move, insisted he was up to the challenge.

He said: “I am happy to be in the first match, and I will try to play my best golf so that the rest of the team gets good news from our match.”

Captain Ozaki could not disguise a big grin as he added: “My first impression is that the Asian team has a big advantage in every one of the matches.”

Thongchai and Prayad will take on the big-hitting Swedish duo of Niclas Fasth and Johan Edfors, who were both outstanding when Europe powered to a Royal Trophy victory two years ago.

Another member of that team, Paul McGinley, will be partnered by Spanish rookie Pablo Larrazabal as he bids to preserve his unblemished record when representing Europe.

McGinley has played in three Ryder Cups – holing the winning putt in the first of them seven years ago – and two previous Royal Trophies, and won the lot. US PGA Tour player Korean Charlie Wi and 2007 Asian number one Liang Wen-chong stand in his way this time.

McGinley said: “We expect a much tougher match this time as the Asian golfers have been in terrific form. But we have four outstanding partnerships, and we have every reason to feel confident.”

Another golfer who has played in all three Royal Trophy shoot-outs, S. K. Ho of Korea, will partner Hideto Tanihara of Japan. Their morale will be boosted by the fact they each won twice on the Japan Golf Tour in 2008.

They will be up against the English duo of Oliver Wilson and Nick Dougherty, who know each other’s game inside out after playing together since their amateur days at the turn of the century.

Tee times. 11.15, Ishikawa & Taniguchi v Hansen and Lawrie; 11.29, Wi & Liang v McGinley & Larrazabal; 11.43, Tanihara & Ho v Dougherty & Wilson; 11.57, Thongchai & Prayad v Fasth and Edfors.