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ASIAN GOLF TODAY TOP STORIES
GOLF TODAY TOP STORIES
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Thomas Bjorn latest to commit to Royal Trophy
 Ryder
Cup winner Thomas Bjorn has given Europe's Royal Trophy challenge
a major lift with his inclusion in the team to face Asia in next
month's Thailand showpiece.
The Danish ace is joined by three other European Tour stars - England's
Kenneth Ferrie, Swede Henrik Stenson and Graeme McDowell of Northern
Ireland - in the eight-man lineup finalised by non-playing captain
Seve Ballesteros.
David Howell, Paul McGinley, Nick Faldo and Ian Woosnam had already
been unveiled as the first four European players.
Bjorn, winner of eight European Tour titles and a three-time runner-up
in Majors, made his Ryder Cup debut in 1997 and featured again in
2002 when he played a significant role in Europe's win at the Belfry
in England.
"Thomas is a fantastic addition to our squad for the Royal
Trophy," said Ballesteros. "He's a proven winner against
some of the world's top players and he has vital matchplay experience.
"I'm also delighted to include Kenneth, Henrik and Graeme,
three of the brightest talents on the European Tour. In all, we
are taking eight truly outstanding golfers to Thailand and I'm sure
Europe will provide Asia with a very strong challenge in the inaugural
Royal Trophy."
Ferrie made a huge impression in 2005, winning the European Open
at the K Club in Ireland for his second career title. Stenson and
McDowell are also two-time winners on the European Tour.
The European challenge will be spearheaded by England's Howell,
who held off Tiger Woods to win last month's HSBC Champions Tournament
in Shanghai, and Irishman McGinley, Europe's 2002 Ryder Cup hero
and winner of the European Tour's season-ending Volvo Masters in
October.
England's Faldo, a six-time Major winner, and Welshman Woosnam,
the 1991 Masters champion, are Ballesteros' choice as captain's
picks.
The US$1.5 million Royal Trophy - the first-ever Ryder Cup-style
team tournament between Asia and Europe - will take place at Amata
Spring Country Club, Bangkok, from January 5-8, 2006.
Each team will comprise eight players, led by a non-playing captain,
competing in a series of 16 matches involving foursomes, four-ball
and singles. The event has been sanctioned by the Asian, Japan and
European Tours.
"This is an extremely strong European lineup," said Lincoln
Venancio, managing director of event promoter Entertainment Group
Limited.
"All eight players have won European Tour titles and, in choosing
Nick Faldo and Ian Woosnam as his captain's picks, Seve has gone
for Ryder Cup experience, which will be vital in front of the large
galleries we are expecting at Amata Spring.
"It's clear that this European team will be very strong and
competitive. I think we're in for a fantastic first Royal Trophy."
Asian captain Masahiro Kuramoto has already named a talent-packed
lineup for the showpiece tournament.
Spearheading the home team's challenge will be the top three finishers
on the Asian Tour Order of Merit - Thai duo Thaworn Wiratchant and
Thongchai Jaidee and India's Jyoti Randhawa.
They are backed up by three of the top four on the Japan Golf Tour's
2005 money list - Japanese pair Yasuharu Imano and Keiichiro Fukabori
and Korea's SK Ho.
The Asian squad is completed by Arjun Atwal of India and China's
Zhang Lian Wei, both selected by Japanese golfing legend Kuramoto
as his captain's picks.
European team: David Howell (Eng), Paul McGinley (Ire), Thomas
Bjorn (Den), Kenneth Ferrie (Eng), Henrik Stenson (Swe), Graeme
McDowell (Nir), Nick Faldo (Eng), Ian Woosnam (Wal).
Asian team: Thaworn Wiratchant (Tha), Thongchai Jaidee (Tha), Jyoti
Randhawa (Ind), Yasuharu Imano (Jpn), Keiichiro Fukabori (Jpn),
SK Ho (Kor), Arjun Atwal (Ind), Zhang Lian Wei (Chn)
December 15, 2005
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