Syndicated Thumbnail Navigation player featuring a selection of clips taken from Golf Bug TV. For use on the Golf Today website. http://link.brightcove.com/services/link/bcpid1175881076http://www.brightcove.com/channel.jsp?channel=495713462 RELATED STORIES Australasian players to feature at next Royal Trophy? Royal Trophy 2007 home page Royal Trophy Preview Day 1: Europe grabs lead in foursomes Day 1: Seve pleased with first day's result Day 2: Europe continue to dominate Day 2: Europe extend lead despite Asian fightback Day 3: Europeans complete crushing victory Day 3: Ozaki takes full responsibility Final Scores Joe Ozaki confident of beating Europe Seve predicts close Royal Trophy Royal Trophy teams completed Joe Osaki to captain Asians in Royal Trophy Royal Trophy 2006 home page ASIAN GOLF TODAY TOP STORIES Chen leads; Yang makes cut and history Chawalit is 21st $1m man Kapur has European top 20 finish Midea gets $500,000 purse Fujita wins in wet & windy Beijing R&A supports juniors in China Mission Hills to host AP Summit GOLF TODAY TOP STORIES Clarke pushing for Ryder Cup Duval still trying to get back on form Ochoa aims to push Sorenstam USGA adds another sponsor Sorenstam to retire at the end of 2008 Garcia back in the World Top 10

Seve believes Royal Trophy will boost Asian golf

Victorious Royal Trophy captain Seve Ballesteros believes the intercontinental team event can play as big a role in developing Asian golf as the Ryder Cup once did for Europe.

Joe Ozaki's side were on the end of a hammering similar to those suffered by the Europeans in the early days of their venture into their biennial competition against the United States, the Asians losing 12.5-3.5 at the Amata Spring Country Club over the three-day event.

But Ballesteros, who featured in Europe's first appearance in the Ryder Cup back in 1979, thinks the Asians can prosper from the experience.

"It was tough for Joe," said Ballesteros, whose team successfully defended the trophy they won last year on the same course. "But I think the Ryder Cup did it for Europe in helping to grow the game and I think the Royal Trophy will do the same for the Asians.

"It has been a fantastic tournament and it has a great future ahead."

There were few bright points for the Asians, who won just one point outright throughout the competition when Thai golfer Thongjai Jaidee defeated Niclas Fasth in the final match, although the form of youngster Prom Meesawat presented a glimpse of the future for the region.

The 22-year-old took half a point off Darren Clarke in the singles and also shared the spoils against Clarke and Lee Westwood when paired with Jaidee in Saturday's fourballs.

But it was a more demoralising story for the rest of the team, as Asia's number one Jeev Milkha Singh - winner of the Volvo Masters at Valderrama last season - lost all three of his matches and it was a similar story throughout the eight-man squad.

Ballesteros, though, offered the home side some solace and the hope that one day they can compete with the game's best players.

"To become a champion you have to learn how to lose and for the Asian players they are all good players and great champions but they don't have the experience the European team has," said Ballesteros.

"But I'm sure in the last three days they picked up plenty of things for the future.

"The Royal Trophy is going from strength to strength and I'm convinced, if nothing goes wrong, that in six or seven years it will change golf in Asia like the Ryder Cup did for Europe."

January 16, 2007