2007 Royal Trophy - Day 1: Europe grab Royal Trophy lead in foursomes

Europe's defence of the Royal Trophy had an almost perfect start as Seve Ballesteros' team raced into a convincing 3½-1½ lead over their Asian counterparts in the opening day foursomes at the Amata Spring Country Club in Bangkok.

Defending the trophy they won in its inaugural year 12 months ago, Europe claimed a three and a half to a half lead over the Joe Ozaki-captained Asians.

Lee Westwood and Darren Clarke set the tone for the Europeans with a comfortable 4&3 win over Korea's SK Ho and Toru Taniguchi from Japan, while Johan Edfors and Henrik Stenson gave Tetsuji Hiratsuka and Prom Meesawat little chance with a 6&5 hammering.

Niclas Fasth and Robert Karlsson led for all but one hole against all-Thai pairing Thongchai Jaidee and Thaworn Wiratchant before closing out the day's final match with a 3&1 win.

The only glimmer of hope for the Asians came in the foursomes featuring Paul McGinley and Anthony Wall against Asian number one Jeev Milkha Singh and YE Yang.

Despite trailing by two with three holes to go, the home side battled back to earn half a point but with the fourballs on Saturday and Sunday's singles ahead, Ozaki's team have a tough task ahead.

Ryder Cup duo Westwood and Clarke put the first point on the board but were made to battle through the front nine, hitting the turn with just a one-hole advantage.

Ho and Taniguchi won the first with a birdie but were pegged back at the third when the Europeans picked up a birdie of their own before a bogey at the fifth and another at the seventh gave Westwood and Clarke a two-hole lead.

However, Clarke's tee shot into the water at the par-three eighth handed a hole back to leave the match well poised going into the back nine.

That changed immediately after the turn as birdies at the 10th and 11th gave the Europeans the upper hand and from there Westwood and Clarke cruised to the first win of the day, completing the success with a birdie on the 15th.

The second European point followed soon after as Edfors and Stenson dispatched Hiratsuka and Meesawat.

The Swedish duo birdied the first three holes to lead by two and a bogey for the Asians at the fourth further increased the European advantage.

A birdie at the seventh put the Swedes four up and their advantage was increased further with another bogey for the Asians, who were left trailing by five holes at the turn.

Another birdie at the 11th extended the European advantage even further and closed out the match when Meesawat missed a 10-foot birdie putt at the 13th

Anthony Wall and Paul McGinley had the toughest challenge against Asian number one Jeev Milkha Singh and YE Yang of Korea.

The Europeans won the opening hole but were pegged back at the third and Singh and Yang were two-up by the fifth. The match was tied again by the seventh, however, before a birdie at the eighth put the Asians back in front.

An under-hit chip by Yang from 40 yards that failed to reach the green effectively handed the 11th hole to McGinley and Wall and from there the Europeans looked to be in command, winning the 12th and the 13th to take a two-hole lead.

But the Asians rallied, birdieing the 16th and, although birdies for both teams on the 17th left the match dormie, a par on the last - secured with a successful seven-foot putt by Yang - meant the match was halved.

Karlsson and Fasth avoided some late jitters when their lead was reduced to one hole on the 15th but a birdie on the 16th by Fasth ended the Asian resistance as the Swedes finished 3&1 winners.

Foursomes result (European names first):

Lee Westwood and Darren Clarke bt SK Ho and Toru Taniguchi 4&3

Johan Edfors and Hanrik Stenson bt Tetsuji Hiratsuka and Prom Meesawat 6&5

Anthony Wall and Paul McGinley halved with Jeev Milkha Singh and YE Yang

Niclas Fasth and Robert Karlsson defeated Thongchai Jaidee and Thaworn Wiratchant 3&1

Overall Score: Europe 3 1/2 Asia 1/2

January 12, 2007