January 9, 2006	Monday	Zilhaj 8, 1426

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BANGKOK, Jan 8: Sweden’s Henrik Stenson crushed local star Thongchai Jaidee to clinch a narrow victory for Europe over Asia in the first Royal Trophy here on Sunday. Stenson’s heroics in the anchor match proved vital for Seve Ballesteros-led Europe as a resurgent Asia, trailing by four points overnight, won the singles 5-3 and only lost the contest 9-7.

“I am very happy with the final score today, the European team played fantastic. I was not surprised by the Asian performance — they are all great champions, big names,” said the Spanish maestro, who skippered Europe to victory in the 1997 Ryder Cup.

Stenson, unbeaten in five matches for the Continentals in last year’s Seve Trophy and a strong contender for a spot in this year’s Ryder Cup team, ensured Europe the half point they needed for the win when he went five up with five to play against the disappointing Thongchai, a two-time Asian number one.

Europe had begun the day at Amata Spring Country Club needing just two and a half points to triumph after a stirring performance in the foursomes and fourball matches on Saturday which they won 6-2.

Ireland’s Paul McGinley, best remembered for holing the winning putt at the 2002 Ryder Cup, and Graeme McDowell of Northern Ireland put them in touching distance with wins over China’s Zhang Lian-wei and Jyoti Randhawa of India respectively.

With Japan’s Yasuharu Imano beating England’s David Howell by two holes and Asia leading in four other games, the attention swung to the final singles between Stenson and Thongchai. The Swede controlled the game from the early stages after his Thai opponent stumbled to back-to-back bogeys at the third and fourth holes.

The 29-year-old Stenson, who won both his matches on the first day, won three holes in a row from the 11th to ensure Europe of overall victory and closed out a 5 and 4 win at the 14th hole.

McGinley’s 2 and 1 comeback victory over China’s Zhang Lian-wei was crucial as it gave Europe their first point of the afternoon.

He had back-to-back birdies at the eighth and ninth to draw level after a slow start and kept himself in the match with some inspired putting.

McGinley went one up with a birdie at the 14th and closed out the match when Zhang, who had a 100 per cent record for Asia in their two Dynasty Cup victories over Japan, drove into the water at the par-three 17th.

McDowell, who won both his matches with McGinley on Saturday, defeated India’s Jyoti Randhawa 3 and 2 in a topsy turvy contest which turned on a couple of bad shots by the former Asian number one at the 13th and 14th holes.

With Stenson having wrapped up the overall victory, the remaining matches were academic but the Asians salvaged some pride by collecting a number of notable scalps.

India’s Arjun Atwal beat six-time Major winner Nick Faldo of England 3 and 2 and Thailand’s Thaworn Wiratchant, the top player in Asia last year with four titles, saw off Ryder Cup captain Ian Woosnam 2 and 1.

Woosnam and Faldo suffered a 6 and 5 mauling at the hands of Thaworn and Thongchai in Saturday’s foursomes and the Welshman joked that they would not be teaming up at September’s Ryder Cup at the K Club in Ireland.

Asian captain Masahiro Kuramoto said he was proud of the players’ fightback in the singles.

The European players shared one million dollars for the win with Asia splitting 500,000 dollars. The European, Asian and Japan Tours have still to decide whether the Royal Trophy should be an annual or biennial event.

Results:

Final team score: Asia 7 Europe 9

Sunday results, Singles

Yasuharu Imano (JPN) bt David Howell (ENG) 2 up

Paul McGinley (IRE) bt Zhang Lian-wei (CHN) 2 and 1

Graeme McDowell (NIR) bt Jyoti Randhawa (IND) 3 and 2

Arjun Atwal (IND) bt Nick Faldo (ENG) 3 and 2

Thaworn Wiratchant (THA) bt Ian Woosnam (WAL) 2 and 1

Hur Suk-ho (KOR) bt Kenneth Ferrie (ENG) 2 and 1

Keiichiro Fukabori (JPN) bt Thomas Bjorn (DEN) 4 and 3

Henrik Stenson (SWE) bt Thongchai Jaidee (THA) 5 and 4

Saturday results, Foursomes

David Howell (ENG)-Kenneth Ferrie (ENG) bt Hur Suk-ho (KOR)-Keiichiro Fukabori (JPN) 2 up

Paul McGinley (IRE)-Graeme McDowell (NIR) bt Arjun Atwal (IND)-Jyoti Randhawa (IND) 4 and 3

Thomas Bjorn (DEN)-Henrik Stenson (SWE) bt Yasuharu Imano (JPN)-Zhang Lian-wei (CHN) 1 up

Thaworn Wiratchant (THA)-Thongchai Jaidee (THA) bt Nick Faldo (ENG)-Ian Woosnam (WAL) 6 and 5

Fourball

Arjun Atwal (IND)-Jyoti Randhawa (IND) bt David Howell (ENG)-Kenneth Ferrie (ENG) 1 up

Paul McGinley (IRE)-Graeme McDowell (NIR) bt Hur Suk-ho (KOR)-Zhang Lian-wei (CHN) 2 and 1

Ian Woosnam (WAL)-Thomas Bjorn (DEN) bt Thaworn Wiratchant (THA)-Thongchai Jaidee (THA) 3 and 2

Nick Faldo (ENG)-Henrik Stenson (SWE) bt Keiichiro Fukabori (JPN)-Yasuharu Imano (JPN) 1 up —AFP