Captain GMAC EurAsia Ready

Getty Images

Graeme McDowell will help lead Team Europe's challenge at next year's inaugural EurAsia Cup in Malaysia.

After being unveiled as the European captain at a press conference in Hong Kong, Miguel Angel Jimenez announced the first four automatic qualifiers for his 10-man team, with McDowell being joined by Wales' Jamie Donaldson, Frenchman Victor Dubuisson and Spaniard Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano.

The quartet secured their places on the team thanks to their final position in the 2013 Race to Dubai.

The remaining spots in the European side will be taken from the leading four available players from the Official World Golf Ranking on February 3, 2014, the playing captain and one captain's pick by Jimenez.

McDowell, who won the US Open in 2010 and claimed the winning point at that year's Ryder Cup, said: "I am really looking forward to playing the EurAsia Cup.

"It's a great concept to bring Asia and Europe together and I think it has a lot of potential to become a very big event."

The Northern Irishman added: "Everyone knows the standards in Asian golf are continually rising and I have no doubt it will be a tough job to go away from home and win.

"But if we gel as a team and get the pairings right then we will have a chance because there will be a lot of quality and experienced players in the European Team and I am sure a few of them will be looking to sharpen their match play skills with an eye on the Ryder Cup next year."

Thailand's Thongchai Jaidee is captain of the Asian team.

His team will include the leading four available Asian players from the final 2013 Asian Tour Order of Merit, the leading three available Asian players invited on the basis of their Official World Golf Ranking, the playing captain and two captain's picks.

The EurAsia Cup will take place at Glenmarie Golf and Country Club in Kuala Lumpur from March 27-29.