Showing posts with label EurAsiaCup. Show all posts
Showing posts with label EurAsiaCup. Show all posts

1/15/2016

Europe Lead EURASIA Day One

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Ian Poulter led from the front as Europe built a commanding lead on the opening day of the EURASIA CUP presented by DRB-HICOM.

Darren Clarke's Europe lead 4 ½ - 1 ½ after winning four of Friday's six fourball matches, with Asia taking one and the other ending all square.

Bernd Wiesberger and Ian Poulter, one of the star performers in Europe’s recent Ryder Cup victories, put the visitors' first point on the board after beating Anirban Lahiri and Jeung Hun Wang 4 and 3 in match one.

Europe did not have to wait long for their second point, with Ross Fisher and Kristoffer Broberg posting a 6 and 4 victory over Prayad Marksaeng and K.T Kim in match four.

Asia took their first point shortly after when Byeong-hun An and Thongchai Jaidee completed their stunning turnaround to beat Yorkshiremen Danny Willett and Matt Fitzpatrick 3 and 1.

But Europe made it 3-1 when Shane Lowry and Andy Sullivan beat Wu Ashun and Shingo Katayama 2 and 1 before Søren Kjeldsen and Victor Dubuisson, who was struggling with a knee injury on the back nine, halved their match with home favourites Danny Chia and Nicholas Fung.

Lee Westwood and Chris Wood then beat Kiradech Aphibarnrat and SSP Chawrasia 2 and 1 in match six to round off a successful day for Europe.

European captain Clarke was thrilled with his team's start to the competition. He said: "It's a wonderful start for Europe. There was a lot of matches there where it could have swung either way on the back nine. 

"Halfway around, Europe were leading in all the matches. I was on the radio to a few of the other guys and said, this is match play, Asia are going to come back at some stage on the back nine, and that's exactly what they did.

"We had a strong couple matches and managed to finish with a very good result."

In the morning's first match, Wiesberger and Poulter were one up thanks to a birdie from the Austrian at the sixth, and they caught fire after the turn, winning three holes in a row from the tenth to build an unassailable lead.

Poulter was pleased with their performance. He said: "It was good golf. We played nice. It's nice to get it done early, as hot as it is out here right now.

"We holed a couple of putts, which is always handy in this format. It normally makes the difference - Ian Poulter.

"Those guys really didn't hole anything, and that's the turning point. If you hole putts from 15, 20 feet, then obviously it makes it very difficult for your opponent."

Wiesberger added: "I think we did good as a team. We holed some key putts when we wanted to, and we had our good moments - each of us - and helped each other out, so it was a good team effort today."

Fisher and Broberg were four up at the turn before increasing their lead further by taking the tenth hole.

Marksaeng and Kim claimed the 11th, but the European duo restored their five-hole lead when Broberg rolled in his long-range putt at the next, and they secured the point by winning the 14th.

Fisher said: "We were really up for the challenge come the first tee, and just kept saying to each other 'come on, let's keep the pedal down, let's just put two balls in play'.

"That's what Clarkey reiterated to us last night at the meeting and that's what we tried to do today - put two balls in play, put two balls on the green and give ourselves looks at birdies. We made a bunch today and we're delighted to be finished early."

Elsewhere, Jaidee put the Asian pair ahead in match two when he holed a monster putt from some 90 feet at the fifth.

But Englishmen Willett and Fitzpatrick bounced back and looked well-placed to win another point for Europe after some brilliant putting saw them take a two-hole lead into the turn.

But An and Jaidee had other ideas, winning the 11th, 14th, 15th, 16th and 17th holes to seal Asia’s first point. 

Lowry and Sullivan were two up at the turn before birdies at the 13th and 14th gave them a four-hole lead.

Katayama chipped in at the 15th before a birdie from Wu at the 16th reduced the deficit for the Asian pair, but the European duo halved the 17th to close out victory.

Dubuisson and Kjeldsen went one up at the earliest opportunity in match three, with Frenchman Dubuisson firing a birdie at the first.

Fung levelled things up with a birdie at the short fifth before Dubuisson sank a sensational long putt at the ninth to restore Europe's one-hole lead.

The Asian pair drew level at the next but Europe regained the lead at the 14th, only for Fung to square the match by winning the 15th.

Kjeldsen thought he had edged his pair back in front when he chipped in at the 17th, but Fung also chipped in to set up a thrilling finale.

The match was halved at the 18th after both teams managed par.

Westwood and Wood started strongly, going two up after winning the second and fifth holes, but they were pegged back as Aphibarnrat won the seventh and Chawrasia took the tenth for Asia.

But birdies at the 12th and 16th helped the Englishmen win the point.



1/12/2016

Clarke Ready to Singh at Eurasia

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Captains Darren Clarke and Jeev Milkha Singh are predicting another close contest when the cream of Europe goes up against the might of Asia in the second edition of the EURASIA CUP presented by DRB-HICOM

The inaugural tournament in 2014 ended 10-10 after a thrilling final day fightback by the Asian team and, given how closely the sides are again matched this week, neither man would be surprised if it were to end in another draw at Glenmarie Golf & Country Club, in the Malaysian capital of Kuala Lumpur. 

Clarke, who can call on the might of Ryder Cup veterans Ian Poulter and Lee Westwood in his 12-strong team, believes that whilst Europe may boast a marginally stronger line-up on paper, home advantage could prove pivotal for Singh’s side. 

He said: “We are playing in the Asian team’s backyard, so they are a bit more used to the heat and humidity than we are, which may give them a bit of an advantage. When the humidity comes with this sort of heat, it is quite oppressive. And it probably feels even hotter than the last time we were here. But with the co-sanctioned events we have in Asia, the Europeans do have experience playing here. 

“So it’s too close to call, and I think there’s a pretty good chance it could end in another draw. You have two very strong teams, and because it’s match play anything could happen. Hopefully it will be every bit as exciting as last time. Although I don’t know how our nerves will be at the end of the week!”

Those sentiments were echoed by Singh, who revealed it was an honour to be asked to follow Thongchai Jaidee as captain of the Asian team. 

Much like his predecessor, the genial Indian has vowed to adopt a relaxed approach to the role and will allow his charges to express themselves. 

“I believe in our players,” Singh said. “I know that all of them have the experience. They are used to the weather. They have played in Asia many times, and they play these kind of courses all the time.

“So I just basically have to make sure they are comfortable, happy, and relaxed. When all of these things are given to him, that’s when a player plays his best. And I don’t even have to tell them to try their best, because I know they are all going to give 100 per cent.”

The action gets under way on Friday with six fourball matches, followed by the foursomes on Saturday and concluding with Sunday’s 12 singles matches.


2/04/2015

McGinley Credits EurAsia Cup


Paul McGinley, who is headlining this week’s Maybank Malaysian Open, has credited the successful staging of the inaugural EurAsia Cup last year as a vital ingredient in the continent’s victory over the United States.

“The EurAsia Cup (between Asia and Europe) is very important from a European perspective for the captain in preparation for a Ryder Cup. It was a great success and an important ingredient in our success at Gleneagles,” said McGinley.

“I learned about the Graeme (McDowell) and Victor (Dubuisson) partnership (during the EurAsia Cup). That solidified itself there. That was a very important partnership. There were a number of other guys there who looked like they would make the team. Miguel (Jimenez) looked likely – I would say if the team was picked around the time of the EurAsia Cup, he would’ve been one of the picks.

“He played incredibly well there as captain and he’d recently done well in the Masters, too, but he didn’t keep it up over the summer. Joost Luiten was another one. Even though they didn’t make the team, I learned a lot and I was well prepared if any of them made the team. It was a big learning curve and I hope the next captain will get the same out of it next time.”

The Irishman believes the EurAsia Cup, which is slated to be held in 2015, will continue to grow after a tantalizing 10-10 tie in the inaugural edition at Glenmarie Golf and Country Club.

“… it will grow. I don’t know what the viewing figures were like back home, but certainly everyone on Tour followed it. It’s never going to get to the level of The Ryder Cup straight away. Even when The Ryder Cup started, even 20 years ago, it was quite small to where it is now,” he said.

“We definitely need another outlet from The Ryder Cup. The Americans have the Presidents Cup and learn a lot from it in terms of preparing for a Ryder Cup. We need an outlet and Asia is the obvious place for it. It’s very important for whoever the next captain may be to have an opportunity to oversee the EurAsia Cup.”

Jimenez, who is playing in Malaysia this week, was the only player to win all his three matches in the EurAsia Cup, which was presented by DRB-HICOM. He will be keen to see the match play showdown grow.

“The EurAsia Cup was very nice. The tournament itself was very good. It was a new tournament and a nice change that it was match play instead of stroke play, which we play every week. It helped keep players in tune for match play, which for the European players was very important,” said the Spaniard.

“It was good for golf in Malaysia and for golf in Asia generally. Of course Europe wanted to win and Asia wanted to win, but in a way it was nice that the match ended in a draw. I think people were more interested for that reason.

“My experience of being a captain at the EurAsia Cup was very good. Some of the European players went on to play in The Ryder Cup later in the year and for that it was very important and very helpful. It gave Paul McGinley an idea of how players play together, and how they cope with match play situations. I think it’s something we definitely need to keep.”


3/28/2014

GMAC Tweets Tiger Clarification

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Graeme McDowell has taken to social media in an attempt to clarify comments he made about Tiger Woods last week.

McDowell spoke to a group of reporters at the Arnold Palmer Invitational in Florida and was quoted on pgatour.com saying that 14-time major winner Woods has "lost that sort of force field of invincibility around him."

"The aura is not as strong," McDowell said.

"He's still Tiger Woods, still the greatest player ever in my opinion. I don't remember the first time I played with him but there was a real 'wow' factor. He was playing a different sport than me. But guys get older, stuff happens."

World No 1 Woods, 38, who has not won a major since the 2008 US Open, did not play at Bay Hill last week due to ongoing back problems which threaten his participation in next month's US Masters.

Northern Irishman McDowell feels some of his comments were taken out of context and wrote on his Twitter page on Thursday: "I spent 90 per cent of my press conference last week at Bay Hill being asked questions about Tiger, speculating about where his game is right now.

"Many of my quotes have been taken out of context and spun quite negatively. It's hard for me to comment on Tiger in the early 2000s. I can only say that he has raised the bar so much in the sport globally and players are so much better equipped to win these days.

"He seems more beatable nowadays simply because the players around him are better and have more belief thanks to Tiger moving the needle.

"I really shouldn't get caught up in speculation and opinion especially when talking about TW. You set yourself up for failure. #nocomment"


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Europe Battle Asia Rally

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Asia battled back from a disastrous first day at the inaugural EurAsia Cup - but Europe still remain firmly on course for victory in Kuala Lumpur.

After being whitewashed 5-0 in Thursday's fourballs, Thongchai Jaidee's side secured three points from Friday's foursomes to leave the score at 7-3.

Prayad Marksaeng and Kim Hyung-sung got the better of Thomas Bjorn and Thorbjorn Olesen 4&3 while Anirban Lahiri and Siddikur Rahman defeated Joost Luiten and Victor Dubuisson by one hole.

It seemed there would be another victory for the hosts when Jaidee and Kiradech Aphibarnrat led going down the last, only for Europe captain Miguel Angel Jimenez to deny them in stunning fashion.

The 50-year-old, who made two eagles at Glenmarie Golf and Country Club for the second day running, produced a superb approach to the 18th green to set up fellow Spaniard Pablo Larrazabal for a birdie to snatch a half.

That meant the spoils were deservedly shared in a high-quality contest. Jimenez had holed a bunker shot on the third for an eagle and then a putt from 30ft on the 11th for another, although that effort was only good enough for a half.
Missed chance

Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano and Stephen Gallacher also halved their match with Koumei Oda and Hideto Tanihara, although the duo missed a birdie chance on the last to win.

"We managed to half a couple of matches and win another one. It was a tough day in the heat and Asia played very well today." 

Gallacher missed from 12 feet on the 18th to snatch victory after he and his Spanish playing partner had let slip a three-hole lead from the 10th onwards. They lost lost four of the next five but levelled matters at the 17th hole.

Europe's only winners were Graeme McDowell and Jamie Donaldson, who came from behind for the second match running to beat Gaganjeet Bhullar and Nicholas Fung 2&1.

For the second successive day McDowell and Donaldson had to recover from an early deficit, though they were rather gifted a number of holes after finding themselves two down just before the turn.

"At the end of the day I am happy," Jimenez said. "We managed to half a couple of matches and win another one. It was a tough day in the heat and Asia played very well today.

"At one point it looked like it was going to be the opposite of yesterday but we managed to get the points and 7-3 is a good lead for tomorrow."

Europe now need just three-and-a-half points from Saturday's 10 singles matches to secure overall victory.



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3/26/2014

Profile - Des Smyth

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Full Name: Desmond John Smyth
Age: 51
Hometown: Drogheda, Ireland
Birthplace: Drogheda, Ireland
Birthdate: December 2, 1953
Family: Wife: Vicki (m. 1981); Children: Karen (1982), Gregory (1984), Shane (1988)
Turned Professional: 1974

RYDER CUP EXPERIENCE
Years Played: 1979, 81, 2006 (Vice Captain) (winners), 2014 (Vice Captain)
Total Matches: 7
Career Ryder Cup Record (W-L-H): 2-5-0
Singles (W-L-H): 0-2-0
Foursomes (W-L-H): 1-2-0
Fourballs (W-L-H): 1-1-0
Total Points Won: 2
Total Points Won Point %: 28.57

RYDER CUP RESULTS
1979: The Greenbrier
USA 17, Europe 11
Day 1 Foursomes: Smyth/Brown lost to Irwin/Kite (7 & 6)
Singles: Smyth lost to Irwin (5 & 3)

1981: Walton Heath
USA 18 1/2, Europe 9 1/2
Day 1 Foursomes: Smyth/Gallacher beat Irwin/Floyd (3 & 2)
Day 1 Fourballs: Smyth/Cañizares beat Rogers/Lietzke (6 & 5)
Day 2 Fourballs: Smyth/Cañizares lost to Nicklaus/Watson (3 & 2)
Day 2 Foursomes: Smyth/Gallacher lost to Kite/Nelson (3 & 2)
Singles: Smyth lost to Crenshaw (6 & 4)

EUROPEAN TOUR CAREER RECORD
Events played: 594
Top Ten finishes: 90
In Money: 412
Official Career Earnings € 2,554,241

Smyth was the oldest winner in European Tour history, between March 2001 and November 2012, when he won the 2001 Madeira Island Open, aged 48 years and 34 days.  Alongside Mark McNulty was the only other player to win a European Tour event in each of the first four decades of the European Tour. (In all has won a professional event in each of the last five different decades).

CAREER VICTORIES

EUROPEAN TOUR INTERNATIONAL SCHEDULE VICTORIES: Total 8
1979 Sun Alliance European Match Play Championship
1980 Newcastle Brown ’900’ Open, Cold Shield Greater Manchester Open (play-off)
1981 Coral Classic
1983 Sanyo Open
1988 BNP Jersey Open (play-off)
1993 Madrid Open
2001 Madeira Island Open
EUROPEAN SENIOR TOUR VICTORIES: Total 5
2005 Arcapita Seniors Tour Championship
2007 Wentworth Senior Masters
2010 Travis Perkins plc Senior Masters
2011 Van Lanschot Senior Open
2012 Travis Perkins plc Senior Masters
CHAMPIONS TOUR VICTORIES: Total 2
2005 SBC Classic, Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf
OTHER TOURNAMENT VICTORIES: Total 8
1979 Irish National PGA Championship, Irish Fourball Championship (with Jimmy Heggarty)
1985 Irish National PGA Championship
1986 Irish National PGA Championship
1990 Irish National PGA Championship
1995 Glen Dimplex Irish Match Play
1996 Irish National PGA Championship
2001 Irish National PGA Championship

TEAMS (PRO)
Ryder Cup 1979, 81, 2006 (Vice Captain) (winners), 2014 (Vice Captain)
Alfred Dunhill Cup 1985, 86, 87, 88 (winners), 2000
World Cup 1979, 80, 82, 88, 89
Hennessy Cognac Cup 1980 (winners), 82 (winners), 84
UBS Cup 2001
EURASIA CUP 2014 (Vice Captain)


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3/25/2014

McDowell EurAsia Cup Ready

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Graeme McDowell is the highest-ranked player at the EurAsia Cup being held in Kuala Lumpur this week.

Miguel Angel Jimenez is Team captain with a number of Ryder Cups under his belt, along with McDowell and Thomas Bjorn.

However Victor Dubuisson, Jamie Donaldson and Stephen Gallacher are all currently in qualifying positions, with Joost Luiten, Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano and Pablo Larrazabal all with a chance at Gleneagles.

Paul McGinley's Ryder Cup team may contain a couple of the EurAsia team come Gleneagles.

"One of the toughest parts of the Ryder Cup is putting pairings together, and getting foursomes pairings right," said McDowell.

"That's why a tournament like this, the EurAsia Cup, to me is something that's very, very important for both The European Tour and the Asian Tour. Asia is the main area of growth for the game of golf in the world, so it's a natural place for The European Tour.

"It's obviously a big part of the European Tour and to have a Europe versus Asia match is something that our schedule needs from a Ryder Cup point of view.

"We need this event to become something very special, something the guys look forward to and something that is part of Ryder Cup Team building; a chance to put ten guys together, come out here and play against a good team and try some pairings and really enjoy playing team golf.

"Team golf is very different from what we are used to as individuals because you're playing for each other.

"You just don't want to let your team mates down and there is a lot of extra pressure from that, but it's also one of the main reasons why European Teams have been so successful."

McGinley's vice-captain for Gleneagles, Des Smyth, will operate in the same role for Jimenez in Kuala Lumpur this week, so he will get to know the players as they get a chance to impress.

Playing captain Jimenez has featured in four Ryder Cups as a player, winning two, and has also been a vice-captain twice and he agrees that the EurAsia Cup could be a vital part of the preparation.

"The Ryder Cup started in 1927 and probably now is the event in golf and everyone wants to play and I think is the important thing," said Jimenez. "Now we start the EurAsia Cup in 2014 and hopefully with the support of the players and the effort of these two big tours, the EurAsia Cup will become a big event along with the Ryder Cup."

All ten players on each team will be in action in every session at Glenmarie's Garden course, with five fourball matches played on the opening day on Thursday, followed by five foursomes on Friday and ten concluding singles matches on Saturday.

Team Asia
Thongchai Jaidee (Captain, Thailand), Kiradech Aphibarnrat (Thailand), Gaganjeet Bhullar (India), Nicholas Fung (Malaysia), Kim Hyung-sung (Korea,) Anirban Lahiri (India), Prayad Marksaeng (Thailand), Koumei Oda (Japan), Siddikur Rahman (Bangladesh), Hideto Tanihara (Japan).

Team Europe
Miguel Angel Jimenez (Captain, Spain), Thomas Bjorn (Denmark), Jamie Donaldson (Wales), Victor Dubuisson (France), Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano (Spain), Stephen Gallacher (Scotland), Pablo Larrazabal (Spain), Joost Luiten (Netherlands), Graeme McDowell (N Ireland), Thorbjorn Olesen (Denmark).


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