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Asia stuns Europe to lift Royal Cup
By Ni Yinbin |
December 17, 2012, Monday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
ASIA made a strong comeback at the 2012 Royal Trophy in Brunei over the weekend and lifted the trophy for a second time after an emotional and drama-filled win yesterday.
The Asians trailed their higher-ranked European opponents on the first two days and won the final session 4 1/2–3 1/2 to level the score at eight points all. The team then delivered the telling blow with KT Kim's breathtaking birdie in the sudden death playoff clinching victory.
Kim and countryman YE Yang edged Belgian Nicolas Colsaerts and Italy's Francesco Molinari in the fourball playoff.
Yang forced the playoff, beating Molinari 2&1 in the final singles match.
Asian captain Naomichi "Joe" Ozaki believed the team's win was a testament to how much the competition had raised golfing standards in Asia.
Asia endured cruel defeats at the last two Royal Trophy contests, but Ozaki sensed a desire within his team not to let it happen a third time. "I felt we might see something special from my players when we had our team meeting after the fourball to discuss how we could beat Europe, who are much higher in the world rankings," he said.
Asia's vice captain Liang Wenchong believed the course and the environment in Brunei helped the team.
"We only had one player in the top 60 while they had six," Liang told Shanghai Daily. "The course is not so long and the Europeans couldn't take advantage of their long shots here."
India's Jeev Milkha Singh pulled Asia even at 7 with a 1-up victory over Spain's Miguel Angel Jimenez, and Sweden's Henrik Stenson restored Europe with 1-up decision over Japan's Ryo Ishikawa. Yang then finished off Molinari with a halve on the 17th to send the competition to the playoff.
China's Wu Ashun, a rookie, played near-flawless golf over the first 13 holes and earned a half point for Asia despite a strong comeback by Italy's Edoardo Molinari, both Ryder Cup and World Cup winner.
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