Europe rallies to retain trophy
Source: Agencies |
January 10, 2011, Monday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
EUROPE produced a stunning fightback to clinch a 9-7 victory over Asia in the Royal Trophy yesterday, overturning a seemingly unassailable lead to win the matchplay contest for a fourth time.
Pablo Martin holed the winning putt in a thrilling competition that went right to the wire, giving Europe an unlikely victory over an Asian team that needed just two and a half of the eight available points to win.
Europe dominated right from the start with polished performances by all eight players as the Asians caved under pressure and failed to win a single match, picking up two halves in a miserable day at the Black Mountain course in Hua Hin, Thailand.
The Europeans reduced the deficit point-by-point in a contest that could have gone either way and came right down to two pairings that were all-square.
Martin played the pivotal role in the victory when his superb chip from 25 meters landed a foot away from the pin. Jeev Milkha Singh failed to make the necessary 12-foot putt, leaving Martin with an easy-tap-in to finish one up and lift the trophy.
"To be 6-2 down against an Asian team playing so fantastic says an awful lot for Europe," said player-captain Colin Montgomerie. "To come back and to not lose a single game against this team is quite amazing."
Peter Hanson led the European charge with a crushing 7&6 win over a haphazard Liang Wenchong in the opening match, clinching six birdies from the 12 holes played to finish seven strokes up and put the holders in the drivers' seat.
In Hawaii, Robert Garrigus recovered from an atrocious start on Saturday by holing a 50-foot eagle putt on the 18th hole to join Steve Stricker and Jonathan Byrd in the lead after three rounds of the Tournament of Champions.
Garrigus hit a 4-iron into a hazard to open with double bogey and followed with a bogey to quickly fall out of the lead he held after two rounds. By the end of the third, he was back where he started.
The eagle gave Garrigus a 4-under 69 and a good chance to become the first player since Tiger Woods in 2000 to win the season opener after winning the final event of the previous year.
Pablo Martin holed the winning putt in a thrilling competition that went right to the wire, giving Europe an unlikely victory over an Asian team that needed just two and a half of the eight available points to win.
Europe dominated right from the start with polished performances by all eight players as the Asians caved under pressure and failed to win a single match, picking up two halves in a miserable day at the Black Mountain course in Hua Hin, Thailand.
The Europeans reduced the deficit point-by-point in a contest that could have gone either way and came right down to two pairings that were all-square.
Martin played the pivotal role in the victory when his superb chip from 25 meters landed a foot away from the pin. Jeev Milkha Singh failed to make the necessary 12-foot putt, leaving Martin with an easy-tap-in to finish one up and lift the trophy.
"To be 6-2 down against an Asian team playing so fantastic says an awful lot for Europe," said player-captain Colin Montgomerie. "To come back and to not lose a single game against this team is quite amazing."
Peter Hanson led the European charge with a crushing 7&6 win over a haphazard Liang Wenchong in the opening match, clinching six birdies from the 12 holes played to finish seven strokes up and put the holders in the drivers' seat.
In Hawaii, Robert Garrigus recovered from an atrocious start on Saturday by holing a 50-foot eagle putt on the 18th hole to join Steve Stricker and Jonathan Byrd in the lead after three rounds of the Tournament of Champions.
Garrigus hit a 4-iron into a hazard to open with double bogey and followed with a bogey to quickly fall out of the lead he held after two rounds. By the end of the third, he was back where he started.
The eagle gave Garrigus a 4-under 69 and a good chance to become the first player since Tiger Woods in 2000 to win the season opener after winning the final event of the previous year.
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