Kuala Lumpur, March 17: Captain Thongchai Jaidee believes Team Asia will only win the inaugural EurAsia Cup presented by DRB-HICOM next week if his players fight for one another and for continental pride.
The Thai star will lead a 10-man side against the Miguel Angel Jimenez-led Team Europe in the Ryder Cup-style showdown at Glenmarie Golf and Country Club from March 27-29 (Thursday to Saturday) and wants Asia to show that they belong on the world stage. “It is important for my players to know that we are competing as a team, one for all and all for one,” said Thongchai.
“We are representing Team Asia and there is no greater honour. Now that we are in the team, we are all fighting for our pride and honour and it is important for Asia to show the golfing world that we belong on the world stage by producing our best golf and win the EurAsia Cup.”
Thongchai, the only man to win three Asian Tour Order of Merit titles, is excited ahead of the historic showdown and knows his role as leader of the team is crucial, especially in determining his pairings for the fourball and foursomes matches.
The 44-year-old will decide on the combinations when he meets up with the other nine members of his team at Glenmarie next week.
An option will be to pair by nationalities as Thongchai’s countrymen Kiradech Aphibarnrat and Prayad Marksaeng are in the squad while Gaganjeet Bhullar and Anirban Lahiri of India and the Japanese pair Hideto Tanihara and Koumei Oda provide the tactical possibilities as well.
“I have spoken to some of my players about their preferences and thoughts about the potential pairings. It does make sense to pair our players by nationalities but it won’t be the sole criteria. I have some ideas in my mind now but I will not reveal them! Once the players come together on (next) Monday we will have team meetings to finalise the pairings for the fourball and foursomes matches. I believe I have many options as we’ve got a bunch of great players,” said Thongchai.
“I have played with both Prayad and Kiradech in the World Cup of Golf, so teaming up with either of them will be easy. Both of them are great golfers, with Prayad probably having a few more years of experience ahead of Kiradech! I will be comfortable playing with either player but my decision will only be made during event week.”
The world number 46 admits that on paper Team Europe looks very strong, particularly with some of their younger player in great form coming into the EurAsia Cup presented by DRB-HICOM.
Pablo Larrazabal and Stephen Gallacher have won on the European Tour this year while Victor Dubuisson and Jamie Donaldson finished second in recent World Golf Championships events in the United States. Ryder Cup hero Graeme McDowell has also enjoyed two top-10s in the WGCs.
“Team Europe has a very strong side with a mix of experience and youth. Players like Miguel-Angel Jimenez, Thomas Bjorn and Graeme McDowell will be key players for them due to their Ryder Cup experience. However, we would be foolish not to be mindful of their other players like Stephen Gallacher, Pablo Larrazabal, and Victor Dubuisson who are all in top form after winning this season and producing some great performances. However, every golfer out there knows in Match play that anything can happen on the golf course and I’m looking for my players to rise to the occasion.”
Thongchai finished a highly credible ninth in the Race to Dubai last season and is happy with his current form which includes a tied sixth outing at the WGC-Cadillac Championship last month.
“I’m satisfied with my game at the moment and how I’ve progressed at the start of 2014. I’m swinging the club nicely but would like for more putts to drop. I enjoyed a great year in 2013 finishing on a high in Dubai so I feel confident.”
Tickets for the inaugural EurAsia Cup presented by DRB-HICOM are available for purchase via online and hotline. Golf fans can purchase tickets on www.ticketpro.com.my or call +603 7880 7999 for further details.
Tickets are priced as follow: Day 1 RM78, Day 2 RM78, Day 3 RM78 and Season Ticket RM158. Entry is free for children under the age of 16. Entry is free to all on March 26, Wednesday which is the pro-am day.
Each ticket will include a voucher for a free EurAsia Cup team cap. This can be redeemed on site at the EurAsia Cup at the Official Merchandise shop at Glenmarie Golf and Country Club. The format of play for the EurAsia Cup presented by DRB-HICOM will see five fourball matches being played on the first day (March 27, Thursday) followed by five foursomes matches on day two (March 28, Friday) and 10 singles matches on the final day (March 29, Saturday) at Glenmarie’s Garden course.
The EurAsia Cup presented by DRB-HICOM is sanctioned by the Asian Tour and European Tour. Professional Golf Malaysia (PGM) will act as the local facilitator for the event.
Keep up to date with the EurAsia Cup at www.eurasiacup.com, www.facebook.com/eurasiacupgolf and @EurAsiaCupGolf.
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).
-EurAsia Cup.
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