The EurAsia Cup Is The Ryder Cup Of The East, Says Donaldson

Kuala Lumpur, March 23: Welsh golf wizard Jamie Donaldson, who is currently playing the best golf of his career, is looking forward to the inaugural EurAsia Cup presented by DRB-HICOM at Glenmarie Golf and Country Club from Thursday to Saturday.

“My golf is in great shape at the moment – finishing as runner-up in Doral at the World Golf Championships-Cadillac Championship two weeks ago has given me a lot of confidence and I always enjoy playing golf in Asia. The public are always friendly and I like competing in the warmth. I am excited by being a member of Team Europe taking on Team Asia,” said Donaldson.

The current world number 27 will use next week’s tournament as preparation for this autumn’s Ryder Cup battle with the United States at Gleneagles and is a big fan of Match play golf.

“Next week is ideal preparation for the Ryder Cup. The EurAsia Cup is the Ryder Cup of the East, it is set to be a great tournament and it’s definitely great practice for what lies ahead in September.

“My favourite aspect of match play golf is definitely the support from spectators. The crowds are always that bit different for match play as they usually have a preference who they’re rooting for; it’s great when people are calling for you and your team, it really spurs you on,” he said.

The 38-year-old, who qualified for the team through the Race to Dubai Rankings, is part of a very strong Team Europe, captained by Spanish great Miguel Angel Jimenez who will take on Team Asia, captained by Thailand’s Thongchai Jaidee, the only man to win three Asian Tour Order of Merit titles.

However, the current top European Tour earner doesn’t mind who he is paired with. “Team Europe is certainly strong on paper – look at what Victor Dubuisson did at the WGC- Accenture Match Play and Pablo Larrazabal shot a 67 in the final round in The Abu Dhabi Championship to hold off Rory McIlroy. Stephen Gallacher won the Dubai Desert Classic title and then there’s Ryder Cup legend Graeme McDowell, it’s an exciting team!

“I really don’t mind who I’m partnered with, I’m really happy with the look of our team and importantly it is not dominated by any country, which is always good for Europe and the game.”

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 RM98 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 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.