World No. 7 Henrik Stenson holed the winning putt as Europe regained the Royal Trophy with a dramatic 8.5-7.5 victory over Asia at Thailand’s Amata Spring Country Club yesterday.
The experienced Swede, who has played in the last two Ryder Cups, clawed back from three holes down after 10 against Thailand’s Thongchai Jaidee to earn a half point and the win for Europe with a gutsy par putt at the final hole. It was a repeat of Europe’s triumph at the maiden event in 2006 when Stenson beat Thongchai in the anchor match for overall victory. Europe also won in 2007, but were stunned 10-6 by Asia last year.
“We really had a game on this week and we had to dig deep, especially me in the final match with Thongchai,” Stenson said. “I am not playing great at the moment, but I told the boys I could find that extra bit near the end if I needed it and I did that today.”
Player-captain Colin Montgomerie, who will skipper Europe in the Ryder Cup in October, made a huge contribution to the overall win with a battling display against the in-form Liang Wen-chong, a former Asian No. 1. He drew on all his experience to match Liang’s birdie putt on the final hole to claim a critical half point for Europe.
“That was good, to come back from two down after 10 with him playing so well,” Montgomerie said. “I birdied 11 and managed another birdie on 16, and that was just amazing at the last, because that is a tough hole.”
Koumei Oda, a two-time winner on the Japan Tour last season, put the first point on the board for holders Asia with a crushing 5 and 3 victory over Sweden’s Alexander Noren, who had a 100 percent record going into the singles. Oda, who teamed up with teenage countryman Ryo Ishikawa to beat Colin Montgomerie and Pablo Martin on the opening day, was in scintillating form with six birdies in 15 holes.
South Korea’s Charlie Wi kept the momentum going with a 1-up win over England’s Simon Dyson in an error-strewn encounter. Dyson, currently fourth on the European Ryder Cup points list after two victories last season, holed a birdie putt on the 17th to square the match, but made a mess of the last to hand Wi the win.
Sweden’s Peter Hanson took the scalp of highly regarded Japanese teenager Ryo Ishikawa 5 and 4 to put the first point on the board for Europe. India’s Jeev Milkha Singh then handed the advantage back to Asia with a 2 and 1 win over the previously unbeaten Robert Karlsson of Sweden.
Spain’s Pablo Martin dominated his match with Thailand’s Prayad Marksaeng and a birdie at the 17th gave him the contest 2 and 1 as Europe fought back.
Soren Kjeldsen of Denmark ensured that the match went to the last game between Thongchai and Stenson with a 2 and 1 triumph over India’s Gaganjeet Bullar.
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