29-09-2015
Indian golf legend Jeev Milkha Singh named Captain of Team Asia for next year's EurAsia Cup
Indian golf legend Jeev Milkha Singh has been named Captain of Team Asia for the second edition of the EurAsia Cup slated to be held at Glenmarie Golf and Country Club in Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia from January 15 to 17, 2016. Darren Clarke has been declared Captain of Team Europe.
With Jeev, a former two-time Asian Tour number one from India, and Northern Irishman Clarke, who is also Europe’s 2016 Ryder Cup captain and a Major champion, helming the teams, the EurAsia Cup will have two of golf’s most respected men leading Asia and Europe from the front as non-playing captains of 12-man teams.
Singh, a former double Asian Tour Number One who has won 20 times around the world including four European Tour victories, is India’s most successful player.
The 43-year-old Jeev, who won the Asian Tour Order of Merit in 2006 and 2008, said, “It’s an honour to be offered the EurAsia Cup Captaincy and I am very excited by the prospect of leading what I hope will be a very strong Asian team. It is a special event – I remember watching it two years ago and it was so exciting. I think it’s going to be great for Asia and Europe. Golf is now a global sport so it’s going to be a fantastic competition. I’m looking forward to going up against Darren – I’m going to have a lot of fun with him!”
Singh is relishing every aspect of his captaincy of Asia’s EurAsia Cup team and believes the Asian players are now more than ever capable of outplaying their European counterparts in team competition, with four Asian players qualifying for the Presidents Cup side to face the USA in Korea next month.
“There are so many world class Asian players,” said Singh. “We have a lot of players in the Presidents Cup team this year which proves how good these guys are now. I want them to have fun and be positive and make sure the team spirit is there so we can try and achieve a great result.
“There will be a rivalry between the players – it has to be there. But I think we will have our players ready. Everybody is trying to win out there and make the most out of it – I think rivalry is what gets the best out of a player in many ways.
“I think I will be a good Captain. I think mostly you have to let the guys get on with it but it is my job to keep them positive and patient and let them believe in themselves enough to achieve what they can.
“I just hope I can get a great team out there and keep them calm and collected and get the best out of them. Playing at home will be an advantage for us because our players are so used to the weather and conditions.”
Clarke and Singh have been friends for as long as they can remember, and they eagerly await the opportunity to lead their Continents to what would be a historic first victory at the EurAsia Cup, after an unforgettable 10-10 draw at the event’s inaugural staging in 2014.
“We have known each other a very, very long time,” smiled Clarke. "We have played together on Tour for most of our careers, so we have played together for a very long time. Both teams that are assembled will be desperate to win the EurAsia Cup for the first time – when we get to Kuala Lumpur. Jeev will be trying to kick my butt and I will be trying to kick his. It’s going to be a great week – the guys are really looking forward to it already.”
Asian Tour Chairman Kyi Hla Han said: “Following a thrilling conclusion to the inaugural EurAsia Cup, I am sure golf fans will be eager to watch Team Asia take on Team Europe once again come January. I believe Asia will have a very capable leader as Jeev Milkha Singh is well respected by his peers for his achievements in the game.”
Keith Pelley, Chief Executive of The European Tour, said: “We wish Darren and Jeev every success as they lead their respective teams into the match – they are both great ambassadors for the game of golf and I am sure they will be great captains at what is shaping up to be a fantastic sporting occasion.”
The second edition of the event will feature several changes to the team and qualifying criteria to create greater excitement for golf fans and global television viewers.
Changes to the 2016 EurAsia Cup format will, like The Ryder Cup, see the team captains assume non-playing roles, with each team now represented by 12 players, an increase of two from the first edition.
There will now be six matches in each of the Fourball and Foursomes sessions over the opening two days, which is an increase of one match per session. A total of 12 Singles matches, an addition of two from 2014, will be played on the final day.
The winning team will share prize money of US$3.6 million while the runners-up will share US$1.2 million.
Team Asia will be selected as follows: the leading four available Asian players from the 2015 Asian Tour Order of Merit as of December 14, the leading four eligible and available Asian players from the Official World Golf Ranking as of December 14, and four captain’s picks.
Team Europe will be selected as follows: the leading 10 available players from the final 2015 Race to Dubai rankings plus two captain’s picks.
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