Shah Alam, Malaysia, 17-01-2016

TEAM EUROPE TROUNCES TEAM ASIA WITH 18.5 – 5.5 SCORELINE, JEEV MILKHA SINGH HAILS HIS MEN AFTER TOUGH LOSS

ANIRBAN LAHIRI ONLY ONE OF TWO PLAYERS TO REGISTER WINS FOR ASIA IN FINAL DAY SINGLES

Source: Asian Tour

Team Europe romped to an emphatic 18½ to 5½ victory over Asia to secure their first win at the EurAsia Cup presented by DRB-HICOM on Sunday.

Match play expert Ian Poulter once again set the tone for Europe by beating Malaysia’s Danny Chia 4 & 3 in the top singles match to put some early blue scores on the board and quell any hope of an Asian fightback at Glenmarie Golf and Country Club.

The English duo of Lee Westwood and Andy Sullivan followed up on Poulter’s lead by beating Nicholas Fung 7 & 6 and Thongchai Jaidee 4 & 3 respectively before leaving it to compatriot Danny Willett to deliver the final blow to Team Asia’s hopes.

Willett’s 3 & 1 defeat of Byeonghun An ensured Team Europe would become the first side to lift the EurAsia Cup after the inaugural event in 2014 ended in a thrilling 10-10 draw.

Further victories for Matt Fitzpatrick, Chris Wood (1-up over SSP Chawrasia), Kristoffer Broberg, Victor Dubuisson and Søren Kjeldsen sealed a convincing win for Captain Darren Clarke’s side.

Team Asia’s points came courtesy of India’s Anirban Lahiri and Korea’s K.T. Kim, who beat Shane Lowry 2 & 1 and Bernd Wiesberger 3 & 2 respectively, whilst a birdie putt on the last hole by young Jeunghun Wang ensured his match with Ross Fisher would finish in a tie.

Team Asia’s captain Jeev Milkha Singh of India conceded Europe were worthy winners of the EurAsia Cup but vowed to come back stronger in the next edition of the match play event in Malaysia in 2018. 

“I am proud of my team. I believe in these players. These players worked really hard. They gave it 100 per cent out there. They gave each other advice, and also my vice captain, Liang Wen-Chong, put in a lot of effort,” said Singh, a former two-time Asian Tour number one.                                                             

“We learned from this. It was a good experience, and when we come back after two years, we are going to be a stronger team.

“I still feel that the team was really strong, and I think they still need to keep their chin up and believe in themselves that they are the world beaters and they are going to do really well. But the experience we have gained from this, that's what we take away from here,” said Singh.

He praised Kiradech Aphibarnrat, who faced Matthew Fitzpatrick despite a shoulder injury which he has carried since Thursday after sleeping poorly.

“I thought he wouldn't be able to play 18 holes. But he fought it out, and I think - I was just thinking that he's going to last nine holes but he took him (Fitzpatrick) down to the 18th hole. I think he's a fighter. I think he's going to do well for himself in the future because that's what keeps a golfer going. I think he pushed himself to the limit and I'm proud of him,” said the Indian.

Singh said Malaysian duo Nicholas Fung and Danny Chia, who halved both their fourball and foursomes matches but lost in the singles to Lee Westwood and Ian Poulter respectively, can hold their heads high after producing stellar performances.

“Danny and Nicholas… fantastic show, especially in front of the home crowds. Normally when you play in front of your home crowds, you have a lot of pressure and I think they took it on a positive way,” he said. 

Jeev felt early preparation for the continent would be key to turning their fortunes around when the next EurAsia Cup returns to Malaysia in 2018.

“I think we need to follow the same process as The European Tour. We've seen it for years now that they are the best team in the world in match play. They start their preparation two years before any team event. I think we need to do exactly the same,” added Singh.

Anirban Lahiri, who defeated Shane Lowry 2&1 in the singles for his lone point of the week, said the Asians’ lack of match play experience made all the difference.

“I don't think there was a big difference in the overall quality. We obviously played a very strong European Team and they played really well,” said Lahiri, the newly-installed Asian Tour number one.

“But I think all of us here are on the team because we are very capable players. We have the talent, the potential and the credentials.”

The 28-year-old Indian believes Asia will only get better with more match play opportunities like the EurAsia Cup.

“We’re a very young team when it comes to team golf. We have not played many team events. The Europeans have over 60 years of experience which they have learned from. They have become a powerhouse in team golf as the Ryder Cups have shown. 

“They have learned from their experiences, from their mistakes, and I think we are in a similar situation where we need to learn and improve, it's a matter of learning, and building on this aspect, which has actually been missing from Asian golf,” he said.

Friday’s Fourball Results (Team Europe first)

Ian Poulter/Bernd Wiesberger bt Anirban Lahore/Jeunghun Wang 4 & 3

Danny Willett/Matthew Fitzpatrick lost to Byeonghun An/Thongchai Jaidee 3 & 1

Victor Dubuisson/Soren Kjeldsen and Danny Chia/Nicholas Fung halved

Ross Fisher/Kristoffer Broberg bt Prayad Marksaeng/K.T. Kim 6 & 4

Shane Lowry/Andy Sullivan bt Shingo Katayama/Wu Ashun 2 & 1

Lee Westwood/Chris Wood bt S.S.P. Chawrasia/Kiradech Aphibarnrat 2 & 1

Saturday’s Foursomes Results (Team Europe first)

Ian Poulter/Danny Willett bt Byeonghun An/Thongchai Jaidee 3 & 2

Bernd Wiesberger/Ross Fisher bt K.T. Kim/Jeunghun Wang 2-up

Kristoffer Broberg/Chris Wood lost to S.S.P. Chawrasia/Kiradech Aphibarnrat 2-up

Shane Lowry/Andy Sullivan bt Prayad Marksaeng/Shingo Katayama 3 & 2

Soren Kjeldsen/Victor Dubusison halved with Danny Chia/Nicholas Fung

Lee Westwood/Matthew Fitzpatrick bt Anirban Lahiri/Wu Ashun 5 & 4

Sunday’s Singles Matches (Team Europe first)

Ian Poulter bt Danny Chia 4 & 3

Danny Willett bt Byeonghun An 3 & 1

Andy Sullivan bt Thongchai Jaidee 4 & 3

Matthew Fitzpatrick bt Kiradech Aphibarnrat 2-up

Shane Lowry lost to Anirban Lahiri 2 & 1

Bernd Wiesberger lost to K.T. Kim 3 & 2

Lee Westwood bt Nicholas Fung 7 & 6

Ross Fisher halved with Jeunghun Wang

Chris Wood bt S.S.P. Chawrasia 1-up

Kristoffer Broberg bt Shingo Katayama 5 & 4

Victor Dubuisson bt Wu Ashun 1-up

Soren Kjeldsen bt Prayad Marksaeng 3 & 2