Round 3 - Europe romp to victory

January 17, 2016

Europe dominated Sunday's singles matches 9-1/2 to 2-1/2 to comfortably win the EurAsia Cup.

The second edition of the trans-continental team event ended with a lopsided 18-1/2 to 5-1/2 score in favor of the visitors at Glenmarie Golf and Country Club.

The inaugural event in 2014 ended in a tie after Asia staged a big comeback on the final day, but there were no such heroics from the home team this time.

England's Ian Poulter beat local veteran Danny Chia 4-and-3 in the opening singles to set the pattern of the day and dampen any expectations of an Asia rally.

Poulter and Lee Westwood were the two captain's picks by Darren Clarke, and both justified their selection by winning all three of their matches over the course of the weekend. So did another Englishman in Andy Sullivan.

Ireland's Matthew Fitzpatrick, the youngest member of the Europe team at 21, sealed the trophy when he beat Thailand's Kiradech Aphibarnrat 2 up.

''The scoreboard was flattering, but these boys played some sensational golf throughout the tournament,'' Clarke said. ''They bonded as a team and as pairings, and as a captain I couldn't have asked for more from them. These were some of the best players in the world who wanted to be here and they showed it.''

India's Anirban Lahiri and South Korea's Kim Kyung-tae were the only Asia players to win their singles matches - beating Ireland's Shane Lowry and Austria's Bernd Wiesberger respectively - on a disappointing final day for the expectant hosts.

''This is a great learning curve for this young team, and we will return stronger,'' said captain Jeev Milkha Singh.

Malaysia Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak confirmed the tournament will return to the country for a third edition in 2018.

Round 2 - Europe surge 9-3 clear

January 17, 2016

Europe dominated the second day of the EurAsia Cup to lead Asia 9 to 3 at a sunny Glenmarie Golf & Country Club on Saturday.

''We do not want to be complacent, but there's no harm in feeling confident and trying to win by a big margin,'' Lee Westwood said. ''We dominated the first two days and hopefully we will dominate the singles on the final day as well.''

Europe, which started Saturday with a 4 1/2 to 1 1/2 advantage, needs 3 1/2 points from Sunday's singles to win the tournament.

Ian Poulter combined with Danny Willett to give Europe a 3 and 2 win over Byeong Hun-an and Thongchai Jaidee in the opening foursomes, before Bernd Wiesberger teamed up with Ross Fisher to earn Europe its second point of the day, prevailing by 2 holes against Kim Kyung-tae and Wang Jeung-hun.

Shane Lowry and Andy Sullivan - one of the two pairs unchanged by team captain Darren Clarke - repaid that faith with a 3 and 2 triumph over Prayad Marksaeng and Shingo Katayama.

Asia had a gritty 2-hole victory through Kiradech Aphibarnrat and SSP Chawrasia, who saw off Chris Wood and Kristoffer Broberg.

Westwood and Matthew Fitzpatrick needed only 14 holes to defeat Anirban Lahiri and Ashun Wu, but the local combination of Nicholas Fung and Danny Chia halved their match against Soren Kjeldsen and Victor Dubuisson.

Fung and Chia are the only unbeaten Asian pair.

''We have to forget who we are playing,'' Lahiri said. ''On our day we can beat the best in the world. Between the 12 of us, if we can make 80 birdies, we will win it.''

Round 1 - Europe off to excellent start

January 16, 2016

Europe grabbed a good lead over Asia in the EurAsia Cup by 4 1/2 to 1 1/2 after the opening day at Glenmarie Golf & Country Club on Friday.

Bernd Wiesberger and Ian Poulter notched five birdies and an eagle to beat Anirban Lahiri and Wang Jeung-hun 4 and 3 in the first fourballs match, then Kristoffer Broberg and Ross Fischer doubled that advantage.

The 6 and 4 victory over Kim Kyung-tae and Prayad Marksaeng looked to put Europe in cruise control, but the Asians came back through Byeong Hun-an and Thongchai Jaidee, who upstaged Danny Willett and Matthew Fitzpatrick 3 and 1.

Europe, however, regained a two-point advantage thanks to a 2 and 1 success through Shane Lowry and Andy Sullivan.

Despite the local cheers for Danny Chia and Nicholas Fung, who took turns trading birdies on the back nine to earn Asia half a point, Lee Westwood and Chris Wood made sure Europe ended the day on a high by beating Kiradech Aphibarnrat and SSP Chawrasia 2 and 1.

''We know we are in the driving seat after today, but we need to keep up this performance,'' Sullivan said. ''We all know what happened the last time, and what the Asian team are capable off.''

At the inaugural event in 2014, Asia trailed Europe 5-0 on the opening day, before storming back to force a 10-10 draw and share the trophy.

Thai stalwart Thongchai, who captained the team in that tournament, was confident a good showing on Saturday will set the tone for another remarkable comeback.

''Tomorrow will be very important,'' Thongchai said. ''If we get some points and score some in the singles, it will make for a great spectacle. Our team are quite well set up for Asia to make a comeback.''