Seve won't celebrate yet
Seve Ballesteros was refusing to prematurely celebrate defending the Royal Trophy after his European side extended their lead over Asia on the second day of the annual match-play tournament.
The Europeans added another three points to the three-and-a-half they won around the Amata Spring Country Club yesterday, giving the winners of last year’s inaugural competition a 6.5-1.5 advantage and leaving them just one-and-a-half points away from retaining the title.
But, while satisfied with another fine showing that saw wins from Swedish pairing Henrik Stenson and Johan Edfors, as well as for Paul McGinley and Anthony Wall, the former Masters and Open champion chose to remain quietly confident rather than claim the job all but done.
“All we need tomorrow is two points to win,” said Ballesteros. “It looks pretty good.
“All the players are great champions. On paper sometimes you think the first match is on the European side but maybe tomorrow it will go to Asia. Match play is very unpredictable and golf in general is very unpredictable.
“I have been in golf for a long time and you know never to get over-confident, but I have a lot of confidence in my team.”
Once again the Europeans dominated, but this time the hosts put up some stubborn resistance, taking three of the four matches to the last hole before Ballesteros’ team secured two wins and two halves.
Despite the improved performance, though, Asian captain Joe Ozaki appeared overwhelmed by the gulf between the two teams.
“Everybody played better than yesterday and a few of the matches went to the 18th hole, but the European team showed their guts,” he said.
“We had chances to win in a couple of matches but it didn’t work out well. Once again I was impressed with how the European boys played today.”
Pick of the performers for the Asians was Thailand’s Prom Meesawat, who - paired with compatriot Thongchai Jaidee – played a key role in overturning a two-hole lead by Darren Clarke and Lee Westwood to earn half a point.
Meesawat hit six birdies in his round and the 22-year-old was delighted with his showing against one of world golf’s strongest partnerships.
“Lee Westwood and Darren Clarke are a very tough team but if Thongchai had made a couple of putts we could have won,” he said. “But we got a half point and that was good. I’m not blaming him.
“My putting was good today and I managed to birdie all the par-fives and the putting was the key to my performance.”
Meesawat will have another chance to test his burgeoning abilities tomorrow when he faces off against Clarke in the singles while the Northern Irishman’s partner will lead off proceedings for the Europeans when he takes on Japan’s Toru Taniguchi.
McGinley, who along with Wall overcame a three-hole deficit to defeat Hiratsuka and Thaworn Wiratchant, meets Wiratchant again while Johan Edfors plays Korea’s SK Ho.
Henrik Stenson, owner of a 100% record in his five Royal Trophy matches after he and Edfors defeated YE Yang and Taniguchi, takes on Yang once more while Wall and Hiratsuka cross swords again.
Asian number one Jeev Milkha Singha will face Robert Karlsson and Europe’s fourth Swedish representative will take on local favourite Thongchai Jaidee in the final match.
Singles pairings: Lee Westwood (Eng) v Toru Taniguchi (Jpn); Darren Clarke (NIr) v Prom Meesawat (Tha); Paul McGinley (Ire) v Thaworn Wiratchant (Tha); Johan Edfors (Swe) v SK Ho (SKo); Henrik Stenson (Swe) v YE Yang (SKo); Anthony Wall (Eng) v Tetsuji Hiratsuka (Jpn); Robert Karlsson (Swe) v Jeev Milkha Singh (Ind); Niclas Fasth (Swe) v Thongchai Jaidee (Tha).
