European Comeback Stuns
Asian Team In Royal Trophy
HUA HIN, THAILAND | The Europeans continued
their dominance of world match play by staging a
remarkable rally on the final day to win the Royal
Trophy over Asia for a second consecutive time.
Europe was behind 6-2 after the foursomes
and four-balls, but swept through the Asians
in Sunday singles 7-1 to take the matches 9-7
and retain the Trophy it won two years ago. The
Europeans did not lose a singles match, with
six victories and two halves on Sunday at Black
Mountain Golf Club.
It was also the second international triumph
for Colin Montgomerie, who has captained
Europe in the Royal Trophy for the past two
victories. He also led the Europeans to a victory
in the Ryder Cup three months ago.
“We all said it was a glorious achievement
to win five-and-a-half points out of six on the
Sunday of the last Ryder Cup,” Montgomerie
said. “But this comeback ranks right up there
alongside that as one of the greatest days in
the history of European golf, especially when
you consider that we were routed 4-0 in the
four-balls 24 hours earlier.
“I drank a Coke Zero after that session,
which was very appropriate as it summed
up the way we played to get zero points.
This time, it was champagne, which we
deserved, and which my team soaked me
with as we celebrated this win.”
Spain’s Pablo Martin won the deciding
singles match over Jeev Milkha Singh of India
with a dramatic flop shot to 18 inches on the
last hole.
Asian Captain Joe Ozaki was almost lost for
words as Asia’s commanding advantage slipped
away under a tidal wave of European birdies.
Several of his players had to fight back tears.
“I expected the European team to come back
hard at us, and it was never going to be easy
to get the points we needed,” Ozaki said. “As
captain and as a Japanese man, I have to take
full responsibility for this defeat. I never thought
it would be an easy win today. Anything can hap-
Colin Montgomerie has captained the European
squad to consecutive Royal Trophy victories.
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