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Europe hold off Asian fightback to clinch Royal Trophy
Golf, 12:45, January 10, 2010 ,
Europe held on to reclaim the Royal Trophy 8.5-7.5 despite a fightback by Asia on the final day at the Amata Spring Country Club.
In a topsy-turvy showdown Europe stormed back from an opening day deficit to move into a 4.5-3.5 lead after Saturday's four-balls. However Asia took 3.5 points from the first five singles matches on Sunday to leave things finely balanced.
The tournament went down to the final match when Pablo Martin and Soren Kjeldsen won for Europe to leave them one point ahead at 8-7. Thailand's Thongchai Jaidee then missed the chance to force a play-off with a 15-foot putt on the last as Sweden's Henrik Stenson holed to capture the winning halve.
European captain Colin Montgomerie, who named himself as a player in the tournament, was delighted with the win as he looks ahead to leading Europe in October's Ryder Cup against the United States.
He said: "I said at the start of the week the competition would be close.
"It was fitting that in the fourth edition of the tournament it came down to the last match, last green and last putt."