In keeping with tradition, the competition format for the fourth edition of the Royal Trophy will remain similar to the previous Matches. However, according to officials, the Championship may still experience certain rule changes.
The Competition between the Continents of Asia and Europe will feature four foursomes Matches on the opening day – Friday, 8 January 2010, four four-ball Matches on the Championship’s second day – Saturday, 9 January 2010 and eight singles will be played on the final day – Sunday, 10 January 2010. Each Match will count one point and a tied Match will award each Team half point. Eight and a half points will be required for Asia or Europe to secure an outright victory. The perpetual solid-silver sixteen-kilogram Royal Trophy will be presented to the prevailing Continent immediately following conclusion of the Matches on the eighteenth green of the pristine Amata Spring Country Club.
"While the general format will remain unchanged, the final set of detailed rules is to be agreed at the Official Captains’ Meeting which will take place on Thursday, 7 January 2010 at the Sheraton Grande Sukhumvit. In keeping with the long tradition of team golf, this is a closed door meeting where European Team Captain Colin Montgomerie, Asian Team Captain Naomichi ‘Joe’ Ozaki, all of the Players and Chief Tournament Director Andy Yamanaka will discuss and reach agreement on all of the details in relation to the rules. The Official Captains’ Meeting presents the final opportunity for Colin Montgomerie and Joe Ozaki to voice any issues and concerns before the Teams go out on the golf course to compete;" stated a Royal Trophy spokesperson.
The Matches will start at 11:00am on each of the three days of the Championship and the Players are expected to practice and warm-up between 8:00am and 11:00am at Amata Spring’s driving range and practice green, both located at the golf course’s entrance area.
"The Players’ warm-up presents a fantastic opportunity for avid golf fans to watch the Players from very close range and to see how these great golfers practice and prepare for the Matches. Over the past years we have seen very large galleries attending the driving range in the morning and enjoying the great atmosphere. It is a rare opportunity to see these Players working on their games and communicating with their respective Captains;" added the Championship’s spokesperson.
Asia won the third edition of the Royal Trophy earlier in January 2009, inflicting a painful and sobering defeat on the mighty Europeans. While Asia will most definitely be looking to register the minimum eight and a half points to secure a second consecutive victory over the European Ryder Cup masters, eight points will be enough for Joe Ozaki’s men to retain the Trophy in Asian soil. For European Captain Colin Montgomerie, anything but an outright victory could prove disastrous for the European Continent’s preparation to confront the Americans at the Celtic Manor in early October.
The Asian Team counts with its strongest ever line-up including 18-year-old global sensation Ryo Ishikawa, Thailand’s prolific pair of Prayad Marksaeng and Thongchai Jaidee, two-time Asian Tour Order of Merit champion Jeev Milkha Singh and top Chinese player Liang Wen-chong. Montgomerie’s ‘powerful eight’ features world number eight Henrik Stenson, 2008 European number one Robert Karlsson and red-hot Englishman Simon Dyson, fresh from his fantastic victory at the St. Andrews ‘home of golf’.
The Royal Trophy Premier and Major Sponsors include Heineken, Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), PTT, Sports Authority of Thailand and Siam Commercial Bank. The Championship is also supported by Bangkok Metropolitan Administration and Chonburi Provincial Government. For further Tournament information, please call +662 651 9499 or visit the official website www.TheRoyalTrophy.com. The Royal Trophy is promoted by Entertainment Group Limited and Amen Corner S.A.
posted at 07:50:51 on 12/28/09 by Editor – Category: Local News
