Royal Trophy

[Kazuhiro]

I thought this should have it's own thread, as it's Europe Vs Asia. For an Asian, this is like our Ryder Cup, and this will be it's 5th version when it starts in first week of January.

It is Seve Ballesteros' idea, and he captained Europe in 2006/2007, although his bad health meant he had to cancel his tournament in 2008, plus the Thai king who supports the trophy, had bereavement in family so cancelled the tournament.

In 2009 however, Asia won for the first time! Joe Ozaki's team beat Colin Montgomerie's Europe.

Monty regained the trophy this year, and the 2011 version will see Monty return with some of his Ryder Cup winners and others, against Ozaki's team.


6 of the 8 Asian Team players were announced today:
- Ryo Ishikawa, 19 y.o. - 2nd Royal Trophy. 37 in OWGR. Japan.
- Kyung-tae Kim, 24 y.o. - 1st Royal Trophy. 40 in OWGR. Korea.
- Yuta Ikeda, 24 y.o. - 1st Royal Trophy. 55 in OWGR. Japan
- Liang Wenchong, 32 y.o. - 3rd Royal Trophy. 63 in OWGR. China.
- Seung-yul Noh, 19 y.o. - 1st Royal Trophy. 67 OWGR. Korea.
- Shunsuke Sonoda, 21 y.o. - 1st Royal Trophy. 94 OWGR. Japan

Ozaki will now have 2 further picks to make, likely to be mad every soon.

Colin Montgomerie says he might bring some of his Ryder Cup winners over, as well as some young stars to match Asia's very young team. He will also be a playing captain, while Ozaki will be non-playing.

I know this may not interest some, but the last 2 versions have been so close - if the same situations/results were in a Ryder Cup, the World would know about them as they've been so tense and down to the final point etc. It's shown on TV around the World and it's a huge event for Asia and Japan so thought I'd tell you about it is!
- Shunsuke Sonoda, 21 y.o. - 1st Royal Trophy. 94 OWGR. Japan