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Ballesteros Wary of Asia's Home
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SAPA-AP BANGKOK Bangkok, Thailand - Spanish maestro Seve Ballesteros has warned the experienced European team against complacency when they take on emerging Asia in the first Royal Trophy matchplay showdown here this weekend. Ballesteros, whose hands-on captaincy of the victorious European side in the 1997 Ryder Cup set the benchmark for future skippers, is determined to win the continental clash, but knows that Asia will be no pushovers. "The European team are very strong and I am confident we will do well," said the non-playing captain. "But I also know that the homeground advantage is like an extra player and that will help the Asian team." "We will compete very seriously and not underrate Asia because we are determined to win the Royal Trophy and to take it back to Europe." "The pressure in team golf is unlike anything else in the sport. You are playing not only for yourself, but also your team, your continent and your fans." The Ryder Cup-style tournament will be contested by the eight-man teams at the recently opened Amata Spring Country Club on the outskirts of Bangkok on Saturday and Sunday. Foursomes and fourball matches will be played on Saturday with the event climaxing with eight singles on Sunday. There is a distinct Ryder Cup feel about the European team with current captain Ian Woosnam of Wales and 2008 skipper Nick Falo, both hugely effective at matchplay, being chosen by Ballesteros. They round out a talented side which also includes proven team players David Howell of England, Ireland's Paul McGinley and Thomas Bjorn of Denmark. England's Howell, currently top of the European Order of Merit after holding off world number one Tiger Woods to win the HSBC Champions tournament in Shangai last November, and McGinley were part of the successful European team at the 2004 Ryder Cup. Bjorn has twice tasted success over the Americans in the storied biennial clash. Ryder Cup hopefuls Henrik Stenson of Sweden, England's Kenneth Ferrie and Graeme McDowell of Northern Ireland complete the European team for the first major team competition of 2006. Stenson showed impressive matchplay ability for the Continentals against Britain and Ireland in the last year's Seve Trophy with three wins and two halves and is determined to be in the Ryder Cup team at the K Club in September. "There's still a long way to go. I've got one foot in the team, but I won't be satisfied until it's both feet," he said. Asia will not be overawed by the big name European side as they go in search of an upset victory. Masahiro Kuramoto, the winner of 30 tournaments in his native Japan, will captain a side made up of players from the Asian Tour, Japan Golf Tour and the US PGA Tour. Asian number one Thaworn Wiratchant of Thailand will be joined by countryman Thongchai Jaidee and Indian duo Arjun Atwal and Jyoti Randhawa. They are backed by three of the top four on the Japan Golf Tour's 2005 money list - Japanese pair Yasuharu Imano and Kelichiro Fukabori and South Korea's Hur Suk-ho and Chinese number one Zhang Lian-wei, a captain's pick. - SAPA-AFP SOURCE: SAPA-AP, as published in The Star, page 21, Johannesburg, South Africa, 05 January 2006. Ultimate Golf Fitness Guide by Mike Pedersen Click Image To Visit Product Website "I Recommend Mike's E-Book Unreservedly!" Mike Pedersen has done two different things very well: he has 1), written with authority, knowledge, and unquestionable expertise on how to get and to stay in shape specifically for golfers, and 2), he has done it in a pleasurable, easy-to-read, and crystal clear manner... The book is, first of all, very well organized--so you can start right from the beginning and take things at your own pace. Mike covers areas in addition to those you would expect, i.e., psychological factors, aging, motivation, enjoyment ...it is right there up front with the applicability to every step of a golf swing--from setup to the end of the swing--and the end of the whole round, for that matter. I recommend Mike's book unreservedly: it is the work of a true professional. All the more so given that its cost is the smallest fraction of the cost to obtain a personalized regimen, or compared to a few visits to a gym or health club. -George Hibbard Author, Golf's Critical Details www.PerfectImpact.com