Stenson in spotlight at Thailand Golf Championship

After enjoying an incredible season by becoming the first player to win the US PGA Tour’s FedEx Cup and the European Tour’s Race to Dubai, Stenson has set his next goal. 

“A Major championship is obviously the one thing missing on my result roll. I’m going to try my hardest,” said Stenson. He will headline a star-studded field at the immaculate Amata Spring Country Club on the outskirts of Bangkok from December 12-15, vying against defending champion Charl Schwartzel of South Africa, who successfully defended his Alfred Dunhill Championship title last weekend on home soil, US Open champion Justin Rose of England, former Masters Tournament winner Bubba Watson and Rickie Fowler of the United States. Kiradech Aphibarnrat of Thailand, the current Asian Tour Order of Merit leader, compatriot Thongchai Jaidee, China’s Liang Wen-chong, India’s Gaganjeet Bhullar, winner of the Indonesia Open last week, and Scott Hend of Australia will also feature in the US$1-million Asian Tour event. 

 

Jimenez, Thongchai named

Spain’s Miguel Angel Jimenez and Thongchai Jaidee of Thailand were named captains for an inaugural team golf event between Asia and Europe taking place in Malaysia next year.

The EurAsia Cup will pit 10 golfers from each continent against each other in three days of matchplay at the Glenmarie Golf and Country Club near Kuala Lumpur from March 27.

The $4 million biennial tournament is styled on the popular Ryder Cup, and organisers the Asian Tour and European Tour hope it will spark an similarly exciting intercontinental rivalry.

“It is sure to be a great battle and I’ll make sure the Asian team is as well prepared as they can be,” 44-year-old Thongchai said.

Jimenez, 49, said he expected the event to be a “close contest” as he named the first European players to have qualified for his side. 

Former US Open champion Graeme McDowell of Northern Ireland, France’s Victor Dubuisson, Spain’s Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano, and Jamie Donaldson of Wales will play courtesy of where they finished in this year’s Race to Dubai. Another four will make the European team based on world rankings in February, while Jimenez will have two captains’ picks.

The Asian ten will include the leading four available Asian players from the 2013 Asian Tour Order of Merit and three based on world rankings, while Thongchai will select the final trio.

European Tour officials dismissed comparisons between the EurAsia Cup and the Royal Trophy, another Europe vs Asia team competition which is taking place at Dragon Lake Golf Club in China’s Guangzhou later this month.

“The EurAsia Cup is the only match event between Europe and Asia which is fully sanctioned by the European Tour and the Asian Tour,” Ben Cowen, the European Tour’s deputy director of international policy, said.

“We have an official qualification criteria as well so that will encourage the best players at the time to qualify for the tournament.”

Players on the winning team will pocket $300,000 each, while the runners-up will take home $100,000 each.