Europe survive comeback to claim title

Henrik Stenson proved the hero for Europe as they saw off a spirited fightback from Asia to claim the inaugural Royal Trophy 9-7 at Amata Spring Country Club, near Bangkok.

The Swede deflated a buoyant home crowd by beating local favourite Thongchai Jaidee to secure the point needed to take Europe over the finishing line.

After Saturday's foursomes and fourballs, Europe, the pre-tournament favourites, led 6-2 and Sunday's singles matches began with the Asians attempting to turn the competition around.

Europe's golfers, who had been told by captain Seve Ballesteros beforehand that he would not tolerate over-confidence, did their best to make a seemingly one-sided contest competitive again.

With David Howell down by one shot to Yasuharu Imano going into the last hole, the result was on something of a knife-edge.

European nerves were settled a touch when Paul McGinley won the first point of the day, a 2&1 victory over Zhang Lian-wei.

Europe were now 7-2 up, although Howell fell to Imano by two holes after bogeying the last to restore the gap between the teams to four points.

Ballesteros' men moved to within half a point of victory with five games still in progress when Graeme McDowell finally overcame the dogged resistance of Jyoti Randhawa to win 3&2.

But despite Stenson being in total control of his match with Jaidee, having gone four up at the 12th, the rest of the European challenge had faltered badly.

Nick Faldo, Ian Woosnam, Kenneth Ferrie and Thomas Bjorn were all losing as Asia pulled out all the stops in the hot but blustery conditions.

Stenson, though, held his nerve at the 13th with a par, as Jaidee bogeyed, to move five up, ensuring that he could at worst halve his match with five holes to play, and handing the Royal Trophy to Europe.

The scoreline paints a closer picture than was actually the case, given the early resolution of Stenson's match, but there is no doubt Europe were worked harder for victory than had been anticipated after the first day's play.

Other than Stenson, no European was anywhere near the top of their game as the Asian players, chastened after Saturday, dug in admirably.

If Zhang had managed to halve his match with McGinley, in a contest that had been nip and tuck all day, the tournament would still have been alive beyond mid-afternoon.

McGinley, indeed, had started slowly, falling to two behind early on and only going ahead for the first time with a birdie at the par three 14th.

With the destination of the trophy known, Nick Faldo was the next player to finish in a 3&2 loss to Arjun Atwal, and after a round that included only two birdies the veteran could have no complaints.

Bjorn's comprehensive 4&3 loss to Keiichiro Fukabori was then confirmed.

Woosnam, up against one of his tormentors in Saturday's foursomes with fellow wildcard selection Faldo in the shape of Thaworn Wiratchant, was ahead only once in his match, succumbing to a 2&1 defeat.

Finally, Ferrie's 2&1 reverse to SK Ho came in, at which point the celebrations could begin for Europe, although the plaudits will go to Asia after their final-day resurgence.

Afterwards McDowell admitted that the European team were made to sweat by Asia's final-day fightback.

McDowell, who at one stage dropped from three up to all square against Randhawa, underlined how fine the Europeans had cut it.

"I spoke to Seve as I came off the ninth and I had just lost two holes on the bounce to go back to one up," he said.

"Seve said things weren't looking too great on the golf course. I realised my match would be important and every point we put on the board was going to be big but I didn't realise how close it was going to be in the end.

"We have a strong team but they came out strong, and thankfully we came through. In the end, we gave them too much to do today."

After McGinley and McDowell had won, it was Stenson who ensured victory by beating Jaidee and he said: "Playing Jaidee was always going to be a tough match and I am pleased with the way I played.

"I turned it around on the 11th, 12th and 13th and won three straight holes there so it was done and dusted with five holes to go.

"That certainly took some of the pressure off."

Ballesteros was relieved and delighted to have led his side to victory, completing the hat-trick of Ryder Cup, Seve Trophy and now Royal Trophy wins as captain he had sought at the start of the weekend.

"I am very happy with the final score," he said. "It has been a great two days of competition, the European team has played fantastically and the Asians showed a tremendous game and sportsmanship.

"On this occasion we had a little more luck."

Asia captain, Masahiro Kuramoto, said the gallant losers had done themselves proud in a competition for which they were underdogs from the outset.

He said: "If we'd had another day, we could have won this. For a moment it looked possible that we could upset Europe and our players grew in confidence.

"We gave our it our all but the Europeans did a bit better. All we needed at the end was one point for a tie.

"We proved today that we could compete and I believe these players can win the next event."

Whether that takes place next year or in 2008 is still up in the air, although a preliminary agreement is in place to hold the event in Thailand for the next five editions.

The tournament was Ballesteros' brainchild and the Spaniard took heart from the healthy crowds, married to a gripping final day of competition.

"It was great to see so many people come out to watch the matches," he said.

"It was a wonderful experience for everyone, great weather and a fantastic atmosphere.

"This event is just the start and I think we are making history here. I am looking forward to coming back and defending the title with my team.

"From tomorrow we are going to start practising and I recommend the Asian team do the same."