September 29, 2015: Jeev Milkha Singh has been chosen captain to lead the Asian team for the EurAsia Cup in January 2016. Darren Clarke will have an opportunity to prepare his team for the Ryder Cup when he does the honours for Europe in the event to be held from January 15 to 17.
Following an enthralling 10-10 draw at the inaugural edition in 2014, fans can look forward to another engaging Ryder Cup-styled showdown at Glenmarie Golf and Country Club. (Read More in Golf)
The Asian Tour and European Tour, along with the event’s local coordinator Professional Golf of Malaysia (PGM), announced that the second edition of the EurAsia Cup presented by DRB-HICOM will also feature several changes to the team and qualifying criteria to create greater excitement for golf fans and global television viewers.
With Singh, a former two-time Asian Tour number one from India, and UIsterman Clarke, who is Europe’s Ryder Cup captain and a Major champion, helming the teams, the EurAsia Cup presented by DRB-HICOM will have two of golf’s most respected men leading Asia and Europe from the front.
PGM Chairman Tun Ahmad Sarji Abdul Hamid said: “We are delighted to welcome DRB-HICOM back as our Presenting Partner of the EurAsia Cup as sponsorship plays an important role towards the success of any sporting event.
“The first EurAsia Cup showdown delivered a great spectacle of matchplay golf which included drama, passion and excitement and I’m sure we will witness another closely-fought contest in January.
“Over the years, Malaysia has built a reputation for itself as being a wonderful host to a myriad of world-class sporting events and the EurAsia Cup will add to our sporting legacy. As the local coordinator appointed by the Government of Malaysia, the PGM looks forward to working closely with DRB-HICOM, Asian Tour and European Tour to ensure another successful tournament.”
Datuk Mohamed Razeek Md Hussain, Chief Operating Officer, Services and Properties, DRB-HICOM, expressed his delight with the opportunity to associate itself with a premier team golf event.
“We are proud to be associated with the EurAsia Cup, which certainly captured the imagination of golf fans and television viewers in 2014 following its dramatic and thrilling conclusion. I am convinced Team Asia and Team Europe will battle hard in their bid to excel in 2016.
“This event also reinforces our nation’s stature as a top destination for sports and tourism while we will also enjoy the opportunity to promote our world-class automotive brands, properties and services through the global television platform which the EurAsia Cup presented by DRB-HICOM will enjoy.”
Changes to the 2016 EurAsia Cup format will, like The Ryder Cup, see the team captains assume non-playing roles, with each team now represented by 12 players, an increase of two from the first edition.
There will be now be six matches in each of the Fourball and Foursomes sessions over the opening two days, which is an increase of one match per session. A total of 12 Singles matches, an addition of two from 2014, will be played on the final day.
The winning team will share prize money of US$3.6 million while the runners-up will share US$1.2 million.
Team Asia will be selected as follows: the leading four available Asian players from the 2015 Asian Tour Order of Merit as of December 14, the leading four eligible and available Asian players from the Official World Golf Ranking as of December 14, and four captain’s picks.
Team Europe will be selected as follows: the leading 10 available players from the final 2015 Race to Dubai rankings plus two captain’s picks.
Asian Tour Chairman Kyi Hla Han said: “Following a thrilling conclusion to the inaugural EurAsia Cup I am sure golf fans will be eager to watch Team Asia take on Team Europe once again come January. I believe Asia will have a very capable leader as Jeev Milkha Singh is well respected by his peers for his achievements in the game.
“The format changes are designed to create even greater drama and excitement to the EurAsia Cup as there will now be more matches being played throughout the three days of competition. I would also like to thank the Malaysian Government for its support of the game and also PGM and DRB-HICOM for their commitment towards the EurAsia Cup as our Presenting Partner.”
Keith Pelley, Chief Executive of The European Tour, said: “There is something special about team golf and I know the EurAsia Cup will add another chapter to that in January after such a memorable first edition. We thank DRB-HICOM for their support and look forward to staging a great event at Glenmarie Golf and Country Club with our partners from the Asian Tour and Professional Golf of Malaysia. We wish Darren and Jeev every success as they lead their respective teams into the match – they are both great ambassadors for the game of golf and I am sure they will be great captains at what is shaping up to be a fantastic sporting occasion.”
The 44-year-old Singh, who won the Asian Tour Order of Merit in 2006 and 2008, said: “It is an honour to be offered the EurAsia Cup Captaincy and I am very excited by the prospect of leading what I hope will be a very strong Asian team. It is a special event – I remember watching it two years ago and it was so exciting. I hope I can get a great team out there and keep them calm and collected and get the best out of them.”
Clarke, 47, said: “We want to go to Malaysia and win the EurAsia Cup. I’ve already had a lot of players talking to me about it and no matter who is in the European side, we will be hungry to win. It’s going to be very tough – we saw what happened the last time.”
The first day’s play on January 15, Friday will include six Fourball matches, followed by six Foursomes matches on January 16, Saturday and 12 Singles matches on January 17, Sunday at Glenmarie’s Garden course.
