December 3, 2013: Seasoned Thai golfer Thongchai Jaidee and Spanish icon Miguel Angel Jimenez have been selected as playing captains for Team Asia and Team Europe respectively for the inaugural EurAsia Cup to be held next yearMarch.
The inter-continental battle of golf will see top 10 Asian players fight it out against 10 equally competent golfers from Europe. The EurAsia Cup will be played over three days of Ryder Cup-styled matchplay golf at the Glenmarie Golf and Country Club in Kuala Lumpur from March 27 to 29, 2014.
Thongchai , a winner of an unprecedented three Asian Tour Order of Merit titles and has 16 professional victories to his name, including five wins on the European Tour and two Malaysian Open titles.
“I am honoured and delighted to be asked to captain Team Asia. Week in, week out, we compete as individuals, but the EurAsia Cup presented by DRB-HICOM gives us a different way to play the sport. I am a huge fan of the Ryder Cup, but being Asian, I will never get to play in it. The EurAsia Cup will offer the chance for the best Asian and European players to come together, and I am looking forward to leading a determined group that will do their very best for team honour and pride. It is sure to be a great battle and I’ll make sure the Asian team is as well prepared as they can be,” Jaidee said.
Team Europe will be led by burly Spanish star Jimenez, who has played an astonishing 28 consecutive years on the European Tour, amassing 19 tournament wins along the way.
The 49-year-old Malaga has won six high profile tournaments in the Asian region over his career, including his most recent win in 2012 at the Hong Kong Open. Jimenez is confident his past Ryder Cup experiences can help his team secure a win for Europe next March.
“The EurAsia Cup presented by DRB-HICOM is a very exciting event indeed and I can’t wait to get to Malaysia for the tournament. We have Europe playing the U.S. at the Ryder Cup, and it is great that now have a fully sanctioned, official competition for the Europeans to play against the best from Asia. With so many world-class players now emerging from the Asian Tour, it is sure to be a close contest.” Jiminez said.
The first day of the three day tournament will include five foursomes matches, followed by five fourball matches on day two and 10 singles matches on the final day at Glenmarie’s Garden course.
