EurAsia Cup: Poulter, Wiesberger lead European charge

January 15, 2016: The picturesque Glenmarie Golf and Country Club is a sanctuary of green, its undulating course lined with a smattering of trees on either side. But the Selangor neighbourhood was turned blue by a dominant team of European golfers, who seemed intent on writing a script that reminded us of their start in the first edition of the EurAsia Cup. It took a dogged effort from the Asian team to work their way back from a near wipeout and stay in the hunt with the score reading 1.5 to 4.5

By the time they were midway through the front nine, Europe lead five of the six contests. It took a determined effort from Thongchai Jaidee and Byeong Hun An to get Asia on the board, taking a 3&1 victory over Danny Willett and Matthew Fitzpatrick. Not to forget the stupendous fight shown by Danny Chia and Nicholas Fung to halve the point with Soren Kjeldsen and Victor Dubuisson.

The leading four-ball between Ian Poulter and Bernd Wiesberger against Anirban Lahiri and Jeung Hun Wang was all square through five holes, before Wiesberger made birdie at the sixth hole.

The European combination doubled their advantage when Wiesberger made another birdie at the par-4 tenth hole. Poulter had expressed a desire to drive his team to success this week and he took over from his partner to take his team 4-up with back to back birdies at 11 & 12.

Meanwhile, Ross Fisher and Kristoffer Broberg were proving to be an insurmountable challenge to an outmatched Prayad Marksaeng and KT Kim. The Europeans took a two hole lead when they won the third and fourth holes to set the tone for this one sided affair.

Fisher made birdies at the sixth and ninth to take his team 4-up even as they made the turn. The point was in the bag for Darren Clarke’s men Fisher made birdie at the 14th with Kim settling for par. The 6&4 verdict was a painful blow to Jeev Milkha Singh, who could only hide his face and wipe away the sweat with his towel.

Jaidee was a popular figure around the course and he played the role of player and mentor to perfection. After being down by two through ten holes, An responded with a hat-trick of birdies to bring his team straight back into the contest. With Fitzpatrick making a bogey at the 17th, it took just an even three from the Korean to settle the match in Asia’s favour.

Andy Sullivan and Shane Lowry were also in irrepressible form – the duo built up a steady advantage to retain control of their match against Shingo Katayama and Wu Ashun. The Europeans were two up through the seventh hole. Consecutive birdies at the 13th and 14th holes all but sealed the contest in their favour, even as Sullivan eclipsed the other three men with a stellar outing.

Kiradech Aphibarnrat was clearly off colour on Friday. It took a stellar effort from SSP Chawrasia, who played with tremendous discipline, to counter the stiff challenge posed by Chris Wood and Lee Westwood.

The Europeans went up by one at the second hole, when Westwood sank his second shot in the cup at the par-3 second hole. They doubled their advantage at the par-3 fifth when Wood stepped up to the plater to emulate his partner.

But just after Aphibarnrat reduced the deficit to one with a birdie at the seventh, Chawrasia took the cue from his team mate to make birdie at the 10th to draw all square. The yo-yo contest swung Europe’s way again when Wood sank a birdie putt at the par-3 twelfth hole.

The 18th at the Glenmarie is already wearing the look of a battlefield. Even as the news of Chawrasia and Aphibarnrat, dropping the 16th to another solid putt by Wood trickled in, the Asian team was out in force around the final green.

Danny Chia and Nicholas Fung gave the Asian team something to cheer as they battled back from deficit three times during their match against Victor Dubuisson and Soren Kjeldsen. The cries of joy that erupted all around for an even par that halved the point underlined the fact that neither team will give or take an inch over the next two days.

A three point margin will serve as a nice cushion for the Europeans, who clearly look like the far more settled unit. But then the Asian team played well in large parts, only to find that most of their putters remained cold through the day. It is an area that needs to be addressed quickly, if they are to make a fist of this competition over the next two days.

The stage is set for a thrilling foursome battle tomorrow, with the Asian team needing to work their way back yet again. “The last time we tied, this time we want to try and win,” said a defiant Chawrasia, who was not willing to be defeated despite losing the point on Friday.

Friday Fourball

Ian Poulter/Bernd Wiesberger bt Anirban Lahiri/Jeunghun Wang 4 & 3
Danny Willett/Matthew Fitzpatrick lost to Byeonghun An/Thongchai Jaidee 3 & 1
Victor Dubuisson/Soren Kjeldsen and Danny Chia/Nicholas Fung halved
Ross Fisher/Kristoffer Broberg bt Prayad Marksaeng/K.T. Kim 6 & 4
Shane Lowry/Andy Sullivan bt Shingo Katayama/Wu Ashun 2 & 1
Lee Westwood/Chris Wood bt S.S.P. Chawrasia/Kiradech Aphibarnrat 2 & 1

Saturday’s Foursomes Draw (Team Europe first)

Match 1: 9.35am Ian Poulter/Danny Willett vs Byeonghun An/ Thongchai Jaidee
Match 2: 9.50am Bernd Wiesberger/Ross Fisher vs K.T. Kim/Jeunghun Wang
Match 3: 10.05am Kristoffer Broberg/Chris Wood vs S.S.P. Chawrasia/Kiradech Aphibarnrat
Match 4: 10.20am Shane Lowry/Andy Sullivan vs Prayad Marksaeng/Shingo Katayama
Match 5: 10.35am Soren Kjeldsen/Victor Dubuisson vs Danny Chia/Nicholas Fung
Match 6: 10.50am Lee Westwood/Matthew Fitzpatrick vs Anirban Lahiri/Wu Ashun