Arjun out to lead Team Asia to first victory
PETALING JAYA: Two-time Malaysian Open winner Arjun Atwal has been chosen to lead Team Asia against Team Europe in the third edition of the DRBHicom EurAsia Cup at the Glenmarie Golf and Country Club in Shah Alam next year.
In January last year, the Jeev Milkha Singh-led Team Asia were thrashed 18½-5½ by Darren Clarke-skippered Team Europe in the biennial tournament.
The two teams drew 10-10 in the inaugural EurAsia Cup in 2014.
So, Arjun, 44, knows that his task will be to try and lead Team Asia to victory for the first time.
“I’m proud to captain Team Asia in this very special event,” said Arjun.
“I expect to lead a strong and confident team against Europe, so I’ll do my best to inspire Team Asia.”
Arjun, a winner of eight Asian Tour and three European Tour titles, is happy to be back here as he won the Malaysia Open twice – in 2003 and 2008.
Team Europe’s captain is three-time Major runner-up Thomas Bjorn, who will also be leading the continent in next year’s Ryder Cup.
Like Clarke, the 46-year-old Bjorn will want to make the most of the EurAsia Cup to prepare his team ahead of their clash against the United States in France next September.
“I’m delighted and honoured to be the captain of Team Europe’s EurAsia Cup,” said the 15-time European Tour winner.
“We have some of the best golfers in the world in Europe and I’m relishing the chance to work closely with them to ensure we keep the trophy in Europe.”
The EurAsia Cup will feature 24 matches – six fourballs, six foursomes and 12 singles.
Team Asia will comprise the top four players in the 2017 Asian Tour Order of Merit (OoM), the top four from the Official World Golf Ranking and four captain’s picks.
Gavin Kyle Green, who is ranked third in the OoM, is in line to make the cut.
As for Team Europe, Bjorn’s players will come from the top 10 of the final 2017 Race to Dubai ranking plus his two picks.