Bjorn sees an evenly contested EurAsia Cup in Malaysia

SHAH ALAM: Team Europe captain Thomas Bjorn insists past results will count for nothing when his side resume their EurAsia Cup rivalry against the Arjun Atwal-led Team Asia at the Glenmarie Golf and Country Club here from Jan 12-14 next year.

The last time the Ryder Cup-style competition took place in January last year, captain Darren Clarke led Europe to a crushing 18½5½ win over Jeev Milkha Singh’s Asia to lift the trophy.

But Bjorn, who will also skipper Europe against the United States at next year’s Ryder Cup, believes his side should take nothing for granted.

The 42-year-old Dane, a three-time Major runner-up, knows what the Asians are capable of. Bjorn was part of the Team Europe that were held to a 10-10 draw in the inaugural tournament in 2014. Then, Europe had taken a comfortable 7-3 lead heading into the final day’s singles but Asia fought back to be joint champions.

“One team can be the big favourite, with strong players.

“But the fact is that on any given day, (the competitiveness level of ) golf around the world is so close to each other,” said Bjorn after a visit to the Glenmarie Golf and Country Club yesterday.

“We see that in team events all the time. In 2014, we were probably guilty of thinking we were going to win it and then lost the momentum on the final day.

“So, it’s more on the day-to-day form. I can’t use the 2014 or 2016 results for anything when we come here in January. It’s all about the three days in January and not about anything else,” added the 15-time European Tour winner.

Bjorn has no plans for the EurAsia Cup to play second fiddle to the Ryder Cup.

He said he would name his strongest possible line-up and eye nothing but a win.

He believes there’s a need for the Europeans to respond to the Americans’ roaring 19-11 triumph over the Internationals at the Presidents Cup earlier this month.

“I can’t just put my Ryder Cup cap on. We need to have a team who will face a strong Asian team,” he said.

“If I take my focus off during the week then I don’t think we will have as good a chance of winning.”

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 and the top four from the Official World Golf Ranking as of Nov 27 and four captain’s picks.

As for Bjorn, his players will come from the top 10 of the final 2017 Race to Dubai rankings plus two of his picks.