The European Team has drawn first blood with a commanding three-point lead on the opening day of the EurAsia Cup in Kuala Lumpur.
The Darren Clarke led Europeans earned won three of the six matches and with the Asian Team, captained by Jeev Milka Singh, winning one while the other was halved in a 4 ½ to 1 ½ points advantage on the Glenmarie Golf and Country Club course.
“It’s been a wonderful start to have a three-point lead after day one but then in saying that, there was a lot of matches that could have swung either way over the back nine,” said Clarke.
“Halfway around Europe was leading in all the matches but then I was on the radio to a few of the guys to say this is match-play and Asia could very well come back at us over the back nine, and that’s exactly what they did.”
Singh, who competed two years ago in the inaugural EurAsia Cup, admitted he was like a headless chicken endeavouring to keep abreast of all six matches.
“I was like a chicken without a head and I don’t think I have ever covered so many miles in a golf buggy on a day ever before,” he said smiling.
“But thinking of what happened on the first day two years ago we were not going all that well having lost all matches so this year to earn one-and-a-half points in the Foursomes and that is the positive I am looking at.
“My team player really well today and I am very proud of my boys.”
England’s Ian Poulter and Austrian Bernd Wiesberger secured the first point winning the opening Fourball in defeating reigning Asian Tour No. 1 Anirban Lahiri of India and Korean Jeung Hun Wang 4 & 3.
The opening match of the 2016 EurAsia Cup. (Photo – Eoin Clarke/www.golffile.ie)
… and Ian Poulter sets the tone for Europe in holing a 20-foot birdie putt at the very first hole. (Photo – Eoin Clarke/www.golffile.ie)
Poulter set the tone for the match at the very first hole in sinking a 20-foot birdie putt. “When Darren said to me to go out there first and get it done, that’s exactly what we did today,” said Poulter.
“Bernd and I dovetailed nicely. We put two balls in play for the most part and kept them under pressure.”
Europe then gained a second point and with England’s Ross Fisher and Swede Kristoffer Broberg handing out the biggest defeat of the day, a 6 & 4 drubbing of Thailand’s Prayad Marksaeng and Korean K T Kim.
Thirteen-time Asian Tour winner Thongchai Jaidee of Thailand and 2015 European Tour ‘Rookie of the Year’ Byeong Hun An combined to secure the only Asian victory storming back from 2 down after 10 holes and with Hun birding three of the closing four holes in a 3 & 1 success over the all-England pair of Danny Willett and Matthew Fitzpatrick.
“Every point is very important and with one-and-a-half points and only three behind it means tomorrow is going to very important,” said Jaidee.
“Our team is set-up quite well for a fightback and with the Foursomes format it sets up well for an Asian Team fightback,”
There was concern Frenchman Victor Dubuisson may have to retire when he needed on-course medical treatment for an apparent injured left knee on the 16th tee,
Dubuisson and partner Soren Kjeldsen of Denmark were all square at the time over the all-Malaysian pair of Danny Chia and Nicholas Fang.
However the current double Turkish Airlines Open champion stood tall to birdie the 16th and then after Kjeldsen and Fung pulled off great birdies at the par three, 17th the matched ended all square.
Victor Dubuisson receives treatment on the 16tyh tee for injured left knee.
