This weekend January 9-11 the best golf players from Europe will play against the best players from Asia competing in a spectacular series of matches for stewardship over the perpetual Royal Trophy – a 16 kilogram, solid silver trophy, which has been donated by His Majesty the King of Thailand.
Together with seven other Europeans the Swedish golf players Johan Edfors and Niclas Fasth will defend the European honour at Amata Spring Country Club.
Europe bidding for a hat-trick
Europe has won the last two tournaments, with both victories overseen by Ballesteros, who first came up with the concept of pitching the cream of European golf against Asia’s finest in a team event.
The Swedish pair of Edfors and Fasth was both a part of the winning team in 2007.
“I’m really looking forward to playing The Royal Trophy again. I think Amata Spring Country Club is an excellent match play venue as it encourages, and rewards, aggressive golf. I like to give the ball a lash, and the galleries seemed to enjoy watching my attacking brand of golf the last time I played,” Johan Edfors says and continues:
“I really enjoy the overall format as well, and it’s a wonderful way to start a new golfing year. Obviously I have very happy memories of the 2007 tournament, and I will be looking to recapture that form this time around.”
An Asian Ryder Cup
The Royal Trophy is the result of the legendary Spaniard Seve Ballesteros’ vision of bringing the three billion people Asian continent together to compete against the masters of team golf – Europe, in a Ryder Cup format.
“The Royal Trophy is becoming the greatest force for the further development of golf in Asia, in the same manner that the Ryder Cup played such a role for the European Continent in the 1980s and 1990s,” the 5-time Major winner Ballesteros says and adds:
“The Royal Trophy will contribute to the growth of golf in Asia in the same manner that the Ryder Cup contributed so greatly to the growth of golf in Europe.”
The third edition of the Royal Trophy takes place in January 9-11 2009. The continental competition will again this year be played at Amata Spring Country Club.
