Royal Trophy
| Tournament information | |
|---|---|
| Location | 2013: Guangzhou, China |
| Established | 2006 |
| Course(s) | 2013: Dragon Lake Golf Club |
| Par | 2013: 72 |
| Length | 2013: 6,968 yards (6,372 m) |
| Format | Match play |
| Prize fund | None |
| Month played | December |
| Current champion | |
| Europe | |
The Royal Trophy is a men's professional team golf tournament which was played for the first time in January 2006 at the Amata Spring Country Club in Chonburi, Thailand. The competing teams represent Europe and Asia. Eight man teams play a series of 16 matches involving foursomes, four-ball and singles for the right to hold a trophy donated by the King of Thailand. It is planned to hold the event in Thailand annually until 2011, and thereafter to stage it in Europe and Asia in alternate years.[1] The Royal Trophy is one of several team golf tournaments between teams from rival regions of the world started since the 1990s, inspired by the popularity of the Ryder Cup.[2]
Event history
Seve Ballesteros, a leading proponent of team golf competitions, captained the European team in the inaugural tournament, and Japan's Masahiro Kuramoto captained Asia. Europe's team included the highly ranked David Howell and Paul McGinley, and former World Number 1s Nick Faldo and Ian Woosnam were Ballesteros's captain's picks. Europe won the inaugural event by 9 points to 7. They retained the trophy in 2007 with a 12½–3½ victory.
The 2008 event was due to take place from 11–13 January, but was postponed due to a 15 day period of national mourning for the King of Thailand's sister.[3] It was ultimately cancelled. The third edition took place in January 2009 with the Asian team winning, 10–6. In 2010, Europe won by the smallest possible margin, 8½–7½.
Results
| Year | Venue | Winning team | Score | Europe captain | Asia captain |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Dragon Lake Golf Club, China | Europe | 8½–7½ |  José María Olazábal |  Yang Yong-eun |
| 2012 | Empire Hotel and Country Club, Brunei | Asia[4] | 8–8 | José María Olazábal |  Naomichi "Joe" Ozaki |
| 2011 | Black Mountain Golf Club, Thailand | Europe | 9–7 |  Colin Montgomerie | Naomichi "Joe" Ozaki |
| 2010 | Amata Spring Country Club, Thailand | Europe | 8½–7½ | Colin Montgomerie | Naomichi "Joe" Ozaki |
| 2009 | Amata Spring Country Club, Thailand | Asia | 10–6 | José María Olazábal | Naomichi "Joe" Ozaki |
| 2008 | Tournament cancelled | ||||
| 2007 | Amata Spring Country Club, Thailand | Europe | 12½–3½ | Seve Ballesteros | Naomichi "Joe" Ozaki |
| 2006 | Amata Spring Country Club, Thailand | Europe | 9–7 | Seve Ballesteros | Masahiro Kuramoto |
Notes and references
- ↑ "Asia gives thumbs down to Down Under proposal". Reuters. 31 October 2008. Retrieved 2009-11-02.
- ↑ "Ozaki to captain Asia against Seve’s Europe at Royal Trophy". The Star (Malaysia). 1 November 2006. Retrieved 2009-11-02.
- ↑ "Thailand Royal postponed due to death". The Australian. 4 January 2008. Retrieved 2009-11-02.
- ↑ Asia won on the first hole of a sudden-death playoff.