European team playing for Seve at Royal Trophy

2009-01-08

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BANGKOK, THAILAND (TICKER) —There is an underlying desire within the European team to win The Royal Trophy this week in honor of Seve Ballesteros.

Ballesteros, a five-time major winner and the 1997 European Ryder Cup captain, was the visionary for the Ryder Cup-style matchplay event between Europe and Asia but is not in Bangkok this weekend while he recovers from multiple brain surgeries.

The 51-year-old had a series of operations on a brain tumour after collapsing in October and is now recovering at his home in Bilbao, northern Spain, with his close friend Jose Maria Olazabal stepping in as captain.

The Spanish duo formed the most potent partnership in Ryder Cup history, with 11 wins and two halves from 15 matches, and were both involved in the selection of the eight-man European team for this week’s event at Amata Spring Country Club.

Ballesteros’ absence has not been discussed at length within the team, but Oliver Wilson - who is making his Royal Trophy debut in the third edition of the event - expects it to be a major factor.

“Underneath it all, we all want to win it for him - I think it’d be great to do that,” said Wilson, who was a member of the European Ryder Cup team in Valhalla last September.

“That might give him a bit of excitement and positivity. Out on the course we won’t be thinking about it but it means a lot to play under him. Even to be picked in a team he’s picked, it means a lot.”

Paul McGinley was a member of Ballesteros’ victorious team in each of the first two events, in 2006 and 2007.

The Irishman echoed Wilson’s sentiments, and believes Olazabal is a more than capable deputy.

“We really miss Seve - there’s no doubt about it - as he has larger-than-life personality,” said McGinley, who is yet to be beaten in team matchplay in three Ryder Cups - he sank the winning putt on his debut in 2002 - and two Royal Trophies.

“This tournament is on because of him, he’s the one who put it all together and he’ll be keeping a close eye on this week.”

McGinley expects Olazabal to make a successful skipper and to one day emulate Ballesteros and lead Europe in the biennial match with the United States - but not yet.

“Olly is very astute golf wise and a very likeable guy,” added the 42-year-old. “He will be a brilliant captain in the Ryder Cup, whether it’s next year or in a few years, he will be captain at some stage and a great captain he will be.

“It’s a question of when he’s going to be captain rather than if. I know he’s keen to keep on playing so that’s his decision rather than anyone else’s.”

Wilson agreed with McGinley’s assessment that Olazabal, who was Nick Faldo’s deputy in Valhalla, will wait to lead Europe in the Ryder Cup and does not expect the Spaniard to take charge at Celtic Manor in 2010.

McGinley will partner Pablo Larrazabal in the opening day’s foursomes and is happy to be playing alongside the 25-year-old Spaniard against South Korea’s Charlie Wi and China’s Liang Wen-chong in the second match.

“Olly (Olazabal) thinks he (Larrazabal) needs a bit of experience - I’m probably the most experienced player in the team so he thinks that we will work well together,” McGinley said. “He’ll be a future Ryder Cup star, that’s for sure, and I’m looking forward to it.”

Europe won the last contest in 2007 - the 2008 event was cancelled after a death in the Thai Royal family - 12 1/2-3 1/2, but McGinley anticipates a battle for a third successive victory.

“We’re going to have to play very well this week because this is the strongest Asian team yet and they’re all on form,” he said.

Scotsman Paul Lawrie and Soren Hansen, of Denmark, will begin Europe’s defense in the opening match against Japanese duo Ryo Ishikawa and Toru Taniguchi.

Wilson will play alongside Nick Dougherty in the third match against Japan’s Hideto Tanihara and South Korea’s SK Ho, while Swedish duo Niclas Fasth and Johan Edfors play Thai pair Thongchai Jaidee and Prayad Marksaeng in the final tie.

Olazabal is looking for his side to accumulate points quickly.

“That was pretty much the order of pairings I had in my mind,” said Olazabal following the draw.

“I thought they’d put the Thai team first or last but I decided not to change whatever the outcome. We will try to gain points as soon as possible.”