Eye surgery forces Ian

Poulter out of Abu

Dhabi Championship

Corrective eye surgery has forced colourful Englishman Ian Poulter – the current World Number 26 – to withdraw from next week’s Abu Dhabi Championship.
The Ryder Cup star, pictured above, is to undergo the surgery next week, ruling him out of a third tilt at the Falcon Trophy. Poulter will miss out on the opportunity to go head-to-head against the world’s best players at the Abu Dhabi Golf Club, where the stellar field includes three-time Major winner Padraig Harrington of Ireland, World Number Two Sergio Garcia of Spain, World Number eight Henrik Stenson of Sweden, and eight-time Harry Vardon Trophy winner Colin Montgomerie of Scotland.
"It is with great regret that I have to withdraw from the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship,” said Poulter. “I have been having a problem with my vision in poor light, and my doctors have advised me that I should have this surgery as soon as possible to prevent further deterioration. I am relieved that the problem can be corrected with surgery, but very disappointed to miss one of my favourite events on the schedule.
“However, I’ll be back in Abu Dhabi next year for another crack at the Falcon Trophy,” added the 32-year-old.
Championship organiser, Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA), was quick to wish Poulter every success with the surgery. Faisal Al Sheikh, Major Events Division Head (ADTA), said: “Ian is a staunch supporter of the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship and if we know him as well as we think, he’ll be following its progress day-by-day – if only via radio broadcasts! It’s great to hear he’s planning a 2010 appearance, and we look forward to welcoming him back.”

US PGA Tour Scoreboard
MERCEDES-BENZ CHAMPIONSHIP
FIRST ROUND
Par 73
67 Geoff Ogilvy (Aus)
68 Kenny Perry, Ernie Els (Rsa), Johnson Wagner
69 Sean O'Hair, Davis Love III, Ryuji Imada (Jpn), Steve Lowery
70 Boo Weekley, D.J. Trahan
71 Anthony Kim, Zach Johnson, K J Choi (Kor)
72 Dustin Johnson, Will MacKenzie, Richard S Johnson (Swe), Trevor Immelman (Rsa), Brian Gay, Greg Kraft, Carl Pettersson (Swe)
73 Adam Scott (Aus), Vijay Singh (Fij)
74 Justin Leonard, J B Holmes, Camilo Villegas (Col), Stewart Cink
75 Chez Reavie
76 Cameron Beckman
77 Parker McLachlin
78 Andres Romero (Arg), Ryan Palmer
79 Daniel Chopra (Swe), Marc Turnesa

Lyle wants Langer AND three other vice-captains

if he gets the Ryder Cup captaincy in 2010

FROM THE GUARDIAN.CO.UK WEBSITE
Sandy Lyle has said he would like 2004 Ryder Cup captain Bernhard Langer to be one of his vice-captains should the Scot be given responsibility for leading the European team next year.
Lyle, the 1985 Open and 1988 Masters champion, is one of the front-runners for the job at Celtic Manor in 2010 as Europe look to reclaim the trophy they lost to the United States in September.
The European Tour's tournament committee is set to announce its decision during next week's Abu Dhabi Championship.
"There are bound to be a lot of different nationalities in the team, so somebody like Bernhard Langer I'd be very keen to have working with me," said Lyle. "He's so methodical. He would provide a lot of feedback into decision-making."
After Spaniard José María Olazábal again indicated this week he does not want the job for 2010, the way seems clear for the 50-year-old Lyle to take charge.
He is the only one of Europe's 'famous five' not to have had the captaincy and Lyle could now follow Seve Ballesteros, Langer, Ian Woosnam and Nick Faldo by taking the helm. With five Ryder Cups behind him as a player, Lyle certainly feels the time is right for him to step up.
"I can't see any reason why not me," he added. "As far as available captains go, there are not an awful lot around. I look like the favourable choice."
As well as Olazábal, Colin Montgomerie has ruled himself out of the 2010 captaincy, but Faldo and Woosnam have expressed a desire for a second term. It is Woosnam, Europe's winning captain in 2006, whom Lyle expects to be his closest rival.
"Obviously with Wales coming up, Woosie would be high in contention," conceded Lyle. "I'm still fairly well in touch with the present players, your Lee Westwoods, and the Darren Clarkes. If I do get selected I'll probably be playing much more in Europe on the seniors [tour] to keep an eye on the European players."
If Lyle does get the job he will not rely on just one vice-captain, as Faldo did with Olazábal when losing last year, instead reverting to a five-pronged attack, similar to when he served under Woosnam.
"We had four assistants in 2006 at the K Club, I was part of the four so I know that system works," he said. "You need to be in contact with the team at all times. Having a good back-up team is so important, not just when the tournament starts but in the breakfast room, the locker-room before players tee off. It's vital to have someone who's been there, done that, in the Ryder Cup."

No Scots among 87 who progress to

Asian Tour Final Q School next week

PRESS RELEASE ISSUED BY ASIAN TOUR
Rayong, January 9: Korea's Cho Min-joon and Australia's Heath Reed were among the 87 players who have made the cut at the First Stage of the Asian Tour's Qualifying School presented by the Sports Authority of Thailand today.
A total of 33 golfers from St Andrews 2000, 27 players from Green Valley Country Club and 27 from Lam Luk Ka Country Club will join an already exempted 116 players for the all-important Final Stage next week.
Korea's Cho stamped his mark when he fired a four-under-par 68 while Reed posted a 77 for a tied finish at the top of the leaderboard at the Rayong Green Valley Country Club.
Welshman Mark Mouland, who competed in 10 events on the Asian Tour last season, finished in a tie for 14th spot after a 70 together with Korea's Kang Ji-man who slipped to a 74.
Australia's Christopher Campbell topped the field at St Andrews 2000 after an even-par performance for a 283 total while compatriot Matthew Griffin posted a similar score to finish in second place.
At Lam Luk Ka Country Club, England's James Hepworth and Australian Peter Martin recorded a 73 and 71 respectively to end their week on top of the pack after matching total of 276s.
The top-40 finishers and ties at the Final Stage next week, which for the first time will be played over five rounds, will earn playing rights for the 2009 season.
Mark Lamb (Haddington), who has been four years on the American college circuit since winning the Scottish boys stroke-play championship at Peterhead, failed by 11 shots to make the cut at Green Valley. He shot a final round of 77 for 300 and joint 68th position.
Fellow Scots Mitchell Slorach and Ross Dixon were counted out at Lam Luk Ka where 286 or better was required to qualify. Slorach finished with a 74 for 291 and joint 47th position while Dixon finished 67th with a closing 73 for 296.
FINAL TOTALS
LAM LUK KA
Par 288 (4 x 72)
276 Peter Martin (Aus) 67 69 69 71, James Hepworth (Eng) 63 72 68 73.
277 Wilhelm Schauman (Swe) 72 68 70 67.
Selected scores:
284 Steve Parry (Eng) 70 76 70 68 (jt 14th).
285 Matthew King (Eng) 69 70 73 73 (jt 17th).
286 Craig Smith (Wal) 71 70 72 73
+Players with totals of 286 or better qualified.
MISSED THE CUT
287 Jonathan Evans (Eng) 70 71 72 74 (jt 28th).
291 Mitchell Slorach (Sco) 73 72 72 74 (jt 47th).
296 Ross Dixon (Sco) 78 71 74 73 (67th).

ST ANDREWS 2000
Par 292 (4 x 73)
283 Christopher Campbell (Aus) 70 74 67 72.
285 Matthew Griffin (Aus) 72 68 73 72.
286 Brad McIntosh (Aus) 74 72 70 70, Eddie Barr (Ire) 68 73 72 73, Lars Johansson (Swe) 70 72 71 73.
Selected scores:
287 Ally Melor (Eng) 70 74 71 71 (jt 6th).
294 Andrew Marshall (Eng) 76 71 74 73
+Players with totals of 296 or better qualified.
MISSED THE CUT
300 James Sheffield (Eng) 71 72 73 84.

GREEN VALLEY
Par 288 (4 x 72)
281 Cho Min-joon (Sko) 67 74 72 68, Heath Reed (Aus) 66 72 66 77.
283 Yasumasa Suzuki (Jap) 69 71 71 72, Mitsunobu Fukunaga (Jap) 68 71 70 74.
284 Scott Arnold (Aus) 68 70 72 74.
Selected scores:
285 John Parry (Eng) 69 72 72 72 (jt 6th)
287 Mark Mouland (Wales) 70 76 71 70.
+Players with totals of 289 or better qualified.
MISSED THE CUT
290 Grant Jackson (England) 70 75 73 72 (jt 28th).
291 Phil Worthington (Eng) 70 71 73 77 (jt 31st).
300 Mark Lamb (Sco) 75 74 74 77 (jt 68th).

***All the scores are available by logging on to the Asian Tour website http://www.asiantour.com/index.htm

David Drysdale halfway

leader in Joburg Open

FROM THE EUROPEAN TOUR WEBSITE
(with additional words by Colin Farquharson)
Dunbar's David Drysdale, pictured right, followed up his opening day 65 by carding a five under round of 66 to lead a rain-affected Joburg Open by one stroke at the halfway stage.
The Scots has been incredibly consistent through his first two days at the Royal Johannesburg and Kensington Golf Club with not a single dropped shot on his card as his score of 131 kept him a stroke ahead of South African Oliver Bekker and Michael Hoey from Northern Ireland.
Another home favourite, Andrew McLardy, also managed to stay amongst the chasing pack with his three under 68 moving him to nine under overall, alongside Englishman Danny Willet, who carded a 66, while Richard McEvoy, Tyrone van Aswegen and Rafael Cabrera Bello are all eight under par.
But it was Drysdale who impressed most, carding four of his five birdies on a front nine of 32 in this co-sanctioned European Tour and Sunshine Tour event, to go with his birdie-eagle finish on the first day.
The 33 year old said: “I’m very pleased, especially after playing well yesterday (Thursday) with a good eagle finish which was nice and just kept it going, so overall, I'm very happy.
“I played well all day and had good chances on the front nine and then chipped in with an eagle at the end on the back nine, it was just a little bit of justice really I think to finish. But so far, so good.”
Hoey, who began the competition with a 64 after missing the cut last year, was one of the players affected by an almost 2hr rain delay during the early afternoon.
“It was just perfect at the end there,” reflected the Ballymoney-born golfer on the break. “There was no wind, which was probably an advantage because it was quite hot earlier on. The weather was perfect.”
After his 65, Bekker added: “I didn’t have a good finish at the end of last year, so I’m just trying to manage myself better on the golf course by cutting out the bogeys, maybe not playing as aggressively and try a little more conservative shots and playing within myself.”
Defending champion Richard Sterne, who is also bidding for a third consecutive European Tour title, bounced back from his opening day 71 with a fine round of 66 – five under overall.
He said: “I got off to a slow start this morning, but then birdied five and six, which put me in a better frame of mind. I knew I just had to stay patient because there are a lot of birdies out there.
“Anytime that you’re within seven or eight on the weekend, you’re in with a chance.”
Two other Scots apart from David Drysdale survived the cut at two-under-par 140.
Canada-based Glasgow-born Alan McLean had a hole in one at the 13th on his way to a 65 for joint 13th place on 136.
The other was last year's Tartan Tour kingpin and PGA play-offs winner, Chris Doak with scores of 70 and 68.
Steven O'Hara (68 for 141) missed out by one shot; Richie Ramsay (74 for 142) by two and Andrew McArthur (70 for 143) and Callum Macaulay (69 for 143) by three. It was Macaulay's first missed cut on the European Tour.
Peter Whiteford had a 76 for 146.l
Retief Goosen, the 2001 and 2004 U.S. Open champion, eagled the 15th hole as his score peaked on six-under-par, but he then double-bogeyed the last hole on the West Course to drop back to four-under overall.
Joint overnight leader Trevor Fisher junior failed to beat the cut, going rapidly down the leaderboard as five bogeys and a double-bogey spoiled his card on the East Course. He finished a sad day with a 79 - 16 shots more than he required on Thursday.
The other joint leader, Sweden's Steven Jeppesen, also fell from grace, starting with a double-bogey and then adding a further five bogeys. He did stop the rot in time to qualify with a 76 for 139.

SECOND-ROUND TOTALS
Par 142 (2 x 71)
131 David Drysdale 65 66
132 Oliver Bekker (Rsa) 67 65, Michael Hoey 64 68
133 Danny Willett 67 66, Andrew McLardy (Rsa) 65 68
134 Richard McEvoy 69 65, Tyrone Van Aswegen (Rsa) 69 65, Rafael Cabrera Bello (Spa) 65 69
135 Carlos Del Moral (Spa) 69 66, Jan Are Larsen (Nor) 66 69, Charl Coetzee (Rsa) 68 67, James Morrison 67 68
136 Antti Ahokas (Fin) 72 64, Alan McLean 71 65, Wallie Coetsee (Rsa) 72 64, Alfredo Garcia-Heredia (Spa) 65 71, Bernd Wiesberger (Aut) 72 64, Anthony Snobeck (Fra) 72 64, Raphael Jacquelin (Fra) 71 65, Edoardo Molinari (Ita) 65 71
137 Brett Liddle (Rsa) 67 70, Joakim Haeggman (Swe) 69 68, Louis Oosthuizen (Rsa) 71 66, Jaco Van Zyl (Rsa) 67 70, Simon Griffiths 73 64, Tc Charamba (Zim) 70 67, Gary Lockerbie 69 68, David Dixon 68 69, Taco Remkes (Ned) 67 70, Lorenzo Gagli (Ita) 70 67, Richard Sterne (Rsa) 71 66
138 Thomas Aiken (Rsa) 69 69, Graham De laet (Can) 72 66, Mikko Korhonen (Fin) 69 69, Gregory Molteni (Ita) 73 65, Eirik Tage Johansen (Nor) 73 65, Dion Fourie (Rsa) 68 70, Cameron Johnston (Rsa) 72 66, Klas Eriksson (Swe) 69 69, Jake Roos (Rsa) 69 69, Maarten Lafeber (Ned) 66 72, Darren Fichardt (Rsa) 68 70, Alexandre Rocha (Bra) 67 71, Keith Horne (Rsa) 68 70, Retief Goosen (Rsa) 70 68, James Kamte (Rsa) 69 69, Chris Doak 68 70, Martin Maritz (Rsa) 66 72
139 David Carter 67 72, John Mellor 72 67, Anders Hansen (Den) 71 68, Steven Jeppesen (Swe) 63 76, John E Morgan 69 70, Andre Bossert (Swi) 70 69, Kevin Stone (Rsa) 69 70, Michael Curtis (Zim) 74 65, Brandon Pieters (Rsa) 68 71, Chris Wood 69 70, Jesus Maria Arruti (Spa) 74 65, Charl Schwartzel (Rsa) 68 71, Jean Hugo (Rsa) 67 72, Estanislao Goya (Arg) 70 69, Gary Clark 72 67, Phillip Archer 69 70
140 Chris Gane 70 70, Neil Cheetham 73 67, James Kingston (Rsa) 71 69, Doug McGuigan 69 71, Iain Pyman 71 69, Tyrone Ferreira (Rsa) 68 72, Sam Little 72 68, Michele Reale (Ita) 66 74, Martin Wiegele (Aut) 68 72, Ulrich Van Den Berg (Rsa) 70 70, Jeppe Huldahl (Den) 67 73, Hennie Otto (Rsa) 67 73, Henrik Nystrom (Swe) 68 72, Bobby Lincoln (Rsa) 68 72, Carlos Rodiles (Spa) 69 71, Michiel Bothma (Rsa) 70 70, Kasper L Jorgensen (Den) 68 72, Carl Suneson (Spa) 67 73, Edrich Jansen (Rsa) 70 70
MISSED THE CUT
141 Steve Lewton 69 72, Garth Mulroy (Rsa) 68 73, Andrew Wilson (Rsa) 69 72, Divan Van Den Heever (Rsa) 68 73, Johan Etsebeth (Rsa) 72 69, Steven O'Hara 73 68, Ross Wellington (Rsa) 74 67, Johan De Buisson (Rsa) 73 68, Warren Abery (Rsa) 70 71, Deane Pappas (Rsa) 69 72, Prinavin Nelson (Rsa) 69 72, Tyrone Mordt (Rsa) 70 71, Andrew Curlewis (Rsa) 69 72, Stuart Manley 73 68, Dawie Van der Walt (Rsa) 71 70, Omar Sandys (Rsa) 67 74, Mark F Haastrup (Den) 70 71, Callie Swart (Rsa) 68 73, Justin Walters (Rsa) 67 74, Ryan Tipping (Rsa) 73 68
142 Merrick Bremner (Rsa) 71 71, Liam Bond 71 71, Wes Heffernan (Can) 69 73, Johan Wahlqvist (Swe) 74 68, David Frost (Rsa) 72 70, Grant Veenstra (Rsa) 69 73, Ockie Strydom (Rsa) 71 71, Wil Besseling (Ned) 72 70, Joel Sjoholm (Swe) 69 73, Mark Murless (Rsa) 73 69, Trevor Fisher Jnr (Rsa) 63 79, Marc Farry (Fra) 73 69, Richie Ramsay 68 74, Francois Delamontagne (Fra) 70 72, Julien Guerrier (Fra) 74 68, Inder Van Weerelt (Ned) 73 69, Ruan Botha (Rsa) 70 72, Dylan Frittelli (Rsa) 70 72
143 Patrik Sjoland (Swe) 65 78, Branden Grace (Rsa) 70 73, Rafael Echenique (Arg) 76 67, Nic Henning (Rsa) 69 74, Bradford Vaughan (Rsa) 74 69, Clodomiro Carranza (Arg) 70 73, Mohammed Tayob (Rsa) 78 65, Callum Macaulay 74 69, Andrew McArthur 73 70, Alessandro Tadini (Ita) 67 76, Ryan Thompson (Rsa) 69 74, Darryn Lloyd (Rsa) 73 70, Reggie Adams (Rsa) 74 69, Stuart Davis 77 66, Anton Haig (Rsa) 72 71, Jaco Ahlers (Rsa) 73 70, Andre Cruse (Rsa) 72 71, Ryan Cairns (Zim) 70 73, Dominique Nouailhac (Fra) 70 73, Grant Muller (Rsa) 70 73, Fredrik Andersson Hed (Swe) 70 73
144 Noel Fox 72 72, Leif Westerberg (Swe) 72 72, Eugene Marugi (Rsa) 74 70, Birgir Hafthorsson (Ice) 72 72, Heinrich Bruiners (Rsa) 74 70, Louis De Jager (Rsa) 74 70, Hendrik Buhrmann (Rsa) 70 74, Peter Kaensche (Nor) 66 78, Federico Colombo (Ita) 69 75, David Hewan (Rsa) 69 75, Richard Bland 73 71, Steve Basson (Rsa) 71 73, Garry Houston 71 73, Christiaan Basson (Rsa) 70 74, Nico Van Rensburg (Rsa) 71 73, Chris Williams (Rsa) 69 75, Ariel Canete (Arg) 68 76, Steve Van Vuuren (Rsa) 75 69, Lindani Ndwandwe (Rsa) 70 74
145 Jacques Blaauw (Rsa) 71 74, Desvonde Botes (Rsa) 69 76, Michael McGeady 71 74, Adilson Da Silva (Bra) 68 77, Morne Buys (Rsa) 71 74, Bradley Davison (Rsa) 73 72, Rolf Muntz (Ned) 72 73, Sam Walker 72 73, Marcus Higley 71 74, Roland Steiner (Aut) 73 72, James Ruth 67 78, Neil Schietekat (Rsa) 77 68, Vaughn Groenewald (Rsa) 69 76
146 Dean Lambert (Rsa) 78 68, Louis Moolman (Rsa) 74 72, Peter Whiteford 70 76, Anders Schmidt Hansen (Den) 68 78, Keenan Davidse (Rsa) 72 74, Lars Brovold (Nor) 76 70
147 Jonathan Caldwell 72 75, Titch Moore (Rsa) 76 71, Alex Haindl (Rsa) 71 76, Dale Marmion 71 76, Henk Alberts (Rsa) 69 78, Riaan De Bruyn (Rsa) 75 72, Simon Wakefield 78 69
148 Sion Bebb 72 76, Ben Evans 76 72, Josh Cunliffe (Rsa) 74 74, Pg Van Zyl (Rsa) 76 72, Teboho Sefatsa (Rsa) 74 74, Van Phillips 74 74
149 Andrew Butterfield 74 75, Javier Colomo (Spa) 76 73, Derik Ferreira (Rsa) 75 74, Marc Cayeux (Zim) 72 77
150 Jose-Filipe Lima (Por) 69 81, David Griffiths 79 71, Jonathan Lomas 75 75
152 Thabang Simon (Rsa) 72 80, Des Terblanche (Rsa) 77 75
153 Anthony Grenier (Fra) 72 81, Ake Nilsson (Rsa) 80 73
154 Alphuis Kelapile (Rsa) 75 79
156 Andre Ferreira (Rsa) 76 80, Emmanuel Masoliedze (Rsa) 80 76
158 John Bele (Rsa) 84 74
168 Musolo Nethunzwi (Rsa) 82 86

Three-day Royal Trophy match starts in Thailand

Paul Lawrie a winner but Asians

take 3-1 lead over Europe

PRESS RELEASE FROM ASIAN TOUR
Bangkok, January 9: Asia bounced back from an opening defeat to take a 3-1 lead over Europe after a thrilling opening day’s foursomes session at The Royal Trophy on Friday.
Japanese teenage sensation Ryo Ishikawa and Toru Taniguchi lost the top match 2&1 to Aberdeen's Paul Lawrie, pictured right by Cal Carson Golf Agency, and Denmark’s Soren Hansen but local heroes Thongchai Jaidee and Prayad Marksaeng sparked the great fightback at Amata Spring Country Club.
The celebrated Thais, who have a combined 16 titles on the Asian Tour, romped to a 5&4 victory over Sweden’s Niclas Fasth and Johan Edfors to level the tie before Korea’s Charlie Wi and Liang Wen-chong of China edged Irishman Paul McGinley and Pablo Larrazabal of Spain 2-up after clawing back from three-down through eight holes.
Korea’s S.K. Ho holed a nerve-jangling bogey putt from three feet on the 18th green as he and partner Hideto Tanihara of Japan delivered Asia’s third point with a 1-up win over English pairing Nick Dougherty and Oliver Wilson.
It was the first time in three editions of the Royal Trophy that Asia had snatched the first day lead which left captain Naomichi ‘Joe’ Ozaki beaming from ear to ear. The opening day’s outcome also left Europe with a battle on their hands to win a third straight Royal Trophy.
“My players played really well. I feel like I’m dreaming now, especially after my past experience at the Royal Trophy,” said the Japanese legend.
“I’m very happy. My players now have the confidence for the next two days after today’s good results. I think our motivation to win this year’s Royal Trophy is very strong. That’s why we managed to play well today.”
After Ishikawa, a two-time winner in Japan despite being only 17 years old, and 2007 Japanese number one Taniguchi lost in a close opening encounter, Prayad and Thongchai came through in style for the Asian team from the anchor match.
“In the early stages, Europe were up in all the matches and we said let’s try and fight hard to get a point for the team,” said debutant Prayad.
The Swedes led one-up after four holes but the Thais simply overwhelmed their opponents with a strong combination which had seen them finish seventh in the World Cup last November.
“Thongchai felt that we were really a strong combination and we were confident of beating the Swedes. After the sixth hole, we were one-up and when Johan hit it into the water on eight for us to go two-up, we were very confident of winning,” said Prayad.
US-based Wi and Liang, both making their Royal Trophy debuts, produced a gutsy comeback to hand McGinley his first ever defeat in the Ryder Cup-style event. Wi conceded they got lucky on the ninth hole when McGinley pulled his approach into water to reduce Europe’s lead to two-up.
“We got off to a rough start. We were three down really quickly and we knew that we had to fight really hard to earn half a point. On the back nine, we hit some good shots and gave us some birdie chances and they made some bad shots.
“We feel great that we pulled it off. Liang made a good putt on 11 from 50 feet for birdie which got us back to one down and we fought hard. That putt on 11 gave us momentum,” said Wi.
Ho admitted he was nervous standing over his three-foot bogey putt for a win over Europe in what was the last match on the course after Tanihara knocked his par attempt well past the cup.
But the Asians also got lucky on 17 when Tanihara hit a poor third shot which bounced off a spectator’s umbrella and landed near the pin for an unlikely par and kept the match level.
“We got lucky on 17. Europe had a birdie chance but they didn’t make it,” said Ho, an eight-time winner in Japan. “We are feeling good. This is the first time that we’re ahead after the first day and I think we’ve got a good chance to win the Royal Trophy.”
Europe captain Jose Maria Olazabal, standing in for tournament founder and twice skipper Seve Ballesteros who is recovering from brain surgery, was disappointed with the team’s performance.
“The boys know that they didn’t play up to the standards that we are used to seeing from them and they face a very tough challenge. We knew that before we started, and now that we have made this start, things are going to be even more difficult. We are going to have play really well in the next couple of days to win this event,” said Olazabal, who is touted as a future Ryder Cup captain for Europe.
“The players know that we need to put our foot down on the gas and really push the pedal. I have said all along this week that we a great respect for the Asian Team, but we believe that we can win here and tomorrow we are going to have to play our guts out.”

Results (foursomes – Asia first)
Ryo Ishikawa (Jpn) and Toru Taniguchi (Jpn) lost to Paul Lawrie (Sco) and Soren Hansen (Den) 2 & 1.
Charlie Wi (Kor) and Liang Wen-chong (PRC) bt Paul McGinley (Ire) and Pablo Larrazabal (Esp) 2 holes.
Hideto Tanihara (Jpn) and S.K. Ho (Kor) bt Nick Dougherty (Eng) and Oliver Wilson (Eng) 1 hole.
Thongchai Jaidee (Tha) and Prayad Marksaeng (Tha) bt Niclas Fasth (Swe) and Johan Edfors (Swe) 5 & 4.

Saturday four-ball draw
11.05am: Ryo Ishikawa and Toru Taniguchi vs Soren Hansen (Den) and Paul Lawrie (Sco)
11.18am: Charlie Wi (Kor) and Liang Wen-chong (PRC) vs Nick Dougherty (Eng) and Oliver Wilson (Eng)
11.31am: Hideto Tanihara (Jpn) and S.K. Ho (Kor) vs Niclas Fasth (Swe) and Johan Edfors (Swe)
11.44am: Thongchai Jaidee (Tha) and Prayad Marksaeng (Tha) vs Pablo Larrazabal (Esp) and Paul McGinley (Ire)