MONTY AND RHYS LEVEL IT FOR EUROPE IN ROYAL TROPHY

Holders Europe shared the first-day foursomes honours with Asia, both sides winning two ties at the Royal Trophy match in Thailand.
Both sides had mixed showings, with Peter Hanson and Frederick Andersson Hed the front-runners for Europe, and Liang Wenchong and Noh Seung-yul Asia's best performers, making up for an abysmal outing by Thongchai Jaidee and Jeev Milkha Singh.

Welshman Rhys Davies made an impressive Royal Trophy debut alongside player-captain Colin Montgomerie, using his trademark slick putting in a confident display to carve out a 2 and 1 win over Ikeda and Kim Kyung-tae.

Montgomerie, who captains the team for the second year, said the competition at Hua Hin's Black Mountain course was as tough as he expected but believed his side would be leaders after the second day's four-balls.

"I knew these games would be close and it's all to play for but I'm very happy with the result," he said after his round.

"We have something to work on, we'll come out fighting and we want to be leading into the final day's singles. We've been given a stiff test, but it was a very positive start for Europe."

Hanson and last-minute call-up Andersson Hed played a solid round for the holders but the 7 and 5 win was more about the calamitous showing by Thongchai and Singh, who was passed fit despite carrying a back injury that was clearly taking its toll.

The Swedes surged to a four-up lead by the seventh hole as the misfiring Asians sank deeper and appeared to have conceded defeat by the midway stage.

"We were four up at the turn, and we were never going to give it up after that," Andersson Hed said.

"I never expect an easy game, but it was. Jeev has had problems, but this is a strange game, but he'll probably come out tomorrow and play great golf."

Asia captain Naomichi Ozaki was satisfied to be level after the opening day but had no regrets for choosing Singh over reserve Prayad Marksaeng, one of his best players last year.

"He (Singh) said he was ready. I feel he's not 100 percent right, but I still feel he will be back on top by tomorrow," the four-times Asia captain said.

"I'm happy with the team, it was a good day all round."

Asia levelled the score in the second match through Liang and classy Korean youngster Noh, who scored a confident 3 and 2 win over sluggish Royal Trophy regulars Henrik Stenson and Johan Edfors.

The Asians moved ahead with four birdies in the first seven as the Swedes struggled to find their form and won only one hole.

"We never got going. They were solid, they took the lead and we never recovered," Edfors said.

Ryo Ishikawa and Shunsuke Sononda put Asia ahead briefly after beating a patchy Matteo Manassero and Pablo Martin 3 and 2 but that was cancelled out when Montgomerie and Davies held on to beat Ikeda and Kim.


Saturday's four-balls match-ups


Noh Seung-yul/Liang Wenchong (Asia) v Colin Montgomerie/Rhys Davies (Europe)
Ryo Ishikawa/Shunsuke Sonoda (Asia) v Matteo Manassero/Pablo Martin (Europe)
Kim Kyung-tae/Jeev Milkha Singh (Asia) v Johan Edfors/Henrik Stenson (Europe)
Yuta Ikeda/Thongchai Jaidee (Asia) v Peter Hanson/Fredrik Andersson Hed (Europe)