JOE OZAKI TO LEAD ASIA TEAM v EUROPE IN ROYAL TROPHY 2012

FROM THE SKY SPORTS.COM WEBSITE
Japan's Naomichi 'Joe' Ozaki is to continue as Asia team captain for next year's Royal Trophy against Europe.

The 55-year-old has led the team for the last four editions of the match play tournament after his compatriot Masahiro Kuramoto took charge for the inaugural event in 2006.

The 2012 event will take place in Brunei from 14-16 December and will be played in honour of Seve Ballesteros, Europe's captain for the first two years, who died in May after a lengthy battle against cancer.

Honour

"I am certain that the eight members of the Asian Team will play their hearts out in honour of Seve's career and life," said Ozaki, whose only success as captain came in 2009.

"I have great memories of Seve during my years playing full-time internationally, of the times he played in our tour in Japan and of captaining against him at the Royal Trophy in 2007."

Spaniard Jose Maria Olazabal will lead the European team, taking over the captaincy from Colin Montgomerie, who skippered the side to a 9-7 victory earlier this year.