Team Asia Captain, Thongchai Jaidee, is looking forward to this week’s EurAsia Cup, taking place from March 27-29 at the Glenmarie Golf and Country Club in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and the 44-year-old Thai golfer is excited ahead of the challenge at the inaugural event.
“I’m really looking forward to captaining Team Asia. I believe I have a very strong squad which is capable of challenging and beating Team Europe. I’ve been talking to the Asian players in recent weeks about the possible pairings and everyone is very excited about coming together under Team Asia and playing in Malaysia.”
Thongchai Jaidee.
Thongchai is aware that as Team Asia’s captain he has to set the example and lead from the front.
“As captain, I believe I need to lead by example and that means playing my best possible golf to deliver points for the team. Match play golf is always very exciting and the scores very close, so I will be ready to give everything I have for my team. We are fighting for our pride and honour and as captain, I am ready to do that, and hopefully inspire the other nine players to produce their best golf for the team.”
The makeup of Team Asia team excites Thongchai and he describes their strengths.
“Kiradech Aphibarnrat, Gaganjeet Bhullar, Siddikur Rahman and Anirban Lahiri all qualified as the top-four Asians from the Asian Tour Order of Merit. They are all in their 20s and their qualification is a reflection of the rise of the new generation of players in Asia. They are all very exciting players who have achieved success at such a young age and their presence in Team Asia is a reflection of their abilities.
“Koumei Oda, Hideto Tanihara and Kim Hyung-sung enjoyed fantastic seasons in Japan last year and they are all very capable of matching up against the Europeans. The trio are all attacking players which will suit the Match play competitions well.”
Thongchai is hoping the crowds will show a similar passion to the Ryder Cup crowd and cheer Team Asia onto a famous victory.
“We have seen in the Ryder Cup how the home fans have become the “15th club” for the home team through their passionate support. I have played in Malaysia for a very long time and I know the fans love their golf. With my success in the Malaysian Open in the past and with Kiradech being the reigning Malaysian Open champion, I’m sure we will have plenty of local support which will be important for the team as we seek to win the EurAsia Cup!”
Team Asia
Thongchai Jaidee (Captain, Thailand), Kiradech Aphibarnrat (Thailand), Gaganjeet Bhullar (India), Nicholas Fung (Malaysia), Kim Hyung-sung (Korea,) Anirban Lahiri (India), Prayad Marksaeng (Thailand), Koumei Oda (Japan), Siddikur Rahman (Bangladesh), Hideto Tanihara (Japan).
Team Europe
Miguel-Angel Jimenez (Captain, Spain), Thomas Bjorn (Denmark), Jamie Donaldson (Wales), Victor Dubuisson (France), Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano (Spain), Stephen Gallacher (Scotland), Pablo Larrazabal (Spain), Joost Luiten (Netherlands), Graeme McDowell (N Ireland), Thorbjorn Olesen (Denmark).
