Jeev adds life to Asian campaign
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Jan. 8: Eight points remain to be played for on Sunday, the final day of the 5th Royal Trophy here at the Black Mountain Golf Club, but Asia took a decisive step towards regaining the title they won for the first and only time back in 2009 with a clean sweep of the four-ball matches on Saturday, leaving Colin Montgomerie’s Europe with a mountain to climb if they are to retain the trophy they’d won by a single point last year.
Noh Seung-Yul and Liang Wen-Chong led Asia’s charge on Saturday after the teams had shared the opening day’s honours, slamming Europe captain Montgomerie and Rhys Davies 5&4 in the opening match, an advantage their teammates continued to build on as the day matured.
Jeev Milkha Singh too roared back to match fitness with a fighting display alongside new partner Kyung Tae-Kim, slam-dunking Europe’s top-ranked pairing of Henrik Stenson and Johan Edfors — who on Friday’s opening day had tumbled 3&2 to Liang and Noh — by a 1-up margin after taking a narrow, but early lead.
“Physically, I felt fine before and after the round,” Jeev had said on Friday even as he vowed to hit back over the remaining two days.
“It was more of an issue with rustiness, and you kind of expect that after not hitting a ball for five weeks, especially in a format like foursomes when you are only hitting every other shot,” he added.
Jeev further said, “I’ve never won a foursome match in the Royal Trophy. My record is much better in four-ball and singles, and I’ll take encouragement from that.” On Saturday, the Indian ace put words into action and though his golf may not be back where he would want it to be, there was enough in the tank to support Kim’s top-notch performance as they kept the Asian flag flying.
They followed strong performances from Noh and Liang, and thereafter Ryo Ishikawa and Shunsuke Sonoda, who thumped Matteo Manassero and Pablo Martin 3&2. The two Japanese, who clobbered the same European combine on the opening day by the same margin, were never headed before closing out the match on the 16th hole with an unassailable advantage.
Thongchai Jaidee and Yuta Ikeda then capped the strong Asian run with a 3&1 win over Peter Hanson and Fredrik Andersson Hed, who had made mincemeat of Jeev and Jaidee on Friday. The Thai veteran was as steady as a rock as he scripted the revenge result over the two Swedes, carding as many as six birdies.
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