Ryder Cup heroes Darren Clarke and Paul McGinley will be re-united under the European banner when they line up in the Royal Trophy in January. Both have confirmed their places in what is already shaping up to be a formidable team, with Captain Seve Ballesteros turning to some of Europe's biggest names to ensure Europe defends the Royal Trophy in the second 'Battle of the Continents'.
The four men named so far by Ballesteros are all Ryder Cup team members and have helped to rout the Americans at the K Club in September, as Swedish stars Henrik Stenson and Robert Karlsson will also be in action at Amata Spring Country Club in Bangkok. Clarke's appearance is certain to generate tremendous interest. Golf fans all over the world were moved by the dignified manner in which he handled a difficult time in his personal life less than two months before the Ryder Cup - and still managed to win all three of his matches.
The big man from Northern Ireland has severely curtailed his playing schedule to spend as much time as possible with young sons Conor and Tyrone. But he said the chance to play for Europe again was very important and always a priority. Clarke explained: "I think everyone could see how much I enjoyed the experience of being part of the team at the Ryder Cup, and I am really looking forward to making my first appearance in the Royal Trophy.
"I feel very comfortable in the team environment, and it will be great to link up with quite a few of my winning team-mates from the Ryder Cup. We've got a lot to reminisce about! Paul is one of my best friends in golf, and he was full of praise for the Royal Trophy after he played in the first one. He talked up everything - the course, the venue, and the atmosphere the competition was played in. His enthusiasm was obviously contagious."
"I have already said I am going to be very selective about which events I play in next year - for obvious reasons - but this was one I was very much drawn to. I enjoy playing in Asia, and I've been lucky enough to be quite successful there. I've won the Taiheiyo Masters tournament in Japan for the past two years, and I'll be hoping to make it a hat-trick later this month. The crowds have always been very kind to me whenever I've played in Asia in the past. I just hope I get the same reception if I help Europe to make it a double over the Asian team."
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McGinley carved his own niche in Ryder Cup folklore by holing the winning putt when he made his European debut at the Belfry five years ago. And he is proud to be playing a leading role in helping the Royal Trophy to become an indispensable part of the golfing calendar. McGinley said: "I was thrilled to be invited back, as I enjoyed the first Royal Trophy immensely. It was a memorable experience, the organization was very good and the way everything clicked into place was quite remarkable.
"There is clearly a growing appetite for team golf, and the Royal Trophy seems to be capturing the public imagination very quickly. I certainly felt this to be the case at the first edition with the great fan attendance."
Ballesteros happily acknowledged that he is putting together a team that would be the envy of any captain. He commented: "It will be very reassuring to have two more very talented and experienced players on our team when we face what is certain to be a very strong challenge from our Asian opponents under the leadership of Joe Ozaki."
"I was the European captain when Darren made his Ryder Cup debut in 1997, and I told everyone that he was going to be a special player. Over the past decade he has gone on to establish himself as one of the finest golfers of his generation. He is such a pure ball-striker, and when he produces his best golf it is difficult for anyone to hold him."
"Paul is another player who has happy memories of the Ryder Cup and of the Royal Trophy, as a member of our winning team in January. I feel that he grew in stature as a golfer after his first Ryder Cup, when he holed that all-important putt at the Belfry five years ago." |
