Strategy and working out pairings are an important aspect of team competitions in golf, which is essentially an individual sport. However, Team Asia skipper Thongchai Jaidee, one of the most experienced players, may not have any major problems in working out at least one pairing for the inaugural EurAsia Cup, which promises to become the Ryder Cup of the East, presented by DRB-HICOM from Thursday.
Heading a team of 10 players including himself, Thongchai's job has been made a little easier, considering the number of times the Indian duo of Anirban Lahiri and Gaganjeet Bhullar have played together.
Thongchai said: "They have a great record of winning titles at many events. But this tournament is different with fourballs and foursomes and it depends on your partner. They (Anirban and Bhullar) have decided they are comfortable with each other, so let's see."
Lahiri and Bhullar are not new to team competitions. As amateurs, they played the Nomura Cup and Eisenhower Trophy together. At the 2006 Asian Games, the last time they played together as amateurs, they won a team silver in Doha. In 2013, they represented India at the World Cup and in 2016, they could also be in running for the Olympics.
Lahiri, who has three Asian Tour titles, added: "Personally, we have played team golf together. But, the important thing is that in juniors and amateurs, you play your own ball and the best 2 or 3 scores count.
This is the first time I will be playing in this format (fourball and foursomes) though Gagan has played before. It is a challenge for me. We are looking to make some upsets," said Lahiri.
Five-time winner on Asian Tour, Bhullar, added: "It is one of the biggest tournaments and I am looking forward to it."
On the format, Bhullar echoed Lahiri and said: "Yes, this is a different format, so it requires some adjustments. I must say there is a sense of achievement for all of us who have made the Asian team. The last few days, we have been playing with each other. We are trying to figure out what could be the best combinations."
Lahiri added: "We have played golf with each other and it is coming well. We are getting to know each others' strengths and that is important in this format."
The European team is headed by Miguel Angel Jimenez, who admitted that he does go to the gym apart from chomping on cigars and indulging in fine wine. "Well, I can't compete with these guys if I only have cigars and wine. I do go to the gym," he said. "The game is growing in this part of the world and I am hoping that EurAsia Cup will become something like the Ryder Cup," he added. "We have a lot of good and experienced players and I am looking forward to a very good battle."
Graeme McDowell, the 2010 US Open winner and a three-time Ryder Cup player, said: "This man next to me (Jimenez) was with me when I sank the most important putt in my life to get the half point which won us the Ryder Cup. In this kind of competition, there is pressure because you don't want to blow up things for your partner or leave him a poor shot."
Teams:
Asia: Thongchai Jaidee (C), Kiradech Aphibarnrat, Prayad Marksaeng (all Thailand), Gaganjeet Bhullar, Anirban Lahiri (both India), Nicholas Fung (Malaysia), Kim Hyung-sung (Korea), Koumei Oda, Hideto Tanihara (both Japan) and Siddikur Rahman (Bangladesh)
Europe: Miguel-Angel Jimenez (C), Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano, Pablo Larrazabal (all Spain), Thomas Bjorn, Thorbjorn Olesen (both Denmark), Jamie Donaldson (Wales), Victor Dubuisson (France), Stephen Gallacher (Scotland), Joost Luiten (The Netherlands), Graeme McDowell (N Ireland)
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