Europe cruise to victory in the Eurasia Cup

Post by Sports Writer, Derek Clements

DARREN CLARKE'S European team thrashed Asia 18.5 to 5.5 to win the Eurasia Cup in front of one man and a dog at Glenmarie Golf & Country Club, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. And while Clarke was quick to talk up the performance of his team, many onlookers (this one included) were left wondering what was the point of it all.

Two teams of 12 players, plus their caddies and officials easily outnumbered the spectators who turned up to watch what was an entirely predictable result. The Europeans won every session and were simply unstoppable in the singles.

Trailing 9-3, Jeev Milka Singh's Asian team needed a miracle on the final day, but there was never any likelihood of them getting back into this match. Ian Poulter won the the opening singles, thrashing Danny Chia 4&3, and was followed hom by Lee Westwood, who beat Nicholas Fung 7&5, Andy Sullivan, a 4&3 winner over Thongchai Jaidee after being two down, and Danny Willett, who delivered the winning point by beating Ben An 3&1.

Highlights from the 2016 Euroasia cup

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mPr-pQoh6fE

And the onslaught continued, with victories for Matt Fitzpatrick, Chris Wood, Kristoffer Broberg, Victor Dubuisson and Soren Kjeldsen securing an easy victory for Europe.

Asia’s only points came courtesy of Anirban Lahiri, who beat an out of sorts Shane Lowry 2&1, and KT Kim, a 3&2 winner over Bernd Wiesberger. A birdie on the final hole by Jeunghun Wang ensured his match with Ross Fisher finished in a tie.

Clarke, who will lead Europe in the Ryder Cup at Hazeltine later this year, felt it was a useful exercise, and it might well have been had the locals chosen to come out and support Asia. As it was, the atmosphere was like a club Sunday medal, with iron shots landing next to the pin being greeted by silence - no matter from which side they were played.

Things will be very different at Hazeltine. But for the likes of Fitzpatrick, Lowry, Sullivan, Wood, Willett and Weisberger - all of whom are likely to play in the big one - it at least gave them a chance to taste the team environment.

“The team have played fantastic this week," Clarke said. "I’ve thrown a couple of my ideas at them and aside from that, the team bonding that they have had has been brilliant. What Lee and Poults have brought to the team room has been priceless. They have been very, very good. All the young kids have listened to them, they have all learnt from them.

“So I think it’s been a hugely beneficial week. I always knew this was going to be a very strong team, and the way they have played this week, I have been very, very impressed.”

Westwood paid tribute to the youngsters. "There are some young lads on this team who are going to be playing in The Ryder Cup later in the year. This has been a great experience for them, just feeding them into team golf gradually. So I’m sure they will benefit hugely from this week – there are nothing but positives to come out of it.”

Poulter, as ever, revelled in the environment. "I had to come out and play strong, and that’s what I did today. I played pretty solid, holed some decent putts and obviously made it very difficult for him. It’s always nice to play matchplay golf, whether it’s the start or the end. It’s nice to get that buzz out on the golf course too, get that nervous feeling going.”

What Clarke really learnt from it all is anybody's guess. There is every chance that Westwood and Poulter won't even make the Ryder Cup side this time around, and it would be a surprise if Broberg, Fisher and Kjeldsen are on the plane to America in September.