KUALA LUMPUR: DRB-HICOM Berhad will return as presenting partner of the EurAsia Cup next year, with golfing greats Jeev Milkha Singh and Darren Clarke confirmed as captains of Asia and Europe respectively.
Following an enthralling 10-10 draw at the inaugural edition in 2014, Malaysian conglomerate will once again support the Ryder Cup-styled showdown when it tees off from January 15-17, 2016 at Glenmarie Golf and Country Club.
The Asian Tour and European Tour, along with the event’s local coordinator Professional Golf of Malaysia (PGM), announced that the second edition of tournament, will also feature several changes to the team and qualifying criteria to create greater excitement for golf fans around the world.
With Singh, a former two-time Asian Tour number one from India, and Ulsterman Clarke, who is also Europe’s 2016 Ryder Cup captain and a Major champion, helming the teams, the EurAsia Cup presented by DRB-HICOM will have two of golf’s most respected men leading Asia and Europe from the front.
PGM chairman Tun Ahmad Sarji Abdul Hamid sai: “We are delighted to welcome DRB-HICOM back as our Presenting Partner of the EurAsia Cup as sponsorship plays an important role towards the success of any sporting event.
“The first EurAsia Cup showdown delivered a great spectacle of matchplay golf which included drama, passion and excitement and I’m sure we will witness another closely-fought contest in January.
“Over the years, Malaysia has built a reputation for itself as being a wonderful host to a myriad of world-class sporting events and the EurAsia Cup will add to our sporting legacy. As the local coordinator appointed by the Malaysian government, the PGM looks forward to working closely with DRB-HICOM, Asian Tour and European Tour to ensure another successful tournament.”
DRB HICOM chief operating officer – services and properties Datuk Mohamed Razeek Md Hussain expressed his delight with the opportunity to associate itself with a premier team golf event.
“We are proud to be associated with the EurAsia Cup, which certainly captured the imagination of golf fans and television viewers in 2014 following its dramatic and thrilling conclusion. I am convinced Team Asia and Team Europe will battle hard in their bid to excel in 2016.
“This event also reinforces our nation’s stature as a top destination for sports and tourism while we will also enjoy the opportunity to promote our world-class automotive brands, properties and services through the global television platform which the EurAsia Cup presented by DRB-HICOM will enjoy.”
Changes to the 2016 EurAsia Cup format will, like The Ryder Cup, see the team captains assume non-playing roles, with each team now represented by 12 players – an increase of two from the first edition.
There will be now be six matches in each of the fourball and foursomes sessions over the opening two days, which is an increase of one match per session. A total of 12 Singles matches will be played on the final day.
The winning team will share prize money of US$3.6 million while the runners-up will share US$1.2 million.
Team Asia will be selected as follows: the leading four available Asian players from the 2015 Asian Tour Order of Merit as of December 14, the leading four eligible and available Asian players from the Official World Golf Ranking as of December 14 and four captain’s picks.
Team Europe will be selected as follows: the leading 10 available players from the final 2015 Race to Dubai rankings plus two captain’s picks.
The 43-year-old Singh is relishing every aspect of his captaincy of Asia’s EurAsia Cup team and believes the Asian players are now more than ever capable of out playing and out fighting their European counterparts in team competition, with four Asian players qualifying for the Presidents Cup side to face the USA in Korea next month.
“It is an honour to be offered the EurAsia Cup captaincy and I am very excited by the prospect of leading what I hope will be a very strong Asian team. It is a special event – I remember watching it two years ago and it was so exciting. I hope I can get a great team out there and keep them calm and collected and get the best out of them.”
A Ryder Cup veteran Clarke will lead Europe to Hazeltine in September next year to defend their championship and the 47- year-old Northern Irishman believes his EurAsia Cup captaincy can provide invaluable experience as he seeks to continue Europe’s incredible Ryder Cup record.
His opposite number Clarke noted: “We want to go to Malaysia and win the EurAsia Cup. I’ve already had a lot of players talking to me about it and no matter who is in the European side, we will be hungry to win. It’s going to be very tough – we saw what happened the last time.”
