Europe rallies in singles, but Asia too strong in Royal Cup

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Asia won for the first time in three tries against Europe.

BANGKOK, Thailand (AP) -- Asia clinched its first Royal Trophy matchplay tournament against Europe on Sunday, with the winners saying it is evidence of Asia's growing importance in world golf.

Europe won four of the eight singles matches Sunday and squared another, but could not make up for Asia's dominance in foursomes and fourball on the opening two days, giving Asia an overall 10-6 win.

It was a convincing victory for Asia after losses in the 2006 and 2007 event.

"For Asia to beat Europe, we can show something to the golfing world as we are always number three behind America and Europe," South Korea's S.K. Ho said.

"Now that we've beaten Europe, it's time for us to move up."

Europe captain Jose Maria Olazabal -- widely regarded as auditioning for the same role in the Ryder Cup -- said the visitors must "learn their lesson from this week.".

"The Asian team have raised the bar and we are going to have to come back angrier and more determined if possible to really beat these guys," Olazabal said.

Asia captain Naomichi "Joe" Ozaki received the obligatory dousing in a course lake to celebrate the victory, and said the victory meant a lot to him, compensating for the one-sided defeat he suffered as captain in 2007.

"Asia lost the first two matches and I really wanted to win this time," Ozaki said.

"As soon as I saw my team members, I felt very comfortable and familiar with these faces and I was confident we would do well."

The Europe players partly blamed their defeat on lack of match practice following the offseason.

"That's what we have to be prepared to face when we come up against Asia rusty," Denmark's Soren Hansen said.

"We have to be ready and prepared, that's they way it is now."

England's Nick Dougherty said Olazabal -- replacing his ill close friend Seve Ballesteros -- should not be apportioned any blame for the defeat.

"I feel really sorry for Olly because he has done a great job, phenomenal," Dougherty said.

"He is going to be a very worthy Ryder Cup captain one day.

"You can imagine what the atmosphere was like for us. After the first day we were sitting around saying "what the hell happened". Then on the second day it was a double "what the hell happened" But even through all of that he was brilliant."

Europe, trailing 6-1/2 to 1-1/2 entering Sunday's singles, needed a strong start and Scotland's Paul Lawrie delivered an early win when he beat China's Liang Wenchong 3 and 2.

However Thailand's Prayad Marksaeng beat Spain's Pablo Larrazabal 5 and 4 in a testy encounter in which the pair argued over an out-of-bounds call on the 11th.

Japan's Toru Taniguchi then thrashed Sweden's Niclas Fasth 7 and 6 to quickly put the trophy in Asia's keeping.