Colin Montgomerie finalises his Euro team for Royal Trophy

Published on Wednesday 23 December 2009 22:04

EUROPE named their line-up for next year's Royal Trophy yesterday, adding three new names to complete Colin Montgomerie's eight-man team to face Asia in the matchplay contest.

Alexander Noren and Peter Hanson have been included, taking the number of Swedes in the team to four.

Also joining the team for the contest in Thailand in January will be 23-year-old Spaniard Pablo Martin, one of six European debutants.

Montgomerie is hoping his team can wrestle back the Royal Trophy after an embarrassing 10-6 trouncing by Asia last year. The Scot will be the first player-captain to contest the event since it began in 2006.

Montgomerie last month replaced five-times Major winner Seve Ballesteros, who was involved in creating the annual Ryder Cup-style event. The Spaniard had previously planned to lead the European effort but is still recovering from brain cancer.

Swedes Henrik Stenson and Robert Karlsson, Dane Soren Kjeldsen and Briton Simon Dyson were also named in the team.

Ballesteros hailed the inclusion of Kjeldsen, saying: "Soren is a very talented and consistent player who has clearly proven his worth in the European Tour over the past seasons.

"I have also been impressed by the way he has performed at the highest level this year, contending in majors and World Golf Championship events, and I am sure he will make a strong impact in the match against Asia."

Kjeldsen's biggest win came at the 2008 Volvo Masters at Valderrama, and he also triumphed at this year's Andalucian Open.

The Dane said: "Seve and Colin have chosen a powerful-looking team, and it is a great honour to be included. It is a very nice reward to how well I have been playing for the last couple of years."

Europe won the first two editions of the Royal Trophy but paid the price for fielding a weakened team last January when they were thrashed by a resurgent Asian side, which will be captained by Japan's Naomichi "Joe" Ozaki for the third time.

The three-day event featuring foursomes, fourballs and singles competitions will run from 8-10 January at the Amata Spring Country Club in Chonburi, east of Bangkok.

EUROPE TEAM Colin Montgomerie (player/captain), Soren Kjeldsen, Simon Dyson, Pablo Martin, Henrik Stenson, Robert Karlsson, Alexander Noren, Peter Hanson.