Darren Clarke praises quality of play in EurAsia win

Team captain Darren Clarke with his victorious European side who were emphatic 13-point winners over Asia in Kuala Lumpur. Picture: AFP/Getty

Darren Clarke’s men were leading 9-3 heading into the third and final day of singles at the Glenmarie Golf & Country Club and extended that advantage in style, winning the tournament for the first time 18.5-5.5.

Danny Willett clinched the win with eight matches still out on course, taking Europe’s fourth point against Byeong-hun An after Ian Poulter, Andy Sullivan and Lee Westwood had beaten Danny Chia, Thongchai Jaidee and Nicholas Fung respectively.

Bernd Wiesberger and Shane Lowry were the only Europeans to lose their matches as the hosts rallied through KT Kim and Anirban Lahiri.

But there were wins for Matt Fitzpatrick, Kristoffer Broberg, Chris Wood, Soren Kjeldsen and Victor Dubuisson, while Ross Fisher’s match with Jeung Hun Wang finished all square as Europe pulled away.

Clarke, who will also captain Europe’s Ryder Cup team later this year, said: “What Lee and Poults have brought to the team room has been priceless. All of the young kids have listened to them, they’ve all learnt from them and I think it’s been a hugely beneficial week.

“Massive credit to them. This Asian team was a strong team and the way Europe has played this week, I’ve been very, very impressed.

“If your players don’t play and don’t perform then you can be the best captain in the whole world and you’re not going to win, so the credit doesn’t belong to me, it belongs to the players.

“The quality of the golf they have played this week has been brilliant.”

Westwood added: “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.”