Monty leads by example as Europe bounce back

EUROPE ensured there will be all to play for today on the final day of the Royal Trophy after Colin Montgomerie's side battled back to lead 4 – 3 after yesterday's four-balls.

The hosts had led 2 – 1 following Friday's foursomes, and Montgomerie opted to tinker with his team by choosing himself to partner England's Simon Dyson while Spaniard Pablo Martin was paired with Swede Henrik Stenson.

That tactic paid dividends with Montgomerie and Dyson particularly excelling as Europe won three of the best-ball contests to Asia's one.

"We enjoyed playing together today," said Montgomerie. "Simon played especially well throughout the day. We kept both balls in play, and that was key. We hardly missed a fairway between us, and that's why we came out victorious."

Montgomerie and Dyson defeated Indian duo Jeev Milkha Singh and Gaganjeet Bhullar 4&3 while Swedes Robert Karlsson and Alexander Noren – who claimed Europe's only win on Friday – comprehensively beat Japanese duo Ryo Ishikawa and Koumei Oda 6&4.

South Korean Charlie Wi and Liang Wen-chong of China provided the only red on the scoreboard following their 5&4 win over Peter Hanson and Soren Kjeldsen, but Stenson and Martin won 3&1 against Thailand's Thongchai Jaidee and Prayad Marksaeng to ensure Europe hold a one-point advantage heading into today's singles.

Teeing off first at the Amata Springs Country Club near Bangkok, Dyson sank a 15-foot putt on the third for a birdie before Montgomerie's par putt on the fifth was enough for the hole. The Scot then picked up a birdie on the sixth to put Europe three up, a lead they retained through the turn.

Singh finally got the Asian pair off the mark when he putted for birdie before Bhullar birdied the par-five 11th. But, after Bhullar and Singh failed to make par on the 12th, Dyson took advantage with two successive birdies from the 13th to make the win safe.

Karlsson and Noren were in inspired form as they comfortably defeated Ishikawa and Oda, who had combined so well on Friday to beat Montgomerie and Martin.

The European duo were three up by the fifth and held that lead for the next five holes before the impressive Noren birdied holes 11 and 13 and Karlsson completed the dominant win on the 14th.