Arjun Atwal will captain Team Asia.
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia:
Thomas Bjørn and
Arjun Atwal will captain Team Europe and Team Asia respectively when the EurAsia Cup presented by DRB-HICOM returns to Glenmarie Golf and Country Club next year.
The third staging of the biennial tournament, which has been hosted at the Glenmarie venue in 2014 and 2016, will take place from January 12-14, 2018.
Twelve-man teams will contest six fourball matches on Friday and six foursomes matches on Saturday, before 12 singles matches determine the winning team on Sunday.
Europe recorded a comprehensive 18½-5½ win in the last edition of the tournament in 2016, lifting the trophy outright for the first time after the inaugural event, featuring 10-man teams, ended in a 10-10 tie in 2014.
For Bjørn, it will be his first captaincy assignment since taking the helm of Continental Europe in the 2009 Seve Trophy and will provide perfect preparation for the Dane ahead of the 2018 Ryder Cup in France in September.
For Atwal, it will be his first time in the captaincy role.
Bjørn said: “I am delighted and honoured to be captain of the European EurAsia Cup team and I am very much looking forward to the challenge that will await us in January from what I am sure will be a strong Asian team on home soil.
“I was lucky enough to be a member of the European Team for the first EurAsia Cup in 2014 and I have seen the event grow and develop. We have some of the best golfers in the world in Europe and I am relishing the opportunity to work closely with them as individuals and as a team to try and ensure we keep the trophy in European hands.”
Atwal, an eight-time Asian Tour champion, three-time European Tour winner and a winner on the PGA Tour, will look to showcase the strength of Asian golf as his team chases a maiden win at the EurAsia Cup.
The 44-year-old, who won the Asian Tour Order of Merit in 2003, said: “I am proud to captain Team Asia in this very special event. I expect to lead a strong and confident team against Europe so I’ll do my best to inspire Team Asia.
“With a long personal association with Malaysia, I would like to thank the Government of Malaysia, DRB-HICOM and Tun
Ahmad Sarji for their continued support of the EurAsia Cup. I am really looking forward to the event and hope the Malaysian public will come out in full force to support Team Asia!”
DRB-HICOM, one of Malaysia’s largest conglomerates involved in the automotive, services and property sectors, will again be a presenting partner of the tournament in 2018.
Dato’ Sri
Syed Faisal Albar, Group Managing Director of DRB-HICOM, said: “The global appeal of the EurAsia Cup has given DRB-HICOM the opportunity to promote our properties and services through the extensive television, digital and written coverage. We are proud to showcase sports tourism in Malaysia through the EurAsia Cup and also place the country at the forefront of sporting excellence.”
Keith Pelley, Chief Executive of the European Tour, said: “We are delighted to announce the third staging of the EurAsia Cup, an event which is growing in stature and one which players from both sides very much look forward to. Having worked closely with Thomas Bjørn since I took office, I have seen his passion and commitment to Europe and our Tour at first hand and I know he will be an excellent captain as we defend the trophy.
“The EurAsia Cup is a perfect example of the close working relationship we have with the Asian Tour through our Strategic Alliance and we are delighted to see it go from strength to strength.”
Josh Burack, Chief Executive of the Asian Tour, said: “The last two editions of the EurAsia Cup have been very successful on all fronts. I am sure golf fans around the world are excited to watch Team Asia battle against Team Europe in January. I am confident our captain Arjun Atwal will lead Team Asia with honour.
“The three-day match play format is very exciting for the viewers and the players themselves.”
