Team Asia raring to go

SHAH ALAM (MALAYSIA): Bagpipes and bhangra beats welcomed the teams of Asia and Europe to the grand draw ceremony. The speeches came thick and fast but the applause doubled when the announcement for the pairings on the opening day was made. After the tied-ending at the inaugural EurAsia Cup in 2014, when the Asian golfers staged a comeback on the final day, Glenmarie Golf & Country Club seems to be set for a similar affair.
"We are good friends," said Team Europe captain Darren Clarke of his equation with his Asian counterpart Jeev Milkha Singh. "No matter what happens, we will be having a glass of beer together. If it gets tight, it means several more glasses, of course," he added, laughing.
Despite the stifling heat and humidity, all seems well in the camp where the ultimate preparation is for the Ryder Cup in September, with all the young dudes hoping to impress the captain.
Experience was what Clarke wanted, hence he brought in Ian Poulter, who played his role in the 2012 Miracle of Medinah, and Lee Westwood, fourth in the all-time scoring list in the Ryder Cup, as his captain's picks. He sends out Poulter first in Friday's fourballs with French Open champion Bernd Wiesberger of Austria, hoping to put the first point on the board. Jeev has other ideas with Anirban Lahiri and Korean Jeung Hun Wang, the Indian stalwart pinning his expectations on the shoulders of the two-time winner on the European Tour who will be guiding his younger teammate.
"I think the first really good sign is Europe has sent out a much stronger team. It tells us that we are strong enough. Last time, they thought they would send a B Street team and roll over us. This time, if they still can't beat us it's going to send tremors down the Ryder Cup team," Anirban sounded a warning. There is logic behind each of the pairings, Jeev added.
"SSP Chawrasia and Kiradech Aphibarnrat play a lot of practice rounds together when they are in Europe; Prayad Marksaeng, who is 50 and still going strong, plays with KT Kim on the Japan Tour; likewise with Wu Ashun and Shingo Katayama; European Tour Rookie of the Year Byeong Hun An is familiar with ev ergreen Thongchai Jaidee's game.
"The Malaysian pair of Danny Chia and Nicholas Fung come out in the middle for a reason, to keep the momentum going in case we pick up the early points. It is the perfect combination because it's their home course and they will bring out the support. "I believe in my players," Jeev reiterated, dismissing the doubters.