Colin Montgomerie has selected Rhys Davies and Thomas Bjorn to complete his team for next month's defence of the Royal Trophy against Asia after he was asked by Royal Trophy founder Seve Ballesteros to lead the European side for a second year after overseeing their 8.5 to 7.5 win in January.
As well as skippering the side, Montgomerie will also represent Europe with Bjorn making his return after a four-year absence. Davies, meanwhile, will make his debut following an impressive first season on the European Tour.
The Asian side will once again be captained by Naomichi "Joe" Ozaki.
The Fifth Edition of the Royal Trophy golf championship will be played at the magnificent Black Mountain Golf Club in the coastal city of Hua Hin in the Kingdom of Thailand. The prestigious and highly competitive team match-play continental Championship will feature eight players and a captain representing the Asian and European continents respectively in a series of sixteen foursomes, four-ball and singles matches.
“The Fourth Edition of the Royal Trophy was decided by the smallest possible margin on the final putt of the final hole in the final match of the Championship. I am confident that Black Mountain Golf Club will be great host for the Fifth Edition of the Championship and that the European and Asian Teams will deliver spectacular golf and a great Match,” said the European golfing legend Seve Ballesteros.
“I understand that we will be facing a very challenging golf course at Black Mountain Golf Club. But we will be prepared, we are determined and we are looking forward to the challenge,” said Japanese golfing giant and Asian Team Captain Naomichi ‘Joe’ Ozaki Ozaki.
"In the previous edition of the Royal Trophy the matches were very close and Europe prevailed by a single point, earned on the final day of singles. I am certain that we will face a strong Asian challenge but we will be prepared to play our best and to compete with great determination," said European Team Captain and Player, Colin Montgomerie, who has recently successfully defeated the Americans at the Ryder Cup in Wales.
Asia and Europe will renew their rivalry in the Thai coastal town of Hua Hin, Thailand from 7th – 9th January 2011.
Europe: Colin Montgomerie (Britain) Edoardo Molinari, Matteo Manassero (both Italy) Johan Edfors, Peter Hanson, Henrik Stenson (all Sweden) Thomas Bjorn (Denmark), Rhys Davies (Britain)
Asia: Ryo Ishikawa, Yuta Ikeda, Shunsuke Sonoda (all Japan), Kim Kyung-tae, Noh Seung-yul (all South Korea), Liang Wenchong (China), Thongchai Jaidee (Thailand), Jeev Milkha Singh (India).
