Colin Montgomerie received the perfect tonic ahead of this year's Ryder Cup as his European team edged a thrilling final day's singles against Asia to reclaim the Royal Trophy.

Colin Montgomerie led from the front as Europe battled into a 4 1/2 – 3 1/2 lead over Asia after the second day’s four-balls but warned there is still plenty of work to do if they are to claim a third victory at the tournament.

Europe ensured there will be all to play for on the final day of the Royal Trophy after Colin Montgomerie’s side battled back to lead 4 1/2 – 3 1/2 after today’s four-balls.

TREVOR FISHER JUNIOR held the lead at the halfway stage of the Africa Open after matching his opening-day effort with another 66 in East London to head into the weekend on 14-under-par.

Asia made a solid start in their bid to stage a successful defence of the Royal Trophy today after claiming a 2½-1½ advantage over Europe in the opening day's foursomes.

Asia have made a solid start to their defence of the Royal Trophy as they held the lead midway through the opening day's foursomes.

Colin Montgomerie believes a strong performance from Europe on the opening day of the Royal Trophy tomorrow is crucial in order to build up momentum for the remainder of the tournament.

COLIN MONTGOMERIE is eager to get the 2010 Ryder Cup year off to a positive start as he prepares to lead a European team looking to reclaim the Royal Trophy from Asia in Thailand this week.

Colin Montgomerie is eager to get the 2010 Ryder Cup year off to a positive start as he prepares to lead a European team looking to reclaim the Royal Trophy from Asia in Thailand this week.

COLIN MONTGOMERIE is to have another taste of captaincy ahead of the Ryder Cup next year.

PAUL LAWRIE has a chance this weekend to achieve something which has even eluded Tiger Woods so far.

A spectacular six-under-par round of 66 saw Ireland's Jonathan Caldwell storm into contention at the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles today.

The decision on who takes over from Nick Faldo as Europe’s Ryder Cup captain seems unlikely to be made before May.

There is a small part of Seve Ballesteros that would welcome the end to Europe’s 100% record at The Royal Trophy, according to the Spaniard’s nephew.

Asia were on the brink of a memorable victory over Europe in The Royal Trophy midway through the final day at Amata Spring Country Club near Bangkok.

Jose Maria Olazabal has called for a “special” performance as his European team seek to overturn a five-point deficit to defeat Asia and extend their 100% record in The Royal Trophy.

Asia were in the ascendancy midway through the opening day’s foursomes at The Royal Trophy as Europe squandered early advantages.

Paul McGinley is the sole Irish golfer in the European team facing Asia at the Ryder Cup-style Royal Trophy in Thailand today.

Seve Ballesteros’ competitive spirit is continuing throughout his recovery and he has urged his good friend Jose Maria Olazabal to lead Europe to glory in the Royal Trophy this week.

The Royal Trophy is set to return for its third edition in Thailand in January, a year after the match-play event between Asia and Europe was postponed following the death of the sister of the King of Thailand.

Darren Clarke will look to get his year off to a positive start at the Joburg Open tomorrow – even though he is on a different continent to where he expected to be.

Next week’s Royal Trophy in Bangkok – a match play tournament between teams from Europe and Asia – has been postponed after the country entered a period of mourning following the death of the King’s sister.

Darren Clarke is looking to kick-start his bid for a sixth successive Ryder Cup appearance with a good performance in next week’s Joburg Open in South Africa.

Darren Clarke, David Howell and Paul McGinley, all of whom plunged down the world rankings after last year’s Ryder Cup heroics, have been given the chance by Seve Ballesteros to start 2008 on a high note.

Thongchai Jaidee is keen to make up for missing the cut last week in Malaysia and he believes the weekend’s rest will benefit his bid to win the Enjoy Jakarta Astro Indonesia Open.

Seve Ballesteros was refusing to prematurely celebrate defending the Royal Trophy after his European side extended their lead over Asia on the second day of the annual match-play tournament.

Europe’s overwhelming dominance over their Asian counterparts continued on the second day of the Royal Trophy as Seve Ballesteros’ team moved even further ahead following the fourballs at the Amata Spring Country Club.

Europe continued to dominate the Royal Trophy midway through the second day’s play as Seve Ballesteros’ team led Joe Ozaki’s Asian side in two of the four fourball pairings at the Amata Spring Country Club.

Seve Ballesteros is predicting early success for his European team over their Asian counterparts on the opening day of the Royal Trophy at the Amata Spring Country Club tomorrow.

SEVE BALLESTEROS, determined to make a successful return to golf this season, begins 2007 this week as the non-playing captain of the Europe team hoping to defend the Royal Trophy against Asia in Bangkok.

Seve Ballesteros, determined to make a successful return to golf this season, begins 2007 this week as the non-playing captain of the Europe team hoping to defend the Royal Trophy against Asia in Bangkok.

Ryder Cup team-mates Darren Clarke and Paul McGinley will be back playing for Europe in the Royal Trophy in Bangkok in January.

THE WITHDRAWAL of Sergio Garcia means that Ireland's Graeme McDowell will provide the first round opposition to Tiger Woods in the Accenture World Match Play Championship beginning in Carlsbad, California, on tomorrow week.

Henrik Stenson has been named as January’s European Tour golfer of the month after a win and a second place in his two individual events.

Current European number one David Howell is keen to stress that technical glitches in his swing and stance have been to blame for his off-colour start to 2006, rather than a big head.

Unheralded South African Keith Horne led the field at the Abu Dhabi Championship as the big-name British challenge stuttered on the first day.

Colin Montgomerie’s hopes of starting 2006 with a win at the inaugural Abu Dhabi Golf Championship were not helped by an unconvincing opening round.

Tournament golf returns to The Belfry in May – and for obvious reasons Paul McGinley is delighted.

Seve Ballesteros expressed a mixture of delight and relief after leading Europe to victory against Asia in the Royal Trophy in Bangkok.

IRELAND'S Graeme McDowell admitted the European team were made to sweat by a final-day fightback from Asia in the Royal Trophy in Bangkok.

Henrik Stenson proved the hero for Europe as they saw off a spirited fightback from Asia to claim the inaugural Royal Trophy 9-7 at Amata Spring Country Club, near Bangkok.

Europe powered into a convincing 6-2 lead over Asia and need only two and a half points from tomorrow’s eight singles matches to win the inaugural Royal Trophy at a blustery Amata Spring Country Club near Bangkok.

Europe’s golfers made a strong start in their bid to claim the inaugural Royal Trophy but were faced with the prospect of a fightback from Asia this morning.