Excited Seve has hat-trick in his sights

SEVE BALLESTEROS is determined to make it a hat-trick of wins as captain when he leads Europe against Asia in the Royal Trophy in Thailand.

The legendary Spaniard oversaw the Ryder Cup win in 1997 and then repeated the trick in the Seve Trophy, which pitches Great Britain and Ireland against mainland Europe, three years later.

But his hopes of writing another glorious chapter in an illustrious career will be severely tested in the inaugural event, which was first mooted three years ago by the five-time major winner.