Europeans face uphill struggle in Bangkok

Europe faced an uphill task on the second afternoon of The Royal Trophy as Asia seemed set to extend their advantage in the four-balls today.

The hosts, who established a 3-1 lead following the opening day’s foursomes, forged ahead in the best-ball format and seized the lead in three of the four matches.

Jose Maria Olazabal’s solitary success yesterday came through Scotland’s Paul Lawrie and Soren Hansen of Denmark – and the duo were the only European four-ball pair in front as Asia were poised to take a four-point cushion going into tomorrow’s singles.

Both European captain Olazabal and Asian counterpart Joe Ozaki retained faith in their partnerships from the first day.

But the Spaniard – seeking to extend Europe’s 100% record in the third edition of the Ryder Cup-style matchplay competition – was left to wonder if it was the correct decision.

Lawrie and Hansen held a slender lead in the first match, overturning an early deficit to Japanese duo Ryo Ishikawa – the 17-year-old world number 60 – and Toru Taniguchi.

The European pair each carded four birdies to move to one up through 10 holes, despite a memorable 50-foot birdie putt from the Japanese teenager which won the par-four seventh.

China’s Liang Wen-chong and Charlie Wi of South Korea stunned English pair Oliver Wilson and Nick Dougherty – considered Europe’s strongest partnership - by leading from the outset.

Liang birdied the first, fifth and seventh, while Wi made a birdie four on the par-five sixth as the Asian duo moved four up through seven.

But Wilson’s precision tee shot to the floating green on the par-three eighth enabled Europe to pull a shot back and the Ryder Cup player from Mansfield made a second successive birdie on the ninth for Liang and Wi to hold an advantage of two at the turn.

Swedish pair Niclas Fasth and Johan Edfors – comprehensively beaten 5&4 by Thai duo Prayad Marksaeng and Thongchai Jaidee in the foursomes – were one down to Hideto Tanihara and SK Ho after eight holes of the third contest.

Europe were also trailing in the fourth match, with Ireland’s Paul McGinley and Pablo Larrazabal two down after eight holes against Prayad and Thongchai.