EurAsia Cup praised by players

After the first edition of the EurAsia Cup resulted in a 10-10 tie between Europe and Asia, many of the event’s biggest stars united in their praise of the event.

This followed the Prime Minister of Malaysia’s announcement that the biennial competition will take place in his country in 2016 and 2018.

With its future secured, European captain Miguel Angel Jiménez, Thomas Björn, and Graeme McDowell were among the first to offer their endorsements of the new team event between Asia and Europe, which further strengthens the partnership of The European and Asian Tours.

“It was a great honour for me to be the captain of Europe for the first EurAsia Cup and it is great news that the tournament will be played in Malaysia for the next two editions,” said Jiménez.

“It was a great event and really showed team golf at its best, with Europe taking a strong lead but the Asian team making a fantastic comeback to tie the match. The EurAsia Cup has amazing potential. Team matchplay events are very special, and we hope the next time that Europe take the trophy home.”

Björn, chairman of the European Tour’s Players’ Committee, said: “The EurAsia Cup has a great future ahead and that’s the important thing. The way the tournament unfolded could not have been any better.  It came down to the last match on the last hole: it doesn’t get any better than that.

“The EurAsia Cup is of huge importance and it’s an amazing vehicle to build the game in this part of the world.” – Thomas Bjorn

“Everything about it was brilliant. You’ve got to take the 20 players out of the frame and look at the bigger picture and to know that it’s going to take place in Malaysia for the next two editions gives us a great chance to keep going and continue growing it into a bigger and bigger event.

“As an event for the game of golf in Asia, and in terms of the European and Asian Tours uniting and standing together in partnership, the EurAsia Cup is of huge importance and it’s an amazing vehicle to build the game in this part of the world.

“We can make those ties between the tours stronger and make young people more excited about the game, because young people can relate to team competitions more than they can relate to individual sports, and that’s one of the things I think this will bring to Asia golf and see how important it is.  It has a great future.”

McDowell, the 2010 US Open champion and a veteran of three Ryder Cups added: “Team golf is very special. It brings players so close together and last week was another perfect example of that. It was very exciting out there and I just hope the EurAsia Cup can go from strength‑to‑strength and really establish itself as a big match. I think the European team all enjoyed the week and the tournament certainly it got what it deserved in a very, very exciting finish between two very evenly‑matched teams in the end.

“To hear the Prime Minister announce that the tournament will stay in Malaysia for the next two editions was a very strong statement for this event. It has amazing potential.”

EurAsia Cup: Your thoughts?

What did you make of the inaugural EurAsia Cup? What kind of future do you think it has? Leave your thoughts in our ‘Comments’ section below.

Michael McEwan is the Deputy Editor of bunkered and has been part of the team since 2004. In that time, he has interviewed almost every major figure within the sport, from Jack Nicklaus, to Rory McIlroy, to Donald Trump. The host of the multi award-winning bunkered Podcast and a member of Balfron Golfing Society, Michael is the author of three books and is the 2023 PPA Scotland 'Writer of the Year' and 'Columnist of the Year'. Dislikes white belts, yellow balls and iron headcovers. Likes being drawn out of the media ballot to play Augusta National.

Deputy Editor