Europe got their EURASIA CUP presented by DRB-HICOM campaign off to a promising start after taking the lead in five of Friday morning’s six fourball matches.
Ian Poulter and Bernd Wiesberger reached the turn one up after the Austrian’s birdie putt at the sixth saw the European pair break the deadlock in match one.
Wiesberger then rolled in another at the tenth to double the duo’s lead over Anirban Lahiri and Jeung Hun Wang.
Englishmen Danny Willett and Matt Fitzpatrick found themselves behind to Byeong-hun An and Thongchai Jaidee after losing the fifth hole, but they bounced back in style, winning the next three holes to go two up after eight – thanks in no small part to some remarkable putting from the European duo.
After Fitzpatrick held his nerve to roll in from five feet to take the seventh hole, Willett sank his 20 foot birdie putt at the next to extend their lead.
Birdies at the third, fourth and sixth holes saw Ross Fisher and Kristoffer Broberg go three up after seven in their clash with Prayad Marksaeng and K.T Kim, while Shane Lowry and Andy Sullivan were one up against Wu Ashun and Shingo Katayama after five holes.
In the sixth match of the morning, Lee Westwood and Chris Wood were two up against Kiradech Aphibarnrat and SSP Chawrasia after five holes, while Victor Dubuisson and Søren Kjeldsen were all square with home favourites Danny Chia and Nicholas Fung after six holes.
