Miguel Angel Jiménez was the first man to welcome Des Smyth as his Vice-Captain for the inaugural EurAsia Cup presented by DRB–HICOM.
Smyth was revealed as one of Paul McGinely’s Ryder Cup Vice-Captains for the biennial clash with the USA in September at a media conference in Dublin this morning, where it was also announced that Smyth will be Jiménez’s right-hand man in Malaysia when Europe travel to the Glenmarie Golf and Country Club to face Asia in the inaugural EurAsia Cup from March 27-29.
Jiménez will act as playing Captain of the ten-man European team, meaning Smyth’s experience as a two-time Ryder Cup player (1979 and 1981) and Vice-Captain (2006) will be vital as the Irishman assumes a leading role behind the scenes in Malaysia.
“I am delighted to welcome Des to the team for the EurAsia Cup presented by DRB–HICOM,” said Jiménez. “Des is a man with a lot of experience and someone I know I can trust so he will be a great Vice-Captain.
“Paul McGinley and I have spoken a lot about the EurAsia Cup team and how important an event it is in terms of The Ryder Cup. A lot of the guys on my team could be playing for Paul in September so the EurAsia Cup is a great opportunity for Des to reacquaint himself with the experienced players and integrate with the younger guys.”
Smyth is relishing the opportunity to be part of the inaugural EurAsia Cup with Jiménez and the nine other members of Team Europe - Thomas Björn, Jamie Donaldson, Victor Dubuisson, Gonzalo Fernandez-Castaño, Stephen Gallacher, Pablo Larrazábal, Joost Luiten, Graeme McDowell and Thorbjørn Olesen.
He said: “I am very much looking forward to working with Miguel and the European players at the EurAsia Cup. I already know a lot of the players such as Graeme, Thomas, Gonzalo and Stephen and I am looking forward to getting to know the rest of the guys.
“I feel I can bring a lot of experience to the role of Vice-Captain and I will be there to support Miguel and hopefully offer some good advice when required. I am thrilled to have been asked to be a Vice-Captain for both The Ryder Cup and the EurAsia Cup and I’m looking forward to getting started in Malaysia in a couple of weeks.”
The announcement of Smyth as Vice-Captain to Jiménez means the teams for the EurAsia Cup presented by DRB–HICOM are now complete after Asian Captain Thongchai Jaidee announced Boonchu Ruangkit as his Vice-Captain earlier today.
Tickets for the inaugural EurAsia Cup presented by DRB-HICOM are available for purchase via online, hotline and MST Golf outlets. Golf fans can purchase tickets onwww.ticketpro.com.myor call +603 7880 7999 for further details.
Tickets are priced as follow: Day 1 RM78, Day 2 RM78, Day 3 RM78 and Season Ticket RM158. Entry is free for children under the age of 16. Entry is free to all on March 26, Wednesday which is the pro-am day.
Each ticket will include a voucher for a free EurAsia Cup team cap. This can be redeemed on site at the EurAsia Cup at the Official Merchandise shop at Glenmarie Golf and Country Club.
The format of play for the EurAsia Cup presented by DRB-HICOM will see five fourball matches being played on the first day (March 27, Thursday) followed by five foursomes matches on day two (March 28, Friday) and 10 singles matches on the final day (March 29, Saturday) at Glenmarie’s Garden course.
The EurAsia Cup presented by DRB-HICOM is sanctioned by the Asian Tour and European Tour. Professional Golf Malaysia (PGM) will act as the local facilitator for the event.
