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Bjørn believes Europe can win Singles session
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Bjørn believes Europe can win Singles session

Captain Thomas Bjørn insists Europe have got what it takes to win the Singles session as they bid to overturn Asia's 6½-5½ lead and win the 2018 EurAsia Cup presented by DRB-HICOM.

Ross Fisher and Thomas Bjørn

Defending champions Europe began Saturday's Foursomes trailing Asia 3½-2½ but looked on course to take the lead after they put the first three points on the board.

But the tide turned in the afternoon, with the hosts winning the other three matches to take a one-point lead into Sunday's Singles matches.

Bjørn said: "We got off to a really good start and things looked like they were going our way and it turned a little bit on its head in the end.

"We came out of the session 3-3 which is not what we were looking for, but you know, we live to fight another day tomorrow and we've got 12 strong players, as I've said all week. I believe in all 12 of them, as I always will.

"We've got to go out and put some blue on that board and try and win the Singles. It's as simple as that. That's what's in front of us.

"I would say that this team is very capable of winning the Singles but we are getting a good fight this week, that's for sure.

"I'm slightly disappointed with the outcome today but I'm sure we can rise to what's ahead of us tomorrow.

"A lot of these guys have come out and there are cobwebs and rust that needs to be knocked off.

"I thought when I watched them on the first ten, 11, 12 holes today, I thought we were in a very good position, and then we didn't quite finish it off. But that's what I talked about yesterday.

"The competitive awareness still needs to get up a gear and that needs to be there tomorrow or we won't win.

"But effort-wise, every single player on that team has given 100 per cent. Some have been fantastic. Some have played really, really well and there's a couple that feel disappointed about the way they performed this week.

"But when you have a team of 12, at any given time of the year, you're going to have that kind of outcome with your players."

Asia captain Arjun Atwal was pleased with the patience shown by his side when Europe were on top.

He said: "Everybody just kept patient and hung in there.

"You saw how early on, everybody was kind of down and losing a few matches early. But what I told these guys was 'you're not getting blown out'.

"No-one was like four or five down after five or six holes or anything like that. And when you're just one or two down in match play, you can easily flip that, and they did."

When asked if Team Asia can beat Europe and win the trophy, Atwal said: "I absolutely believe that otherwise I wouldn't be here. That was always my belief when I took this captaincy."

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