A decorated European team, including six former Ryder Cup players, will assemble in Malaysia for the third edition of the EurAsia Cup presented by DRB-HICOM this week. Thomas Bjørn, who played in the inaugural edition in 2014, will take the captain’s reins at Glenmarie Golf & Country Club, with three-time European Tour winner Arjun Atwal leading an Asian team that includes Li Haotong, Kiradech Aphibarnrat and Byeong-Hun An.
With the first matches on the horizon, Europeantour.com takes a closer look at the 12 players hoping to emulate Darren Clarke’s 2016 crop, who triumphed in style by 18 ½ to 5 ½ .
Rafa Cabrera Bello
A class act on and off the course, Cabrera Bello will make his EurAsia Cup bow when play gets under way on Friday. The Spaniard’s second European Tour win at the 2017 Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open helped him qualify automatically for a place in Bjørn’s side, edging out Callum Shinkwin in a play-off at Dundonald Links. Cabrera Bello, who will touch down in Malaysia on the back of a share of second at the UBS Hong Kong Open last month, has an impressive recent match-play record. He won 2.5 points for Europe in The 2016 Ryder Cup, forming an unbeaten partnership with Sergio Garcia, and finished third in the 2016 WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play.
Paul Casey
Helping Europe to victory in Kuala Lumpur would be the perfect return to the European Tour for Casey. The 13-time tour winner resumed his membership at the end of last year and will be a welcome addition to the side after Bjørn made him a wildcard pick. Casey has been on the winning side in two of his three previous team match-play events, helping Europe to Ryder Cup success in 2004 and 2006. He also has four top fives in his last eight WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play appearances.
Paul Dunne
Although Dunne is yet to make a senior appearance in team match-play, he was part of the impressive Great Britain and Ireland side that won the Walker Cup in 2015. Last year was very much a breakout season for Dunne, securing his first win at the British Masters supported by Sky Sports, chipping in on the 18th for one of the most dramatic victories of the year. The Dubliner’s only match-play appearance in the last couple of seasons saw him reach the last 16 of the 2017 Paul Lawrie Match Play.
Ross Fisher
One of the tour’s most consistent players last year, Fisher came agonisingly close to winning his sixth title on tour in successive weeks at the end of the 2017 season. Consecutive runner-up finishes to Tyrrell Hatton at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship and the Italian Open put him within a whisker of joining the winner’s circle again. With six other top tens throughout the year, including a tie for third at the WGC-Mexico Championship, the 37 year old deservedly qualified for his second EurAsia Cup team. His match-play record is strong, having won two points at the 2010 Ryder Cup and finished in the top five twice at the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play.
Matt Fitzpatrick
The Yorkshireman’s burgeoning career continues to gather momentum after winning his fourth European Tour title at the Omega European Masters in 2017. It came as no surprise, then, to see Fitzpatrick automatically qualify for the European team in what will be his third experience representing the continent. He earned two points for Darren Clarke’s European Team in the 2016 edition of the event, including a Sunday singles win against Kiradech Aphibarnrat, and also lined up for Europe at The 2016 Ryder Cup.
Tommy Fleetwood
A sublime 2017 meant Fleetwood was always assured of his place on the flight to Malaysia. His impressive run to the Race to Dubai title, that included two wins, means expectations will be high for the 26 year old, who will be making his EurAsia Cup debut. His ascent to the top of the Rankings was aided by his strong performance in Greens in Regulation, topping the category in 2017, and Stroke Average, in which he came behind only Sergio Garcia and Rory McIlroy. The 26 year old’s best recent match-play performance was fifth in the 2015 WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play, which included wins over team-mate Bernd Wiesberger and Branden Grace.
Tyrrell Hatton
One of the tour’s most fascinating characters will add plenty to the melting pot this week. His back-to-back wins in October rubber-stamped his reputation as one of the most exciting young talents on tour and inspired him to finish the year with four consecutive top 20s. His fiery edge should be well suited to match-play, but could be nicely balanced out alongside a more experienced figure in the foursomes and fourballs. Hatton’s best match-play performance was fifth at the 2015 Paul Lawrie Match Play.
Alex Levy
As one of Captain Bjørn’s wildcard picks, Levy should be inspired by the fact the Dane wants him in his plans for the week. The California-born Frenchman is tipped as one of those most likely to be representing France at The Ryder Cup in September, so will be even keener to press home his qualities. Levy, who won the Volvo China Open last year, is another of those without great experience in team competitions, but his bubbly persona and all-round enthusiasm will make him an ideal playing partner.
Alex Noren
Renowned as one of the hardest working players on tour, it feels only right that Noren should get his chance representing Europe. In the last two seasons, the Swede has won five times on tour, a record which is unmatched by any other player. His victory at the BMW PGA Championship last May really caught the eye, as he fired a scintillating final round 62 to win the first Rolex Series event of the season. He also impressed at last year’s WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play, coming through his group with a 3-0-0 record and going on to reach the quarter-finals.
Thomas Pieters
Judging by Pieters’ impact at The 2016 Ryder Cup, the Belgian might be made for team match-play events. Despite being a rookie, the 25 year old claimed victory in four of the five matches he played two years ago, forging an unforgettable partnership with Rory McIlroy. He showed an all-round aptitude for match-play at Hazeltine, winning in foursomes, fourballs and his singles match against JB Holmes. It will be fascinating to see who Bjørn opts to partner Pieters with as he attempts to recapture his spirited performance in Minnesota.
Henrik Stenson
One of Bjørn’s more senior players, Stenson will lead by example this week. His calm exterior belies his steely mentality, making him the ideal competitor for a match-play event. The 41 year old has been part of four Ryder Cup teams, winning twice in 2006 and 2014 and earning eight points along the way. Add into the mix Stenson’s 2007 WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play win and you’d be hard pushed to find a more ideal partner for the occasion.
Bernd Wiesberger
The Austrian played in the 2016 edition, winning two points for Europe, including a foursomes win alongside Ross Fisher. He excelled on Asian soil last season, winning the Shenzhen International and claiming three other top tens, including outright third at the Maybank Championship in Malaysia. The 32 year old’s record in Malaysia also includes consecutive runner-up berths at the 2014 and 2015 Maybank Malaysian Open. If he can replicate his usual form in this part of the world again, he will surely be one of the men to watch this week.
