BANGKOK, Thailand -- A Ryder Cup-style golf tournament involving teams from European and Asia will be launched January in Bangkok.

Five-time major winner Seve Ballesteros will spearhead the European side as a non-playing captain at the inaugural $1.5 million Royal Trophy, to be played January 5-8, 2006 at the Amata Spring Country Club, organizers announced Wednesday.

Asia has yet to announce its captain for the event, which is sanctioned by the European, Asian and Japan Tours.

Spanish great Ballesteros, who captained the winning European team at the 1997 Ryder Cup, described the Royal Trophy as "a very meaningful development" for the sport.

There will be eight players -- led by a non-playing captain -- on each side, competing in a series of 16 matches involving foursomes, four-ball and singles.

The winning side will take home $1 million while the runners-up will earn $500,000. The tournament will be held for the first five years in Thailand, while the sixth edition will be played in Europe.

Six players on each team will be chosen according to each Tour's Order of Merit table and the world rankings, with the two remaining players on each side being captain's choices.

The first two European players will be chosen according to the European Tour Order of Merit as of October 31, while the first two Asian qualifiers will be selected according to official rankings on November 7.

The qualification process will be completed on December 12 with the captains' picks to be announced one week later.