Niclas Fasth has warned his Royal Trophy rivals he will be a hard man to beat after being named as the first player for the European Team for the Royal Trophy 2008.

The super Swede jumped at the chance to be a part of Seve Ballesteros' team for the Asia-Europe extravaganza in Bangkok to be played from January 11-13, and admitted he will have a few scores to settle. Fasth, who has had a fantastic year in 2007, was defeated by top Thai player Thongchai Jaidee in the final day of singles in previous edition of the Royal Trophy. On that Sunday afternoon, Thongchai counted with great support from the Asian galleries and 'shut the door' on Fasth on the 237-yard par-three 17th hole to be celebrated by the galleries for securing the point for Asia.

The 2 & 1 win against Fasth was a great confidence boost for Jaidee who clearly benefited from strong patriotic support.

In the Royal Trophy 2007 Fasth was a member of a fantastic European Team which was extremely confident coming off a record-equaling convincing win against the Americans in the Ryder Cup in Ireland - which took place only four months earlier.

The Swedish ace, who has just enjoyed his best ever season, said the memory of that singles defeat will act as an added motivation this time and he is looking forward to starting his 2008 season at the Royal Trophy in Thailand. Fasth explained: "The Royal Trophy was great. I thoroughly enjoyed the
location, the format and the tremendous atmosphere.

"The Royal Trophy had all the ingredients you expect from a genuinely big occasion - large crowds, a course in superb condition, and a very competitive feel to the matches.

"When Seve asked me if I wanted to play in the Event again, I said: 'Just try to stop me'. I love team golf, and I have targeted a return to the Ryder Cup team as one of my big priorities for 2008. The Royal Trophy is a very important step in that direction.

"And I can promise you one thing - I won't lose any of my matches to the Asians without putting up a terrific fight. Naturally, I didn't like losing in the Sunday singles last time. But it was really great to be part of a winning team."

Fasth strengthened his position as one of Europe's top golfers this year, finishing fifth on the European Tour Order of Merit. He was still in with a chance of taking top spot going into the European Tour final event of the year, but could not summon up the victory he needed. But he did capture a prestigious tournament win at the European Tour stop in Munich a few months earlier, to make it five victories in the past three years on the European Tour.

In 2007 Fasth added a new ingredient to his game - consistency. That victory in Germany came in the middle of a purple patch that saw him finish eighth in the European Tour's richest event, the European PGA Championship at Wentworth and was followed by a remarkable fourth place finish at the US Open.

The Swede then went continued to deliver great golf to secure a runner-up finish to Colin Montgomerie in the European Open at Ireland's Ryder Cup venue, the K Club.

His name was featured prominently on many more leader boards during the course of the year, and Fasth added: "It's been a good year and without doubt, I have generally played better than I have in previous years. I've been contending much more, and my Order of Merit position shows that. I have
been winning tournaments regularly for three years now. But this year I have simply been playing more steadily, and at a higher level."

Fasth established himself in the top twenty of the world rankings this year. He is currently 19th, and that healthy position means that the fans will see him competing at all the 2008 Majors and World Golf Championship events. He feels he has the game to win Majors, and after adding that fourth place in the US Open to his runner-up spot at the 2001 Open, it is hard to argue with him.

He commented: "One thing I do have going for me is I know I can win. Well, everyone who knows me knows I can win. I don't back off, so it's a matter of playing good enough in the week of a Major.

"But I would just love to be in the situation again which I was in at the US Open. I was close enough to really give it a go, but couldn't quite land a blow at Angel Cabrera and Tiger Woods.

"I know I can do that when my game is really on. And if I get the chance again I will push as hard as I can. I actually relish those situations. Obviously the competition is quite tough in the Majors with all the world's best players there at once. But I really believe I could pull it off one day soon."

Ballesteros' team has won the first two Royal Trophy clashes and the 5-time Major winner will again be pitting his wits against Japanese golf legend Joe Ozaki in January, as Ozaki has been named Asian Team captain for the second time. The 35-time tournament title winner has vowed the Europeans will not have it all their own way this time.