Toru Taniguchi is determined to start next year on a high note after being given a massive boost by being named to the Asian Team for the Royal Trophy for the second consecutive time.

The Japanese golfing giant’s selection highlights Asian Team Captain Joe Ozaki’s determination to form a team which features great youth and energy but is well balanced with deep experience and match-play proficiency. These qualities may well be what is required for the Asian Team to prevail for the first time over the Europeans when they meet at the prestigious Amata Spring Country Club in Bangkok, Thailand on January 9-11, 2009 for the team continental match-play competition.

Taniguchi is clearly one of the best golfers Japan has ever produced. In 2007 he finished number one in the Japan Tour Order of Merit for the second time, won three tournament titles and finished as runner-up on four other occasions. The Japanese ace was ranked as high as twenty seven in the world and earned over USD 1.2 million in prize money on that same year.

A fantastic putter, averaging a PGA Tour best 27.19 putts per round this year, Taniguchi is the winner of fourteen career titles. And with many years ahead in his professional career, he already ranks fifth in the Japan Tour’s all-time money list.

Taniguchi’s great success in match-play situations has likely played a role in the legendary Ozaki’s decision to name him to represent the Asian Continent. He said: “Toru Taniguchi is a wonderfully talented player and was a decisive winner of the Japan Tour Order of Merit last year. He is definitely a player that I want to have in our team to confront the Europeans in Thailand.”

“He brings a lot of good qualities to the Team. He is capable of producing tremendous rounds of golf, is very strong in match-play situations, carries a lot of experience, has great confidence and is comfortable competing against any player as he has played throughout the world in the biggest stages of golf;” added Ozaki, himself the winner of 35 career titles.

Taniguchi, who has been playing both in Japan as well as in the US in 2008 said: “When someone shows as much faith in you as Captain Ozaki has in me, it definitely gives you great confidence. I will work very hard to be in the best form for the Royal Trophy and I am really looking forward to playing under Captain Ozaki again. He is putting together a great team to represent Asia and we will ready to face Europe in January.

"To play for your Continent makes for a very proud moment and I am excited about coming together with my teammates to produce the best match-play golf we can. I will fight hard to have our Team defeat Europe and keep the Royal Trophy in Asian soil;” added Taniguchi who won his first professional title ten years ago.

Taniguchi showed his ability in match-play competition early on in his career finishing third at the 2001 World Match-Play Championship – a tournament which featured the world’s top 64 players.

“I have now selected five players out of our eight Team members. I am very pleased with the strength, ability and experience we are putting together for the Royal Trophy. I feel confident that we will present a very tough challenge to the Europeans;” concluded the youngest member of the Ozaki golfing dynasty.

In addition to Toru Taniguchi, the Asian Team for the third edition of the Royal Trophy will feature 2008 Japan Tour two-time title winner Prayad Marksaeng of Thailand, US PGA Tour star Charlie Wi of Korea, Indian Open champion Liang Wen-Chong of China and the winner of eight career titles Japan’s Hideto Tanihara. The Royal Trophy will feature four foursome matches on Friday January 9, four four-ball matches on Saturday January 10 and eight singles on the final day of the competition.

Joe Ozaki has already announced a fantastic group of players. It is clear that we will witness golf of tremendous quality at the third edition of the Royal Trophy. Added to the beautiful January weather Bangkok offers in January and the excellent conditions the Amata Spring Country Club layout will present, this will be a truly memorable three days of golf;” said Lincoln Venancio, Managing Director of Event promoters Entertainment Group.