The first shots in this year's Royal Trophy were fired in dramatic style on Tuesday in the heart of Bangkok's hectic shopping district.

Startled shoppers provided the galleries as the rival captains and two of their top players took part in an unique challenge match.

Asian captain Joe Ozaki and his European opposite number Jose Maria Olazabal were among the golf stars faced with a nerve-jangling test of accuracy at Central World, Southeast Asia's largest shopping complex.

Ozaki was joined by hugely popular Thai golfer Thongchai Jaidee and China's Liang Wen Chong - both former Asian Order of Merit champions - to test their short games against Olazabal, Ryder Cup ace Oliver Wilson, and European Rookie of the Year Pablo Larrazabal.

They had to take on a testing par three hole, involving a delicate wedge shot along the exclusive shopfronts to a small green 85 yards away.

Hundreds of bargain hunters stopped to enjoy the spectacle, cheering loudly as the players took aim, firing balls over their heads towards the tiny target.

And the competitors enjoyed the task just as much as the spectators, with Liang playing to the crowd by pretending to hang his head in shame after he air-mailed the opening shot through the back of the green.

But he had the last laugh after Larrazabal's shot came up short and bounced through the green - Liang's second effort settled 9ft 1inch from the pin, two feet inside the Spanish player's next attempt.

Wilson and Thongchai also needed two attempts to hit the green, but it was Wilson who narrowly took the honours when his second shot finished 14ft 7in from the target.

It was left to Asian Captain Ozaki to show the players how it should be done. He hit a magnificent shot to within 4ft 8inch of the flag. Not surprisingly, that was too good, even for double Masters Champion Olazabal.

The prize for each of the three head-to-head contests was the right to determine who would name their line-ups first on each of the three days of competition at the Royal Trophy, which tees off at the Amata Spring Country Club on Friday.

That could prove a big advantage, allowing the successful captain to hand pick the opposition for each of his players.

But with a supreme show of confidence, Captain Ozaki decided he would announce his pairings for Friday's opening series of Foursomes matches first, when the draw is made on Thursday.

If his team show the same accuracy as their captain, his confidence should prove fully justified.