Joe Ozaki has thrust Japanese golf sensation Ryo Ishikawa further into the spotlight by nominating him as the player who can inspire a first Asian success in the Royal Trophy.

The Asian team captain will send Ishikawa out with fellow Japanese star Toru Taniguchi in the first match of the competition, and he admitted he wants the 17 year old to get the galleries and his team-
mates fired up.

Ishikawa and Taniguchi will be up against a far more experienced pairing in the opening Foursomes match at Bangkok's Amata Spring Country Club, after being drawn against former Open champion Paul Lawrie and Soren Hansen, who made his Ryder Cup debut four months ago.

Captain Ozaki admitted he had been tempted to send out the crowd-pleasing Thai duo of Thongchai Jaidee and Prayad Marksaeng first, but declared: "I wanted our youngest player to go out first and get some momentum that would inspire the team.

"The two Thai players are a good pairing to have as the anchor men in the final match, and I am very pleased with the way the draw has worked out."

Ishikawa, whose presence has sparked a media circus with scores of photographers and camera crews following his every move, insisted he was up to the challenge.

He said: "I am happy to be in the first match, and I will try to play my best golf so that the rest of the team gets good news from our match."

Captain Ozaki could not disguise a big grin as he added: "My first impression is that the Asian team has a big advantage in every one of the matches."

Thongchai and Prayad will take on the big-hitting Swedish duo of Niclas Fasth and Johan Edfors, who were both outstanding when Europe powered to a Royal Trophy victory two years ago.

Another member of that team, Paul McGinley, will be partnered by Spanish rookie Pablo Larrazabal as he bids to preserve his unblemished record when representing Europe.

McGinley has played in three Ryder Cups - holing the winning putt in the first of them seven years ago - and two previous Royal Trophies, and won the lot. US PGA Tour player Korean Charlie Wi and 2007 Asian number one Liang Wen-chong stand in his way this time.

McGinley said: "We expect a much tougher match this time as the Asian golfers have been in terrific form. But we have four outstanding partnerships, and we have every reason to feel confident."

Another golfer who has played in all three Royal Trophy shoot-outs, S. K. Ho of Korea, will partner Hideto Tanihara of Japan. Their morale will be boosted by the fact they each won twice on the Japan Golf Tour in 2008.

They will be up against the English duo of Oliver Wilson and Nick Dougherty, who know each other's game inside out after playing together since their amateur days at the turn of the century.

Tee times. 11.15, Ishikawa & Taniguchi v Hansen and Lawrie; 11.29, Wi & Liang v McGinley & Larrazabal; 11.43, Tanihara & Ho v Dougherty & Wilson; 11.57, Thongchai & Prayad v Fasth and Edfors