Asia are on the brink of completing one of the most remarkable transformations in golfing history after storming into a 6 1/2 - 1 ? lead on the second day of the Royal Trophy.

Joe Ozaki's seemingly unstoppable team now need just two points from Sunday's eight singles to claim a first victory over Europe - after being overwhelmed by a massive nine point margin the last time the teams met two years ago.

It has been an amazing turnaround, with the Asian players dominating both the Foursomes and Fourballs - areas in which Europe have reigned supreme in Ryder Cups and in the two previous Royal Trophy matches.

A glorious display in the Fourballs saw Asia win three of the four matches. Former Open champion Paul Lawrie and Danish Ryder Cup ace Soren Hansen denied them a clean sweep by forcing a half against the Japanese duo of Ryo Ishikawa and Toru Taniguchi.

Hansen spared European blushes by coolly holing a five footer for birdie on the final hole after Taniguchi had sunk a putt from twice that distance to crank up the pressure.

Taniguchi commented: "The last putt I had was a big moment. I knew the Europeans would make it and I knew I had to make my putt too. I was confident that it would go in as I could see the line."

That was just one of many memorable exchanges on another day of classic match play. It saw Asia get off to a flying start, and then show tremendous resolve and character when the European players threatened to mount a telling fight back.

Asia established big leads in each of the last three matches, and saw their advantage whittled down to just one hole in every one of them.

But they refused to buckle, and Paul McGinley - who has played in all three Royal Trophies and the same number of Ryder Cups - said withstanding the onslaught was something previous Asian teams might not have been capable of.

He explained: "I think it is the case that the Asian Team seem to be able to go up a gear that they haven’t done in the past.

"We came at them strongly today from three down and dominated play around the middle of the game. There was a huge hole on the 12th when Pablo had an eight-footer but Jaidee made a very important putt from distance to swing the putt back in their direction.

"That is what the professional game is all about and that is what have experience is all about because when you have it then you know when the crucial moments like that are.

"If you can hole a putt ‘against the head’ to use that phrase then you can do very well. I think all credit should go to the Asian Team because they have raised the bar.

"I don’t think we have been really bad this week but the Asians are showing that the success they have had recently is no flash in the pan.

"They have raised their game and you can see the similarities to where we were in Europe against the USA 25 years ago when we were getting closer and closer. Then it went so far the other way that we were winning by record margins.

"I am not saying that Asia will win by a record margin but they have certainly raised their game since the last Royal Trophy.”

McGinley is just one of a host of European players who have found themselves in the unaccustomed position of being on the receiving end of a good hiding in team, competitions recently.

He has never lost in his five previous appearances for Europe. It is a proud record that seems certain to come to an end here in Bangkok.

After their shock Ryder Cup defeat to the Americans, Europe has taken another mauling over the first two days at the Amata Spring Country Club.

Even a highly improbable final day charge in the singles would not be enough to fully repair their battered pride. Quite simply, the Asians have out-played, out-putted, and out-maneuvered the European outfit.

McGinley was also honest enough to admit their lack of recent competitive action was not enough to excuse Europe's dismal display so far.

He added: "We might not be at our sharpest, but they have had momentum the whole week.

"We have proved that in the past at The Ryder Cup: when you have momentum as a team then the putts start to go in more regularly and that has been the case for the Asian team.

"Give them credit. They have played great and have putted the lights out, especially when the pressure has been on for them to make something happen."

It was no wonder Asian Captain Joe Ozaki seemed almost light-headed as he assessed his team's efforts over the first two days.

"I feel like dancing, I am so happy," he beamed.

"As a captain, I’m pleased and honoured that the team Asia have their minds set so strongly on winning the Royal Trophy.

"I’m happy with the situation which I’m facing right now, especially the big margin. But in golf, you don’t know what will happen in golf.

"I will speak to the players and ask them to keep their momentum for the final matches. Definitely, I want our players to play our best - we have a big margin and most of the players have played the back nine well. I want them to keep playing aggressively."