The fourth edition of the Royal Trophy golf championship played between the continents of Europe and Asia has been scheduled to take place on January 8-10, 2010 at Amata Spring Country Club in Thailand . The prestigious and highly competitive team match-play continental Championship will feature eight players and a non-playing captain representing the Asian and European continents respectively in a series of sixteen foursomes, four-ball and singles matches.

The Royal Trophy was created by the legendary five-time Major winner Severiano Ballesteros with the intention of extending to Asian golf the same growth impetus the Ryder Cup delivered for Europe in the 1980s and 1990s. The Championship was royally christened by His Majesty the King of Thailand with the gracious donation of the perpetual sixteen-kilogram solid-silver Trophy, stewardship of which is the Principal Award for the winning continent.

Led by Seve Ballesteros himself as Captain and featuring some of Europe’s masters of team golf such as Nick Faldo, Ian Woosnam, Henrik Stenson, Robert Karlsson, Lee Westwood, Darren Clarke and Paul McGinley, Europe prevailed in the Championship’s initial two encounters.

In the third edition of the Royal Trophy, Asian sport sealed a colossal conquest with thirty-five career tournament title winner Asian Team Captain Naomichi ‘Joe’ Ozaki leading Thailand’s Thongchai Jaidee and Prayad Marksaeng, Korea’s Charlie Wi and S.K. Ho, China’s Liang Wen-Chong and Japan’s Toru Taniguchi, Hideto Tanihara and Ryo Ishikawa to prevail over the Europeans by a score of 10-6. The tremendous victory was earned with the rapturous support of over 40,000 passionate spectators and established Asia as a significant contender in world golf.

While the Japanese golfing giant Joe Ozaki is the ‘front-runner’ in the selection process for the coveted role of Asian Team Captain for the defense of the Royal Trophy, leadership of the European Team remains under consideration.

Ballesteros was to captain the Europeans for the first five editions of the Trophy until the charismatic Spaniard was hospitalized in Madrid in October 2008 with a brain tumor. The winner of the British Open in 1979, 1984 and 1988 credited with having transformed European golf said at that very difficult time in his life: “Now I want to be the best confronting the most difficult game of my life – with all my strength as well as with the help of all those whose messages of support are reaching me. We have to deal with any situation, however difficult it is, with braveness, faith, serenity, confidence and a lot of mental strength.”

Unable to lead Europe in the Royal Trophy 2009, the two-time Masters champion Ballesteros appointed close friend and illustrious Ryder Cup partner Jose? Maria Olaza?bal to take the European leadership position. In a letter addressing dignitaries and the Teams at the Tournament’s Official Ceremony, Ballesteros said: “Even though I am not there with you today, my heart and thoughts are with you. I hope to see you next year, defending the Royal Trophy as Captain of the European Team. My special thanks to Jose? Maria Olaza?bal for taking the role of European Captain. Jose? Maria is not only a great champion, but one of my best friends.”

A return by Ballesteros to captain Europe in the challenge to regain stewardship of the Royal Trophy would undoubtedly mark a monumental triumph against adversity. It would certainly be a moment highly relished by golf fans and all people facing adversity throughout the world.

“I sincerely hope to captain the European Team at the next edition of the Royal Trophy. Europe and Asia coming together to compete for the Royal Trophy is very significant and this is a Competition that means a lot to me. I hope I am able to return to Thailand to lead the European challenge in this great occasion;” said Ballesteros.

“Seve Ballesteros making a return to lead the Europeans in the fourth edition of the Royal Trophy would be extremely meaningful. Seve has been a great source of inspiration for so many throughout his remarkable career. It is difficult to put into words how much Seve’s return to the Royal Trophy would mean to sports fans all around the world;” said Royal Trophy spokesperson Lincoln Venancio.

The Royal Trophy Premier and Major Sponsors include Heineken, Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), PTT, Siam Commercial Bank and Sodick ( Thailand ). For further Tournament information, please call +852 2834 0060 or +662 651 9499. The fourth edition of the Royal Trophy will be held on January 8-10, 2010 at Amata Spring Country Club in Thailand and is promoted by Entertainment Group Limited and Amen Corner S.A.