Paul Lawrie to Set Record Straight at The Royal Trophy

Hong Kong (Hong Kong SAR) – October 16, 2013 – Paul Lawrie is hoping history will repeat itself when he makes his second Royal Trophy appearance at Dragon Lake Golf Club in Guangzhou, China from 20-22 December 2013. The former Open champion made a triumphant return to Ryder Cup action last year and eased the painful memories of his losing debut at Brookline in 1999. And after tasting defeat in his only previous Royal Trophy outing, Lawrie is keen to set the record straight once again.

He takes his place in what promises to be a particularly powerful European Team – Captain José Maria Olazábal has already nominated another of the men who helped achieve the ‘Miracle at Medinah’ under his leadership last year, in Belgian star Nicolas Colsaerts.

The vastly experienced Lawrie, who achieved worldwide recognition with his Open Championship triumph at Carnoustie in 1999, could not have done much more for the European cause when he made his Royal Trophy debut.

He was the European Team’s leading scorer in 2009, claiming two and a half out of a possible three points, which included a Singles victory against China’s top golfer Liang Wen-chong.

But his efforts could not prevent Europe slipping to their first Royal Trophy defeat – a painful 10-6 loss – and he is determined to prevent Asia claiming a third victory following their pulsating play-off victory last year.

Lawrie commented: “I am delighted to be part of the European Team for the Royal Trophy, following Captain José Maria Olazábal’s nomination. It is always a great honour being part of a European side – especially in this Event which was inspired by the legendary Seve Ballesteros. All he did for European golf was outstanding and he motivated many people to play the game of golf.

“In the first edition of the Royal Trophy, Seve said that the tournament would become an important continental team golf competition and after having played at the Royal Trophy in the past, I am very happy to see it continuing to grow.

“I am looking forward to coming together with Captain Olazábal and my teammates and delivering the great quality golf Europe is capable of.

“This year’s Asian Team features a very experienced player as the Captain – in Y.E. Yang. They also have many talented players such as Hideki Matsuyama, who at a very early age is leading the Japan Tour and has had an excellent start as a golf professional.

“Asia is continuing to get stronger and I know that they are defending the Royal Trophy following their success in Brunei last year. But that was last year and this time it will be different. We will be playing with complete determination to win and with an unrelenting drive to secure stewardship of the Royal Trophy. We will play our hearts out to bring the solid-silver Trophy back to Europe.”

Lawrie, 44, has been enjoying a tremendous resurgence of form over the past two years and has rattled off three big wins this year – at the Andalucia Open, the Qatar Masters, and the Johnnie Walker Championship.

Chinese golf legend Zhang Lian-wei, who will act as Vice Captain to Asia’s first ever Major winner Y.E. Yang in this next edition of the Royal Trophy, is well aware of the threat posed by the unflappable Lawrie.

He said: “Paul is a very experienced player. We played together at many tournaments in the past and he will be a strong asset for the European Team.

“Captain Olazábal is definitely being very strategic, combining younger long-hitters like Nicolas Colsaerts with Europe’s most experienced players like Paul.

“But we will be playing in China, we are defending the Trophy, we will play with the confidence of having defeated the Europeans last year and our players will not allow anything to take their hands off the Royal Trophy.

“Dragon Lake Golf Club will be a great battle ground as these great players compete on every single hole and for every single point. But Captain Y.E. Yang and I are very confident.

“I call on the golf fans in China and throughout Asia to travel to Dragon Lake, witness this great match and support us in our unrelenting efforts to be victorious over the Europeans.”

The seventh edition of the Royal Trophy will be the first-ever played in the People’s Republic of China and follows six highly successful competitions – the inaugural five held in the Kingdom of Thailand and the latest played in the Sultanate of Brunei.

“Both players nominated up to now by Captain José Maria Olazábal were members of his outstanding team that defeated the Americans in that dramatic encounter at the latest edition of the Ryder Cup at Medinah,” stated Lincoln Venancio, the Royal Trophy Managing Director.

“It is very clear that both Olazábal and Asian Team Captain Y.E. Yang are totally committed to construct extremely powerful and strategically developed teams. This series of sixteen foursomes, four-ball and singles matches promises to be tremendously competitive and to be played in the most passionate manner,” concluded Lincoln Venancio.

About The Royal Trophy
The seventh edition of the Royal Trophy – Europe vs Asia Golf Championship will be held at Dragon Lake Golf Club in Guangzhou, Guangdong Province in the People’s Republic of China on 20-22 December 2013. The continents will compete in a series of 16 foursomes, four-ball and singles matches. The Royal Trophy Players’ Committee is comprised of Sir Nick Faldo, Ian Woosnam OBE, José Maria Olazábal, Paul McGinley, Isao Aoki, Naomichi ‘Joe’ Ozaki and Jeev Milkha Singh.

For further information, please contact:
Doris Chang
Email: doris@eg-rt.com

Emma Lin
Email: emmalin@eg-rt.com

Entertainment Group (Asia) Limited
Tel: (852) 2834 0060
Fax: (852) 2838 8593
Website: www.TheRoyalTrophy.com