Asian team captain Naomichi “Joe” Ozaki has nominated Asia’s first-ever major championship winner, Korean Yang Yong-eun, to join the continent’s challenge against the Europeans at the sixth edition of the Royal Trophy in Brunei on Dec. 14-16, Entertainment Group (Asia), which promotes the tournament, said in a news release.

“Yang is a highly accomplished player and has proven to be able to produce remarkable golf and astonishing shots even when facing maximum pressure,” said the Japanese golf legend who will lead Asia for the fifth consecutive time.

“He is a player I want wearing our Asian uniform when the pressure of representing the continent peaks. I know that he is capable of facing anyone under any conditions on the golf course. He proved that by winning the PGA Championship under remarkable circumstances and in winning his nine career titles,” added Ozaki who is himself the winner of 35 career tournament titles. 

Most famously remembered as the first Asian in the history of the game to win a major championship, Yang shook the golf world when he did to Tiger Woods what Woods used to do to everyone else on the golf course ― come from behind. He upset Woods to clinch the 2009 U.S. PGA Championship at Hazeltine.

Ozaki’s previous nominations for the Asian team for the sixth Royal Trophy tournament include Japanese superstar Ryo Ishikawa, the youngest player in history to win a major Tour title; Asia’s match-play maestro and former Asian Games double gold medalist K.T. Kim of Korea; and 2012 Japan Golf Tour Championship winner Yoshinori Fujimoto.

“It is clear that captain Ozaki’s appointment of Y.E. Yang adds enormous weight to the Asian team. Yang, Ishikawa, Kim and Fujimoto make for a formidable side and it certainly sets the stage for a monumental series of matches,” said the Royal Trophy managing director Lincoln Venancio.

Scotland’s Ryder Cup player Paul Lawrie is the European team captain Jos Maria Olazbal’s second nomination and joins compatriot and eight-time European Tour Order of Merit champion Colin Montgomerie OBE for the European defense.

The Europeans will travel to Brunei very high in confidence following an upset victory over the Americans at the 39th Ryder Cup.

The sixth edition of the Royal Trophy ― a Europe vs Asia golf championship ― will be played at the Empire Hotel & Country Club’s Jack Nicklaus signature golf course set amidst the Sultanate of Brunei’s rainforest and pristine South China Sea. The continents will compete in a series of 16 foursomes, four-ball and singles matches.

By Chun Sung-woo (swchun@heraldcorp.com)