Against the Odds

In a turnaround to match the "Miracle of Medinah", Team Europe rallied brilliantly to win the Royal Trophy in Guangzhou

José María Olazábal congratulates Nicolas Colsaerts on the final day

Europe staged another tremendous stunning fightback to seize the Royal Trophy from a stunned Asian Team, as an incredible late rally saw them defy overwhelming odds to complete an 8 ½ – 7 ½ victory at Dragon Lake Golf Club in Guangzhou last month.

José María Olazábal’s Team trailed by two points heading into the final session, and found themselves facing a seemingly insurmountable 7–3 deficit as Thai stars Kiradech Aphibranrat and Thongchai Jaidee completed maximum three point hauls by romping to victory in the first two Singles matches.

But the Europeans did not lose another match. They won five of the last six Singles and halved the other to turn the contest on its head, leaving Team Asia captain YE Yang and his players looking on in shocked disbelief.

The most incredible transformation came in the match involving David Howell - twice a Ryder Cup winner - and Japan Golf Tour Order of Merit runner–up HS Kim. Kim was three up with four holes to play, after covering that stretch of holes in an eye–catching five under par. But Howell won every one of those remaining holes to take the match one up, and suddenly the tide had turned in Europe’s favour.

David Howell secured a crucial win for Team Europe in the Singles

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