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| Thongchai Jaidee of Thailand (L) and Hseih
Min-nan of Taipei pose with the Phoenix Dynasty Cup trophy at the
Mission Hills Golf Club in shenzhen. [Agencies / File
Photo] |
The Dynasty Cup, the Ryder Cup-style shootout between Asia and Japan,
will be played at the world's largest golf club in southern China next
April, organisers announced.
Asia pulled off a big shock
with their 16 1/2-7 1/2 victory over Japan at the first Dynasty Cup 19
months ago.
With the focus firmly on team showdowns following Europe's thrilling
triumph over the United States in the Ryder Cup last month, the top
players from Asia and Japan are gearing up for another contest from April
15-17 next year.
The contest will take place at on the Jack Nicklaus-designed World Cup
Course at Mission Hills Golf Club in Shenzhen, just across the border from
Hong Kong.
Stung by their defeat at the hands of a fired-up Asia side, Japan are
looking to bolster their squad by bringing in US-based stars Shigeki
Maruyama and Hidemichi Tanaka.
Maruyama, winner of the 2002 World Cup for Japan with Toshi Izawa, is
renowned as a good performer in matchplay-style events and the 'smiling
assassin' would be a huge asset to the Japan team along with Tanaka, who
is in his third season on the US PGA Tour.
Thailand star Thongchai Jaidee, winner of this season's Malaysian Open
which secured him a two-year exemption on the European Tour, is currently
ahead in the Dynasty Cup standings in Asia.
Another former Asian number one, Jyoti Randhawa of India, is also well
placed as an automatic pick. Chinese number one Zhang Lian-wei, who won
all his matches last year, is tipped to feature prominently again for
Asia.
Taiwanese veteran Hsieh Min-nan, who was widely praised for his
leadership of Asia in 2003, and Japanese golf icon Isao Aoki will again
captain their respective teams.
(Agencies) | 
Updated: 2004-10-20 11:07