GOLF/Royal Trophy: Graeme McDowell admitted the European team were made to sweat by a final-day fightback from Asia yesterday in the Royal Trophy in Bangkok.
Europe won the inaugural competition 9-7 after leading 6-2 following Saturday's foursome and fourball matches.
Warned beforehand by captain Seve Ballesteros he would not tolerate over-confidence, the visitors did their best to make a seemingly one-sided contest competitive again in yesterday's singles.
Needing just two and a half points for victory, Europe lost five of the eight singles matches as Asia seized the initiative at a hot but blustery Amata Spring Country Club.
Ultimately, though, Europe's good work on Saturday could not be undone as first Paul McGinley, then McDowell and finally Henrik Stenson ensured the team stumbled across the finishing line.
McDowell, who at one stage dropped from three up to all square against India's Jyoti Randhawa, underlined how fine the Europeans had cut it.
"I spoke to Seve as I came off the ninth and I had just lost two holes on the bounce to go back to one up," he said. "Seve said things weren't looking too great on the golf course. I realised my match would be important and every point we put on the board was going to be big but I didn't realise how close it was going to be in the end.
"We have a strong team but they came out strong, and thankfully, we came through. In the end, we gave them too much to do today."
After McGinley and McDowell had won, it was Stenson who ensured victory after his opponent, local hero Thongchai Jaidee, bogeyed the 13th to guarantee the Swede could halve his match at worst.
The 29-year-old said: "Playing Jaidee was always going to be a tough match and I am pleased with the way I played. I turned it around on the 11th, 12th and 13th and won three straight holes there so it was done and dusted with five holes to go.
"That certainly took some of the pressure off."
Ballesteros was relieved and delighted to have led his side to victory, completing the hat-trick of Ryder Cup, Seve Trophy and now Royal Trophy wins as captain he had sought at the start of the weekend.
"I am very happy with the final score," he said. "It has been a great two days of competition, the European team has played fantastically and the Asians showed a tremendous game and sportsmanship.
"On this occasion we had a little more luck."
Asia captain, Masahiro Kuramoto, said the gallant losers had done themselves proud in a competition for which they were underdogs from the outset.
He said: "If we'd had another day, we could have won this. For a moment it looked possible that we could upset Europe and our players grew in confidence.
"We gave it our all but the Europeans did a bit better. All we needed at the end was one point for a tie.
"We proved today we could compete and I believe these players can win the next event."
Whether that takes place next year or in 2008 is still up in the air, although a preliminary agreement is in place to hold the event in Thailand for the next five editions.
The tournament was Ballesteros' brainchild and the Spaniard took heart from the healthy crowds, married to a gripping final day of competition.
"It was great to see so many people come out to watch the matches," he said.
"It was a wonderful experience for everyone, great weather and a fantastic atmosphere. This event is just the start and I think we are making history here. I am looking forward to coming back and defending the title with my team."
SINGLES: P McGinley (Irl) bt Z Lian-wei (Chn) 2&1, Y Imano (Jpn) bt D Howell (Eng) 2 up, G McDowell (NIrl) bt J Randhawa (Ind) 3&2, A Atwal (Ind) bt N Faldo (Eng) 3&2, H Stenson (Swe) bt T Jaidee (Tha) 5&4, K Fukabori (Jpn) bt T Bjorn (Den) 4&3, T Wiratchant (Tha) bt I Woosnam (Wal) 2&1, SK Ho (Kor) bt K Ferrie (Eng) 2&1. Europe bt Asia 9-7
