Naomichi ‘Joe’ Ozaki has been reappointed ac captain of the Asian team for the 2012 Royal Trophy. Picture by Getty Images.

Brunei (December 20): Naomichi ‘Joe’ Ozaki will spearhead Asian efforts to regain the Royal Trophy when the sixth edition of the event takes place next year. It will be the fifth consecutive occasion that the Japanese superstar will have acted as non-playing captain of the Asian team in the match play contest against Europe that will be staged at the award-winning Empire Hotel & Country Club in Brunei.

Asia’s sole Royal Trophy success came in 2009 when they defeated a European team skippered by Spaniard Jose-Maria Olazabal. Next December, Olazabal will captain Europe for the second time and lock horns with Ozaki once more.

“I am very excited about leading Asia at the Royal Trophy for the fifth consecutive time,” said Ozaki, a 35-time winner during an illustrious career, highlighted by two victories in the Japan Open.

“I have experienced a lot at the Royal Trophy. In 2007 it was difficult as it was my first experience. The 2010 matches were so extremely close, and it was very disappointing to lose by a single putt on the very final match. The latest edition was simply unbelievable. We played very well in the foursomes and completely dominated the second day of four-ball matches.

“The European recovery on the final day was a very hard lesson. They played very well and showed a tremendous competitive spirit but it was very painful for me and for our entire Asian team. I really want to win the next edition of the Royal Trophy for Asia. I will bring together a powerful Asian team for the challenge and we will compete very hard. There is a lot of pride and emotion at stake.

“But most important of all, the next edition of the Royal Trophy will be played as a tribute to Seve Ballesteros. I am certain that the eight members of the Asian team will play their hearts out in honour of Seve’s career and life. I have great memories of Seve during my years playing full-time internationally, of the times he played in our Tour in Japan and of captaining against him at the Royal Trophy in 2007. We will play with the determination, courage and sportsmanship that were trademarks of Seve’s career,” concluded Ozaki, a two-time Japan Golf Tour Order of Merit winner.

Tadashi Koizumi, Chairman of the Japan Golf Tour Organisation (JGTO), said: “We are fully supportive of the appointment of Naomichi Ozaki as Asian team captain for the next edition of the Royal Trophy. He has achieved great success in the Japan Golf Tour and throughout the world and we are delighted that he can make use of his great experience in leading the Asian team in this magnificent competition.”

Andy Yamanaka, Chief Tournament Director of the Royal Trophy, said: “We have all witnessed five great series of matches played between the continents of Europe and Asia. In each edition the teams competed with tremendous determination and will to win. But the sportsmanship demonstrated by the captains and players has also been of the highest level. We are looking forward to a fierce competition in the next edition of the Royal Trophy, but also to a competition played in a true spirit of fairness which is at the heart of our great sport.”

Nigel Taylor, Golf and Country Club Operations Manager of The Empire Hotel and Country Club, said: “We have been working on the preparations for the sixth edition of the Royal Trophy for many months. We are delighted to host this historic competition in our hotel, our Country Club and our Jack Nicklaus signature golf course. The Asian and European teams, their companions, the Royal Trophy sponsors and the fans attending the matches will have a great and most enjoyable experience at The Empire Hotel & Country Club. We are truly looking forward to hosting this important segment of golf history.”

Lincoln Venancio, the Royal Trophy Co-Managing Director, said: “The next edition of the Royal Trophy promises to be exceptional. The Asian team will certainly be looking to revenge that extremely hard defeat experienced earlier this year and we are totally confident that The Empire Hotel & Country Club and the Sultanate of Brunei will be a tremendous host and venue for the matches. They have been voted the Best Golf Resort in Asia Pacific in the Asian Golf Monthly Awards for a second consecutive time and their facilities are truly exceptional.”

Ivan Ballesteros, Co-Managing Director of the Royal Trophy, said: “Jose-Maria Olazabal will captain Europe and has already nominated Colin Montgomerie for his team, Joe Ozaki will lead Asia, the matches will be played only three months following Olazabal’s captaincy at the Ryder Cup, European golf is at an all-time high, Asian golf is growing at a very fast speed and the facilities we have seen at this visit to The Empire Hotel & Country Club are second to none anywhere in the world. The sixth edition of the Royal Trophy will be a remarkable occasion for golf.”