Joe Ozaki (AFP)
Japanese golfer Joe Ozaki has fleshed out his team for Thailand's Royal Trophy, organisers said Thursday, adding countryman Hideto Tanihara, China's Liang Wen-chong and South Korea's Charlie Wi.
They will join Thai golfing star Prayad Marksaeng, the first player to be named for the 2009 tournament, which aims to mimic the Ryder Cup by pitting an Asian team against a European team.
"I believe we are well on our way to bring together an excellent team. We are now half way in terms of nominating our players, having selected four of the eight players," team captain Ozaki said in a statement.
"We will come to Thailand prepared to give the Europeans a very serious challenge and win the Royal Trophy."
Tanihara has won two titles on the Japan tour this year, pushing Royal Trophy teammate Liang to third in the Asia-Pacific Panasonic Open in Osaka in September. Charlie Wi made a splash at the PGA John Deere Classic in July.
No selections have been made yet for the European team, which won the last two tournaments captained by Spanish golfing great Seve Ballesteros, the founder of the Royal Trophy.
Ballesteros is currently in a Madrid hospital following three operations on a brain tumour.
The Royal Trophy will take place at Bangkok's Amata Spring Country Club from January 9 to 11, 2009, after this year's tournament was postponed out of respect for the Thai king's sister, who died in January.
© 2008 AFP/sid
