Anirban plays in first group, Chawrasia to play with Kiradech

India's Jeev Milkha Singh today took into consideration a variety of factors to choose his six pairs for the opening day's fourballs in the EurAsia Cup golf presented by DRB-HICOM here.
On the other side, European captain Darren Clarke, who has one eye on September's Ryder Cup, relied on an experience-youth mixture for his six teams.
The opening day will see the team clash in four balls, with the opening match featuring one of Europe's star team players, Ian Poulter partnering Bernd Wiesberger, clash with India's global star, Anirban Lahiri, who sees in Korean 20-year-old Jeung Hun Wang, a brilliant ball striker.

Elaborating on his selections, Jeev said, "I have used a lot of factors in arriving at the pairs. Ranging from mixing youth with experience to golf course knowledge, the players familiarity with each other and their nationalities."
"For the first pair, I feel Anirban has had a lot of experience in the other team events. So I think that was good to combine an experienced player with a guy who has come out for the first time.
"Most of the players should know each other's game. That's why if you notice, I've got S S P and Kiradech together because they play a lot of practise rounds in Europe together. For the last few years, they have been doing that. Shingo and Wu Ashun, they play a lot of golf in Japan together; K T (Kim) and Prayad, again they play week-in, week-out on Japan Tour. Danny and Nicholas, they play in Malaysia and they know this golf course. Byeong-hun and Thongchai, they play a lot of golf together in Europe. So, that's how we worked it."

Danny Chia, who has won his last starts at the Glenmarie, saw his pairing with Fung and the course as a big plus for him.

Lahiri hoped to mentor Wang in a way and said, "I think it's an honour to be going out first for the Asian Team. I think it's going to be a lot of fun. Wang is a big talent and he's probably at a similar stage to where I was two years back. I'm just going to try to help him just play freely. Really looking forward to it."
Chawrasia, too, was happy with being paired with

Kiradech.
"Jeev asked me and I was delighted. Kiradech and I get along very well and he is so good. He has a great all round game. And I was also keen in playing someone like Lee Westwood, who is so experienced, so it is exciting."
Clarke, speaking on his pairings, said, "Obviously we all know Poults (Ian Poulter). We know what he brings to the team. We know what he brings to the team room. And to have him leading off Europe, we couldn't ask for a better player.
"With Bernd, you've got a very, very young, exciting talent, who won The French Open last year, on one of our most difficult golf courses and won comfortably; a very strong pairing. I could say the same about everyone.

"There isn't one pairing there that stands out to be stronger than anything else. I have had a few ideas and so far they are listening to me. I feel very fortunate and humble that I am their captain this week."
Four-ball pairings for Day 1:
Match 1: Ian Poulter and Bernd Wiesberger v Anirban Lahiri and Jeung Hun Wang;
Match 2: Danny Willet and Matthew Fitzpatrick v Byeong Hun A and Thongchai Jaidee
Match 3: Victor Dubuisson and Soren Kjeldsen v Danny Chia and Nicholas Fung
Match 4: Ross Fisher and Kristoffer Broberg v Prayad Marksaeng and KT Kim

Match 5: Shane Lowry and Andy Sullivan v Shingo Katayama and Wu Ashun
Match 6: Lee Westwood and Chris Wood v SSP Chawrasia and Kiradech Aphibarnrat.