Golf-Ryder Cup captains to face off at China Open (Reuters)
April 1, 2010
BEIJING, April 1 (Reuters) – Colin Montgomerie and CoreyPavin, the European and U.S. captains for October’s Ryder Cup,will face each other as players for the only time this year atthe China Open later this month. American Pavin, 50, will be making his debut in the $2.5million European Tour and OneAsia sanctioned event in Suzhouand said he wanted to put one over on Scot Montgomerie.
“I am looking forward to mixing it with him … in whatwill be our only competitive setting ahead of my U.S. teamdefending the Ryder Cup in Wales later this year,” the 1995U.S. Open champion said in a news release.
“It will be great to showcase the Ryder Cup in China withboth Colin and me playing in the China Open and let there be nodoubt about it, we will both be going all out to win it andseize the initiative.”
Eight times European champion Montgomerie, 46, played atthe China Open in Beijing last year and has won three titles ingreater China over the years.
“I have enjoyed a good record in China, winning the TCL in2002 and both the Hong Kong Open and the Macau Open, so I wouldlove to add China’s national open championship to make it afull house,” he said.
Both will be non-playing captains when their teams clash atthe 38th Ryder Cup at the Celtic Manor Golf Club in South Walesfrom Oct. 1-3.
Asia’s first major winner Yang Yong-eun, who won the PGAChampionship last year, heads the China Open field at the JinjiLake International Golf Club from April 15-18.
(Reporting by Nick Mulvenney, editing by Patrick Johnston)To query or comment on this story emailsportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)
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