Ballesteros aims for Royal Trophy return

Recently, golf legend Seve Ballesteros stated his intention to return to competitive golf at the 2010 British Open, to be held at St. Andrews.

Now, the Spaniard has also stated his desire to retake the captain’s reins from countryman Jose Maria Olazabal and captain Europe in next year’s Royal Trophy matchplay tournament against Asia.

In doing so, Seve would take another step along his road to recovery from a brain tumour. Ballesteros had captained the side in each of the first two stagings of the trophy and was scheduled to take control of the team for the first five editions. However, due to his illness, he was unable to fulfil the obligation and control was passed to Olazabal.

Under Seve’s stewardship the European team had won both the first and second matches against Asia, but relinquished the trophy in 2009. Seve will be hoping to regain the trophy in the matchplay tournament which features fourball, foursomes and singles matches when the tournament kicks off on January 8th at the Amata Spring Country Club in Thailand.

Naomichi ‘Joe’ Ozaki, who captained Asia to a 10-6 success over Europe in the 2009 match is likely to feature in the role again.

“I sincerely hope to captain the European team… this is a competition that means a lot to me,” the 52-year-old Spaniard said. “I hope I am able to return to Thailand to lead the European challenge on this great occasion.”

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