Olazabal to lead Europe in Royal Trophy

BANGKOK, Thailand (AP) -- Jose Maria Olazabal has been named to replace fellow-Spaniard Seve Ballesteros as captain of the European team to face Asia in the Ryder Cup-style Royal Trophy next month.

Five-times major champion Ballesteros, who guided Europe to victory in the two previous Royal Trophies, will not recover from his recent brain surgeries in time to lead the European team in the January 9-11 tournament -- and has handed over responsibility to his friend and compatriot.

"I am honored to have been appointed by Seve to take such an important responsibility and I will do my best to deliver a win for my great friend and for Europe," said two-time major winner Olazabal.

"I plan to stay in contact with Seve throughout the process and to work with him as a partner, just like we did on the golf course for so many years in the Ryder Cup."

The Asia team will be captained for the second consecutive year by former U.S. PGA Tour regular Naomichi Ozaki of Japan, who has already announced his lineup for the tournament which includes South Koreans Charlie Wi and S.K. Ho; Prayad Marksaeng and Thongchai Jaidee of Thailand; Japan's Hideto Tanihara, Toru Taniguchi, and teenager Ryo Ishikawa; and Liang Wenchong of China.

The third edition of the Royal Trophy, sanctioned by the Asian, Japan and European Tours, will be held at Bangkok's Amata Spring Country Club.

Europe won the first two Trophies in 2006 and 2007, while the 2008 competition was postponed in January due to a 100-day period of national mourning for the sister of the King of Thailand, who donated the trophy.