Jeev Milkha Singh and Gaganjeet Bhullar were outplayed 4 and 3 by Colin Montgomerie and Simon Dyson in fourball as Europe stormed back into lead in the annual Royal Trophy.
Europe won three of the four matches in fourballs on the second day and took the lead 4 ½ to 3 ½ after Asia had taken a one point lead at 2 ½ to 1 ½ on the first day. The eight singles matches will be held on Sunday.
Jeev and Bhullar, who played splendidly on the first day to halve their match with Peter Hanson and Soren Kjeldsen, were unable to replicate the same form. Montgomerie and Dyson, who had lost their respective matches in foursomes on Friday, were in superb form.
Montgomerie said: “Both teams were evenly matched, and we look forward to a great day’s singles. The weather is set fair, and the crowds have been super, very sportive of both teams, so there is plenty to look forward to.”
On his match against the Indians, he added: “We kept both balls in play, and that was key. We hardly missed a fairway between us, and that’s why we came out victorious.”
{{/usCountry}}On his match against the Indians, he added: “We kept both balls in play, and that was key. We hardly missed a fairway between us, and that’s why we came out victorious.”
{{/usCountry}}Dyson said, “I chipped in twice, and my short game has been very good. Even when I lost in the foursomes I was playing alright, and my chipping was good.”
At no stage was European pair in trouble. They went one-up with a Dyson birdie on third and both birdied the fifth, as the Indians managed only pars. On the sixth, Montgomerie birdied and they were three-up.
On the back nine, the Indian pair fought back. Both birdied the tenth and then Bhullar had a birdie on 11th as the lead was brought down to one-up. But from the 12th to 14th, Dyson had three birdies in a row and Montgomerie birdied the 12th and 14th and they ran up a 4-up lead. The two teams halved the 15th hole and won the match four up, with three holes to go and win the first full point of the second day.
Charlie Wi and Liang wen-chong gave Asia a huge 5-up win to win a full point and give Asia the lead. But a little later, Robert Karlsson and Alexander Noren outplayed Ryo Ishikawa and Koumei Oda to ensure Europe were on the right track.