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Published on January 23, 2008

The third edition of the Royal Trophy had been slated to take place January 9-11 at the Amata Spring Country Club in Bangkok. Organisers earlier announced that the event had been postponed out of respect to the princess, but a statement Tuesday said there would be no tournament this year.

"The third edition of the Royal Trophy has been scheduled for January 9-11, 2009," the statement said.

As planned for this year's event, Spanish golfing great Seve Ballesteros will captain the European team while Japan's Joe Ozaki will lead the Asian side.

"I believe the Royal Trophy will play a similar role for Asian golf to that which the Ryder Cup played for our sport in Europe. The Royal Trophy will become one of the world's great sporting competitions," Ballesteros said. The Europeans won the Royal Trophy in its first two years.

Prior to the first staging of the championship five-time major winner Ballesteros requested the blessing from His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand, the world's longest reigning Monarch, for the holding of the historic matches in Thailand.

In a most gracious act, His Majesty the King not only welcomed the event to the Kingdom but also donated a 16kg solid-silver trophy - stewardship of which would become the principal award.

Agencies

The Nation