Asia win Royal Trophy

Asia won the Royal Trophy by the tightest of margins on Sunday, edging Europe in a sudden death play-off to complete a stunning comeback in the team match play competition after the contest had finished level at 8-8.

South Korean Kim Kyung-tae rolled in a 15-foot birdie putt on the 18th, the first play-off hole, as he and compatriot Yang Yong-eun saw off Belgian Nicolas Colsaerts and Francesco Molinari of Italy in the fourball decider.

Asia's second win in the sixth edition of the annual contest loosely based on the Ryder Cup model then drew a ‘Gangnam Style’ celebratory dance from Japanese captain Joe Ozaki.

The narrow defeat capped a disappointing day for Ozaki's opposite number Jose Maria Olazabal, the Spaniard forced to pull out of his singles match before a ball was hit on Sunday because of a neck injury.

With Olazabal's withdrawal, each side added half a point to their overnight tally to leave the scores at 5-4 in Europe's favour. Europe seemed on course for victory on Sunday but Jeev Milkha Singh, who celebrated his 41st birthday on Saturday, rolled in two long putts on 16 and 17 to head down the last 1-up on Miguel Angel Jimenez.

The Indian kept his nerve to get up and down for a par on the last after missing the green to record the narrow victory and tie the scores at 7-7. Asia then went ahead 8-7 as Yang beat Francesco Molinari, but Henrik Stenson ensured a play-off would be required, edging Ryo Ishikawa.