Pablo Larrazåbal (left) and Thorbjørn Olesen complete the European Team in the EurAsia CUP.
MIGUEL ANGEL JIMĂNEZ has selected Pablo LarrazĂĄbal and Thorbjørn Olesen as his two captainâs Picks to complete the European Team for next monthâs EurAsia CUP.
The Spaniard and the Dane will join the eight automatic qualifiers as Europe face up to an Asian Team led by Thailandâs Thongchai Jaidee at the Glenmarie Golf and Country Club in Kuala Lumpur from March 27-29.
LarrazĂĄbal, who made a winning start to 2014 with victory in the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship over a high quality field which included Rory McIlroy and Phil Mickelson, was delighted to receive a call-up from his fellow countryman.
âI am very happy to accept Miguelâs invitation,â said the 30-year-old from Barcelona. âIt will be a great experience to play for Europe and to try to win the first EurAsia Cup presented by DRB â HICOM.
âI made a great start to the season with the win in Abu Dhabi, but I still had to be picked for the team so I hope to bring my best form to Malaysia and repay Miguelâs faith in me.â
Olesen played alongside JimĂŠnez for the first two rounds of the Dubai Desert Classic three weeks ago and the 24 year old clearly impressed en route to a fifth place finish, having finished in a tie for third spot the previous week at the Qatar Masters.
âI had an idea that Miguel was thinking of picking me because we spoke about it in Dubai, but you never know how these things are going to go until you receive the call so I was obviously delighted when the phone rang,â said Olesen.
âItâs great to know that someone like Miguel thinks I can bring something to his team and I am looking forward to getting out there. Being part of the winning Seve Trophy team last year alongside guys like Miguel and Thomas (BjĂśrn) will definitely help me.â
LarrazĂĄbal and Olesen join Thomas BjĂśrn, Jamie Donaldson, Victor Dubuisson, Gonzalo Fernandez CastaĂąo, Stephen Gallacher, Joost Luiten, Graeme McDowell and playing captain JimĂŠnez himself, to form a formidable European team.
âI am delighted that both Pablo and Thorbjørn have accepted the chance to join the team,â said JimĂŠnez. âThey are both extremely talented players and they will definitely bring excitement and flair to the match.
âNow that my team is complete I am very happy. I have a very strong group of players and a very good mix of youth and experience. It will be very tough to go to Malaysia and win because the Asian team is also very strong, but I believe if my players play to their abilities then Europe can triumph.â