GOLF - ROYAL TROPHY: Jose Maria Olazabal has called for a "special" performance as his European team seek to overturn a five-point deficit to defeat Asia and extend their 100 per cent record in The Royal Trophy.
Joe Ozaki's team won three and halved one of today's fourball contests to take a 6.5-1.5 lead ahead of tomorrow's eight singles matches.
But matchplay maestro Olazabal insists his European side can prevent Asia from claiming the two points they require to win the Ryder Cup-style event for the first time at Amata Spring Country Club near Bangkok.
"It's going to be very, very difficult - we're going to have to do something really special tomorrow," said the Spaniard, who won 11 and halved two of 15 Ryder Cup matches playing alongside close friend and compatriot Seve Ballesteros.
"But I believe any of the players in the European team can beat any of the players in the Asian team, I truly believe that.
"We still have a chance, even though it's a slim one."
Olazabal - tipped as a future Ryder Cup captain - succeeded Ballesteros at the helm of the European team after the victorious 2006 and 2007 skipper underwent surgery on a brain tumour.
The 42-year-old hopes to wrest the initiative from the hosts in the early singles contests and has opted to put his form players - Denmark's Soren Hansen and Scotland's Paul Lawrie - out first.
"We need to get as many points as possible and we need to get them quickly," added Olazabal.
"We have a tough task ahead of us, so we need to get out there and get a lot of blue numbers on the board as quickly as possible."
Hansen and Lawrie were the only Europeans to register on the scoreboard in the best-ball format on a red-letter day for Asia.
The pair, who picked up Europe's sole victory in the opening day's foursomes, were ahead for much of their match with Toru Taniguchi and Ryo Ishikawa but the Japanese duo fought back for a half.
The red of the hosts dominated the scoreboard in the other three contests, with Liang Wen-chong and Charlie Wi leading from the first hole in the 3 and 2 defeat of English pair Nick Dougherty and Oliver Wilson.
Hideto Tanihara and SK Ho secured a 2 and 1 triumph over Swedish pair Niclas Fasth and Johan Edfors in the third contest, while Thai duo Thongchai Jaidee and Prayad Marksaeng led throughout their 4 and 2 win over Spain's Pablo Larrazabal and Ireland's Paul McGinley.
McGinley and Larrazabal were three down after four holes and reduced the arrears to one after 11.
But Thongchai and Prayad, buoyed by a partisan support, claimed three birdies in the next five holes to win.
McGinley rued the performances on the greens but is determined Europe can bounce back.
"There's no excuse. We haven't putted well enough and we need to raise the bar," said the 42-year-old, who sank the winning putt at the 2002 Ryder Cup.
"We proved in the Ryder Cup in the past when things are going well and you have the lead, the putts tend to go in - the Asia team have had momentum the whole week and they've been feeding off that.
"If we're going to win this tomorrow we're going to have to start at the top.
"If we can get the momentum, that can ripple down the team as has been proved in the past."
Ozaki, who was on the wrong end of a 12.5-3.5 drubbing in the last edition of The Royal Trophy in 2007, was thrilled to be on the verge of a maiden triumph.
And he urged his team to play with the same positive mentality in the singles format.
"I feel like dancing," the Japanese said. "I'm feeling very happy right now.
"I am very happy with the situation, but you never know what can happen in golf.
"Tomorrow morning I will speak to each of my players to keep the momentum for the final round.
"I want my team to continue to play aggressively tomorrow."
Hansen will meet Ishikawa - the 17-year-old world number 60 - in the opening singles contest, with Lawrie playing Liang in the second match.
Dougherty will play Wi, Larrazabal will battle Prayad and Wilson will meet Tanihara.
Edfors, Fasth and McGinley will complete the singles matches against Ho, Taniguchi and Thongchai, respectively.
