Now, get set for more pizzazz and action on the turf this December in Thailand. A new Ryder Cup-style tournament. A new Ryder Cup-style event featuring the top male and female professional and amateur players of Thailand and Japan will be held in December, organisers said.

 

 

 

 

The inaugural Amata Friendship Cup will take place at Amata Spring Country Club, Chon Buri from Dec 21-23, Arsa Sarasin, chairman of the tournament committee and the board of the club, said at a press conference.

 

 

The Thai team will be captained by Boonchu Ruangkit and Virada Nirapathpongporn and the Japanese side will be led by Naomichi ‘Joe’ Ozaki and Miho Koga.

 

 

Each team will have 12 players and the two sides will ensure that they battle it out unveiled some of their team members. The Thai players are Kiradech Aphibarnrat, Thongchai Jaidee, Ariya Jutanugarn and her sister Moriya, Pornanong Phatlum and amateur Atthaya Thitikul. They will face the likes of Satoshi Kodaira, Nasa Hataoka, Ryuko Tokimatsu, Kodai Ichihara and Hideto Tanihara.

 

 

 

 

Boonchu, one of the most respected golfers in Asia said: "This is one of the proudest days of my career and one I believe will have a great impact for golf, bringing together mixed teams in this nation bringing together mixed teams in this nation versus nation team format."

 

 

Former LPGA star Virada said, “We have some of the most exciting players on all tours around the world right now and to bring them together as one team will be something every golf and sports fan in Thailand and Japan will love seeing.”

 

 

Ozaki, a 32-time winner on the Japan Golf Tour, said his team is ready for the exciting challenge. "We will be doing all we can to do our country proud and put up a strong performance," said he.