COLIN Montgomerie highlighted the importance of Europe making a winning start to a Ryder Cup year as he led his continent to victory over Asia to reclaim the Royal Trophy.

The Scot, standing in for Seve Ballesteros as the Spaniard continues his recovery from brain surgery, assembled a team consisting of youth and experience for the tournament at Amata Spring Country Club as they looked to claim a third victory after losing 10-6 to Asia last year.

The hosts came out on top in the opening day’s foursomes but Europe rallied in the four-balls to take a onepoint lead into the singles.

A determined Asia were not going to relinquish the trophy lightly, and threatened to force a first play-off at the tournament as they trailed by just one point with one match remaining.

But, after Thailand’s Thongchai Jaidee bogeyed the last, Swede Henrik Stenson kept his cool to make par from six feet to halve the match and secure an 8½-7½ win.

‘‘It was an honour to captain the team,’’ said Montgomerie.

‘‘We came here with a strong team and it was very, very close.

‘‘All credit to my team for fighting. They all contributed at least a point.

‘‘It is a very important year for European golf and this has been a good start for us and we hope to build on this throughout the year.’’ Montgomerie had opted to include himself as a player as well as captaining the team in order to get a closer look at potential picks for his Ryder Cup team in October.

The eight-time Order of Merit winner certainly played his part in the victory as he drew upon his vast experience of matchplay golf to keep his cool against Liang Wenchong, matching the Chinese number one’s birdie on the last to ensure the game finished all square.

Koumei Oda claimed an unexpected point for the hosts with a dominant 5&3 win over Alexander Noren before Jeev Milkha Singh defeated Sweden’s Robert Karlsson 2&1.

But wins for Peter Hanson, Pablo Martin and Soren Kjeldsen meant it was down to the final match between Stenson and Thongchai to determine the outcome.

Stenson was three down after nine holes but the world number seven battled back to level matters with three holes remaining.

However, a play-off seemed certain when Asia number one Thongchai coolly sank a birdie putt from eight feet on the 17th to go one up.

The Thai’s putt for par on the last shaved the lip before Stenson holed from seven feet to make par and secure the victory for Europe.