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Larrazabal and Olesen get EurAsia Cup callup

Larrazabal and Olesen get EurAsia Cup callup

Paris (AFP) - European team captain Miguel Angel Jimenez has chosen Pablo Larrazabal and Thorbjorn Olesen as his two wildcard picks for the side to take on Asia in next month's EurAsia Cup.

The Spaniard and the Dane will join the eight automatic qualifiers as the Europeans take on an Asian Team led by Thailand?s Thongchai Jaidee at the Glenmarie Golf and Country Club in Kuala Lumpur from March 27-29.

Larrazabal impressed Jimenez with his big win at the start of the 2014 season in Abu Dhabi, topping a field that also included Rory McIlroy and Phil Mickelson.

"I am very happy to accept Miguel's invitation," said the 30-year-old from Barcelona. ?It will be a great experience to play for Europe and to try to win the first EurAsia Cup," he said.

"I 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 Miguel?s faith in me."

Olesen played alongside Jimenez 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 earned a tie for third spot the previous week at the Qatar Masters.

"I 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," said Olesen.

"It?s 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 (Bjorn) will definitely help me."

Larrazabal and Olesen join Thomas Bjorn, Jamie Donaldson, Victor Dubuisson, Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano, Stephen Gallacher, Joost Luiten, Graeme McDowell and playing captain Jimenez himself, in the European team.

?I am delighted that both Pablo and Thorbjorn have accepted the chance to join the team,? said Jimenez. ?They are both extremely talented players and they will definitely bring excitement and flair to the match," Jimenez said.

?Both boys have made great starts to 2014. Pablo's victory in Abu Dhabi was very impressive. To shoot 67 in the final to hold off players like McIlroy and Mickelson was a fantastic achievement and shows the quality he has."