Europe have won three of the four Royal Trophy events held so far

Colin Montgomerie's Europe held off a strong fightback to beat Asia 8½-7½ and regain the Royal Trophy in Thailand.

Asia began Sunday's concluding singles one point adrift but took 3½ points from the first five matches to surge ahead at the Amata Spring Country Club.

Pablo Martin and Soren Kjeldsen won for Europe to take it to the final match.

Asia's Thongchai Jaidee had a 15-footer on the last to win his game and force a play-off but missed and Henrik Stenson holed to capture the winning halve.

It was a fine start to 2010 for Montgomerie, whose European team face the USA in the Ryder Cup at Celtic Manor, Wales from 1-3 October.

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"I said at the start of the week the competition would be close," said captain Montgomerie, who for the first time in the tournament's history included himself as a player.

The 46-year-old Scot lost his opening foursomes match with Pablo Martin, but then partnered Simon Dyson to win 4&3 on Saturday and halved his singles with Liang Wenchong.

Jaidee's putt for a par on the 18th stayed on the lip and Sweden's Stenson kept his composure to make his par and secure the tournament, holing from seven feet.

"It was fitting that in the fourth edition of the tournament it came down to the last match, last green and last putt," Montgomerie said.

It was Europe's third victory out of four events in the Royal Trophy, which was first staged in 2006 when Seve Ballesteros was their captain.

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