Royal Trophy postponed for mourning in Thailand

BANGKOK, Thailand -- The Royal Trophy team golf event between Europe and Asia has been indefinitely postponed due to the host nation Thailand mourning the death of Princess Galyani Vadhana, the Asian Tour said Thursday.

The Ryder Cup-style event was originally to be held in Chonburi, southeast of Bangkok, from Jan. 11.

The Princess, elder sister of King Bhumibol Adulyadej, died on Wednesday aged 84, and the nation was observing a 15-day mourning period during which sporting events and festivities were to be suspended.

The Asian Tour said in a statement that the event would be "rescheduled at a later date."

The European team was to have included David Howell, Darren Clarke, Paul McGinley, Lee Westwood and Robert Karlsson.

This year's event was to be the third Royal Trophy, with Europe having won the first two.