Colin Montgomerie will captain another European side when the Royal Trophy gets under way in Thailand on Friday.
But Montgomerie, who led Europe to a thrilling Ryder Cup victory over the United States at The Celtic Manor Resort in October, will also be a player this time as Europe take on the Asian Team led by Joe Ozaki.
The fifth edition of the team contest will take place at Black Mountain Golf Club in Thailand, with Europe looking for a fourth victory.
After Asia's first victory by four points in 2009, Montgomerie captained Europe to a one-point win last year, the same margin of victory at Celtic Manor.
Ryder Cup vice-captain Thomas Bjorn and assistant Rhys Davies will be reunited with Montgomerie, who can also call upon the services of Swedish trio Henrik Stenson, Peter Hanson and Johan Edfors, Italian prodigy Matteo Manassero and Spain's Pablo Martin.
Stenson missed out on a third Ryder Cup in 2010 after a poor season by his standards, but has gladly swapped a snow plough for a golf buggy in Thailand.
The 34 year old was greeted on site by team-mate Edfors, who bought a villa overlooking the course after winning the Black Mountain Masters in 2009.
Stenson said: "Johan took great delight in telling me that while I was freezing back home in Sweden, the temperatures climbed as high as 32 degrees above.
"This time last week I was driving a snow plough, because there was at least half a metre of snow everywhere, and it was twice as deep in places.
"Now all I want to do is drive a golf ball, and enjoy this great weather. While I was at home we went skiing and had snowball fights.
"I feel happy and refreshed after my break and I cannot wait to get started."
Ozaki is a non-playing captain of the Asian team, which features teenage star Ryo Ishikawa, Thailand's Thongchai Jaidee, India's Jeev Milkha Singh, China’s Liang Wen-chong and the new Asian Tour Number One, Noh Seung-yul, the talented 19 year old South Korean who won the co-sanctioned Maybank Malaysian Open last year.
Friday and Saturday will feature four foursomes matches, with eight singles deciding the outcome on Sunday.
