BANGKOK (AFP) - Asia are ready to unleash their secret weapon on the European team when the Royal Trophy tees off Friday.

Teenager Ryo Ishikawa, the "Shy Prince" of Japanese golf, will be playing his first big event outside his home country, where he has taken the game by storm with two victories in 18 months.

The Europeans know the strengths of most of the Asian players as they compete regularly around the world but they have little idea what to expect from the phenomenally talented Ishikawa.

He stunned Japan golf by winning a professional tournament in 2007 as a 15-year-old schoolboy and followed with another victory on the Japan Tour after turning professional last year.

His triumph in the 2007 Munsingwear Open KSB Cup at 15 years and eight months old made him the youngest winner on the Japan Tour, shattering the previous record held by Spain's Seve Ballesteros, who won the 1977 Japan Open aged 20 years and seven months.

Ballesteros is the creator of the Royal Trophy clash between Europe and Asia but has handed the European captaincy to good friend and former Ryder Cup partner Jose Maria Olazabal as he recovers in Spain from brain surgery.

Ishikawa said he was thrilled to be chosen to play for Asia at such a young age.

"I am very excited about the prospect of playing for Asia," said Ishikawa, who is ranked 60th in the world.

"I am really looking forward to working together with my team-mates to deliver the best result for Asia. I am also looking forward to learning from the experience of playing side by side with such experienced players."

Ishikawa's quiet manner and film-star good looks have earned him the nickname "Shy Prince" in Japan, where huge galleries follow him at every tournament he plays.

A small army of Japanese media has descended on the Royal Trophy to document every move of the 17-year-old sensation, who has single-handedly revived the fortunes of the Japan Tour.

It is likely that Asian team captain Naomichi "Joe" Ozaki will partner Ishikawa with fellow Japanese Toru Taniguchi, a former number one on the local circuit, or eight-time winner Hideto Tanihara.

Matchplay specialist Paul McGinley of Ireland said that Europe would not be taking any of the Asian players lightly.

"I think we have a very strong team but at the same time the last thing we will do is underestimate this Asian team," said McGinley, who has yet to taste defeat in three Ryder Cup and two Royal Trophy appearances.

"We play regularly with these Asian players on the European Tour and we treat them with a lot of respect -- we know how good they are. If we are going to win this week we will have to play very well."

Europe are looking for a hat-trick of wins in the Ryder Cup-style tournament that features foursomes on the opening day, fourballs Saturday and singles Sunday at the exclusive Amata Spring Country Club.

Teams:

Asia: Ryo Ishikawa (Japan), Hideto Tanihara (Japan), Toru Taniguchi (Japan), Prayad Marksaeng (Thailand), Thongchai Jaidee (Thailand), S.K. Ho (South Korea), Charlie Wi (South Korea) and Liang Wen-chong (China)

Europe: Oliver Wilson (England), Nick Dougherty (England), Niclas Fasth (Sweden), Johan Edfors (Sweden), Paul Lawrie (Scotland), Soren Hansen (Denmark), Paul McGinley (Ireland) and Pablo Larrazabal (Spain)