Open champion Padraig Harrington is anticipating a strong challenge from the home contingent at the inaugural Ballantine’s Championship, which starts this Thursday at Pinx Golf Club on the island of Jeju.
The Irishman is one of the leading contenders at the €2 million showpiece, the first European Tour event to be held in Korea.
World Number Five KJ Choi, Yang Yong Eun and SK Ho will mount a powerful challenge on behalf of the host nation, whilst emerging American talent Anthony Kim – whose parents were born in Korea – is another strong contender.
Harrington said: “I’m not familiar with all the local Korean players, but obviously KJ [Choi] and Anthony [Kim] and a few others are very strong. Ballantine’s has put such a great field together. This is the first time The European Tour has been here, so the Korean players are going to be up for it this week – no question. I would expect to see both KJ and Anthony thereabouts on Sunday, and hopefully I’ll be up there fighting it out with them.”
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