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**truebluefan** · 02-17-2008, 11:59 PM

Discuss in here.

**truebluefan** · 03-07-2008, 01:09 AM

Tiger tamer Yang Yong-eun and US PGA Tour ace Chris DiMarco have been added to the stellar field for next month’s history-making Ballantine's Championship.

They will be joined in the €2 million (US$2.9 million) showpiece - the first Asian Tour and European Tour event to be held in Korea - by Ryder Cup stars Thomas Björn and Paul McGinley.

Yang became a national hero in his native Korea when he claimed a stunning victory ahead of world No.1 Tiger Woods in the HSBC Champions in Shanghai 15 months ago.

Now he will be aiming to claim some more notable scalps when the inaugural Ballantine's Championship is staged on March 13-16 at Pinx Golf Club on the picturesque island of Jeju.

The tournament is being headlined by Korean sporting idol and world No.8 Choi Kyung-ju, British Open champion Padraig Harrington of Ireland and World Cup-winning Scot Colin Montgomerie.

Yang, 36, will be hoping for a happy return to Jeju, the island where he was born.

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**truebluefan** · 03-07-2008, 01:10 AM

Homegrown hero KJ Choi, Open Champion Padraig Harrington and Omega Mission Hills World Cup winner Colin Montgomerie will headline a stellar field at the inaugural Ballantine's Championship at Pinx GC, Korea, from March 13-16.

The illustrious trio will be joined in the €2 million showpiece by fast-rising American-Korean star Anthony Kim and newly crowned Asian Tour Order of Merit winner, Liang Wen-chong.

The Ballantine's Championship, which will be held on the picturesque island of Jeju, is the first European Tour event to be held in Korea and is co-sanctioned by the Asian Tour and the Korea PGA.

Korean star Choi - who won the Sony Open in Hawaii on Sunday for his seventh US PGA Tour victory - is relishing what promises to be a special homecoming.

"As someone who cares passionately about Korean golf I'm delighted that the European Tour is coming to my country for the first time," said Choi, the highest ranked Asian in the world at Number Seven.

"The Ballantine's Championship will be a huge boost to golf in Korea and I'm very happy to be playing in the inaugural tournament. It will be an emotional experience for me to be teeing off in front of the Korean fans and they can rest assured I'll be doing my very best to produce a home win," added 36 year old Choi.

Complete article

**truebluefan** · 03-07-2008, 01:10 AM

Two time Major winner Sandy Lyle has agreed to be the Official Ambassador for the inaugural Ballantine’s Championship – the first European Tour event to be held in Korea.

As well as taking his place in the star-studded field the Scot, who turned 50 earlier this month, will host the opening ceremony, meet VIP guests and act as global representative for the history-making tournament.

The Ballantine's Championship - co-sanctioned by The European Tour, the Asian Tours and the Korean PGA - will be staged at Pinx Golf Club on the picturesque island of Jeju from March 13-16.

"I'm delighted to have been invited by Ballantine's to play in this historic first European Tour event in Korea and I'm going to relish playing at Pinx Golf Club for the first time," said Lyle.

"I'm especially looking forward to working closely with Ballantine's, both before and during the tournament, to help ensure that the inaugural Ballantine's Championship is an outstanding success.

"I think it is fantastic news that Ballantine's is making this major commitment to the sport and I'm pleased to be involved, both on and off the course, in what is a momentous event for both The European Tour and golf in Korea."

The Ballantine's Championship will feature a star-studded field, headlined by Korean sporting idol and World Number Six KJ Choi, Open Champion Padraig Harrington of Ireland and World Cup-winning Scot Colin Montgomerie.

They will be joined by US PGA Tour stars Chris DiMarco and Anthony Kim and Ryder Cup duo Thomas Björn of Denmark and Paul McGinley of Ireland.

Korean pair Yang Yong Eun and SK Ho are also in the line-up together with Asian Tour Order of Merit champion and European Tour Member Liang Wen-chong of China.

**truebluefan** · 03-07-2008, 01:11 AM

Korea’s SK Ho has given his approval to the venue for next week’s Ballantine’s Championship, describing Pinx Golf Club on the island of Jeju as “terrific”.

Major renovations have been made to the Club’s tournament course, which will host the inaugural Ballantine’s Championship from March 13-16 – the first time Korea has staged a European Tour event.

Designers have lengthened the course by 342 yards and made significant alterations to bunkers on 16 holes, six of which have been given added protection with new trees.

Ho recently played the modified 7,345 yards, par 72 course for the first time, and was evidently impressed with what he witnessed.

He said: “I think it’s terrific. I’ve played a lot of international golf, and Pinx Golf Club compares with some of the best courses I’ve seen. It will provide a fantastic setting for an international competition.

“It’s certainly much more difficult now, and the additional obstacles mean players are going to have to think more before playing their shots.

“There are a lot more bunkers than before, especially around the greens. Approach shots are much tougher now.”

Adding to the challenge is Pinx’s geographical location, meaning the players may have to contend with blustery conditions.

Ho, nine times a winner on the Japan Golf Tour, believes the wind could play a major part in determining the eventual winner.

He said: “Players from The European Tour are familiar with windy conditions, and I think one of them will have a good chance if it is blowing next week.”

Lining up alongside Ho in the Ballantine’s Championship are home favourite and World Number Six KJ Choi, reigning British Open champion Padraig Harrington and Omega Mission Hills World Cup winner Colin Montgomerie.

They will be joined by US PGA Tour stars Chris DiMarco and Anthony Kim, and Ryder Cup duo Thomas Björn and Paul McGinley.

Dual Major winner Sandy Lyle, who this season will compete on the European Seniors Tour for the first time after turning 50 last month, will appear as the tournament’s official ambassador.

**truebluefan** · 03-14-2008, 08:39 PM

Open Champion Padraig Harrington, Korea’s most successful player, KJ Choi and American Chris DiMarco provide a potent international flavour to the inaugural Ballantine’s Championship at Pinx Golf Club on the picturesque Korean island of Jeju this week.

Harrington, who joined golf’s elite with his victory at Carnoustie last July, makes his third start of 2008 in the €2,000,000 tournament, sanctioned by The European Tour, Asian Tour and Korean PGA, bringing to 38 the number of destinations to have hosted events on The European Tour International Schedule.

Choi will carry the principal hopes of his countrymen as the fifth ranked player in the world – five places above Harrington – and he arrives in his homeland with a seventh US PGA Tour victory under his belt after winning the Sony Open in Hawaii earlier this year.

Harrington, who enjoyed a lengthy winter break following the birth of his second child in November, finished fifth in the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship and went out of the WGC-Accenture Match Play in the second round. This will be his third start on The European Tour in 2008 and the Irishman will be looking for signs that he is running into form in time for the Masters Tournament next month.

Complete article

**truebluefan** · 03-14-2008, 08:40 PM

Anthony Kim’s Korean heritage will be uppermost in his mind when he attempts to deliver a standout performance in this week’s Ballantine’s Championship.

The Californian will be competing in Korea – the country of his parents’ birth – for the first time when the €2m tournament gets underway this Thursday at Pinx Golf Club, on the picturesque island of Jeju.

He said: “I think the biggest pressure I feel comes with my parents being from here, and me being a Korean-American.

“It’s important for me to play well here, because of my heritage. It’s a big deal for me to come out here. I took a 15 hour flight and time off from the US PGA Tour, so it means a lot to me to do well this week. Hopefully I’ll be able to make some birdies, and make the Korean people proud of me.”

The 22 year old is one of the game’s brightest young talents, having recorded six top 10 finishes

Complete article

**truebluefan** · 03-14-2008, 08:41 PM

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.”

Complete article

**truebluefan** · 03-14-2008, 08:42 PM

Chris DiMarco is hoping that his lucky charm, his wife Amy, can signal a return to form and carry him to success at the Ballantine’s Championship in Korea.

The American Ryder Cup player arrived on the beautiful island of Jeju in Korea with his wife set to resume the caddieing duties that helped the 39 year old to his last tournament victory at the 2006 Abu Dhabi Golf Championship on The European Tour International Schedule.

By his own admission, DiMarco has been struggling to recapture the fitness and form that made him one of golf’s fiercest competitors since a skiing accident last season sparked a series of injuries that have hampered his game for the last six months.

But the American, three times a winner in his homeland, is hoping that, with Amy carrying his bag, and a change of scenery from the US PGA Tour, can spark a revival in form to propel him back up the World Rankings and into contention for a place on The USA’s 2008 Ryder Cup Team.

“Amy caddied for me many years ago before we had kids and then she was on the bag for me in Abu Dhabi which I won in 2006 and then again in 2007 when we were fourth, so she is a very lucky charm and I think I will need that luck this week!” smiled DiMarco at his press conference at the Pinx Golf Club.

Complete article

**truebluefan** · 03-14-2008, 08:42 PM

K.J Choi will be relying upon the single-minded focus that has elevated the Korean to Number Five on the Official World Golf Ranking to bring success in his homeland at the Ballantine’s Championship.

Choi, the highest ranked player in the field at the Pinx Golf Club and a true superstar in his homeland, is the favourite to win the inaugural Ballantine’s Championship, but he will meet strong resistance from the likes of Open Champion Padraig Harrington, PGA Tour stars Chris DiMarco and Anthony Kim as well as his compatriots Yang Yong Eun and SK Ho.

Not that any of those names bother the 37 year old Choi, who will focus purely on his own game when he tees off alongside DiMarco and Kim on Thursday.

“If all the players are out there worried about whether the other guy is going to be playing better than him, I think that's the wrong approach,” said Choi.

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