Ernie Els is hoping to blow away his rivals at the forthcoming Ballantine’s Championship in Korea.

The three-time Major winner is aware of the windy conditions that are likely to prevail at the €2.1 million showpiece and is aiming to turn the situation to his advantage.

“The course will play tough for everybody no matter the conditions,” says the South African superstar.

“But I’ve played in many Open Championships [British Opens] over the years, having been a professional for 20 years, so strong winds are no stranger.  Hopefully my game will allow me to adapt to whatever the weather does.”

Els has played in Korea before but will be making his first visit to the picturesque holiday island of Jeju, where the Ballantine’s Championship will be staged at Pinx Golf Club from April 23-26.

“I played in Seoul in 2005 and we played a wonderful course which was set up really tough, quite like a US Open layout with very high and thick rough,” he says. “I had such a good time in Korea that I’m really looking forward to returning.

“It’ll be my first visit to Jeju, but I’ve heard so many good things about it, particularly from the players who played in the Ballantine’s Championship last year. They all thoroughly enjoyed the experience.”

Joining Els in the stellar line-up for this year’s tournament will be World No.6 Henrik Stenson of Sweden and England’s Lee Westwood, the World No.12.

Northern Ireland’s Graeme McDowell, winner of last year’s inaugural Ballantine’s Championship at Pinx, will be back to defend his title while Scottish great Colin Montgomerie, Europe’s newly appointed Ryder Cup captain, has also been confirmed.

Smooth-swinging former Masters champion Fred Couples – a golfing icon in Korea – is also in the impressive field. The evergreen American recently showed he has lost none of his touch with a joint-third finish at the Northern Trust Open in California.

Els is relishing the challenge. “I’m looking forward to the tournament because I always enjoy playing against the world’s best players,” he says.

“I know it’s going to be tough in Korea, particularly because of the strength of the field, but that’s why we play the game.”

He also believes the Asian contingent at Pinx will be a force and pays tribute to the growing strength of golf in the region.

“I’ve been playing in Asia since 1992 and I have seen the game and its players develop enormously in that time. There are many Asian players throughout the world and the growth of the game, particularly in India, has been incredible. The world knows all about the strength of women’s golf in Korea and now the men are coming through with a lot more to follow.”

Els has a record that marks him down as one of the all-time greats of the game.

Apart from his three Majors – the US Open in 1994 and 1997 and the British Open in 2002 – he has won an astonishing seven World Match Play Championship titles, twice finished on top of the European Tour Order of Merit and has triumphed 16 times on the PGA Tour.

Approaching his 40th birthday later this year, Els feels he still has more Major successes in him.

“I just want to play as good as I can and hopefully complete the Grand Slam,” he reveals. “To do that I will have to win the Masters and PGA Championship before I retire. That’s the aim.

“My goals this year are just to play good golf, good enough to win me more tournaments and particularly Majors.”

Els has more than 50 victories worldwide to his name and credits his globe-trotting career – including regular visits to Asia – for making him a better player.

He thinks it is something his fellow professionals, especially those based in the United States, should try to emulate.

“The PGA Tour is wonderful and we play in a lot of different conditions, but to see the world and promote the game is important. It’s something more players should try to experience,” he insists.

“My travels have helped my game through having to adapt to different circumstances, courses and climates.”

Els’ plans for a successful year include a strong showing at the Ballantine’s Championship – once again co-sanctioned by the European and Asian Tours and Korea PGA – and he is aiming to put on a show for his many fans in Korea.

“I’m extremely happy that I have a following there and I’m looking forward to giving them something to remember on Jeju Island,” he says.

“I’m very excited about my visit and I’m sure I’ll enjoy every minute.”

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Released on behalf of the Ballantine’s Championship by Two Up Front - Asia’s sports PR specialists.

Korea’s rising stars will be ready to take on the world’s best when the golf-mad nation hosts the second Ballantine’s Championship.

The €2.1 million showpiece represents the perfect chance for Korean players to showcase their skills on the big stage.

The country’s golf has never been stronger – seven of Asia’s top 20 players in the Official World Golf Rankings are from Korea and the country provided four different winners on the Asian Tour last year.

And that means hopes will be high for a home success when the Ballantine’s Championship – co-sanctioned by the Asian and European Tours and the Korea PGA – is held at Pinx Golf Club on Jeju island from April 23-26.

Korea’s growing presence on the international golf scene is a source of pride for the Korea PGA, which runs a burgeoning, ultra-competitive domestic tour where players cut their teeth before graduating to the international game.

“The Korean Tour has grown to about 20 tournaments a year and has been hugely instrumental in helping players to improve their skills and confidence,” reveals KPGA general manager Park Ho Yoon.

“The result is that we have many young and talented Korean players who have been playing from an early age and have been trained in well-structured and systematic programmes.

“They also have a tremendous work ethic. They practice hard to reach their goals and are keen to play overseas. They want to reach the international tours.”

The KPGA has an impressive 4,753 professional players on its books – a figure comprising 870 full-time pros, 3,401 semi-pros and 482 teaching pros.

And the next generation is already on its way, with 2,786 players – almost a third of them female – registered with the Korean Junior Golfers’ Association.

Staging an event like the Ballantine’s Championship – which last year became the first European Tour event to be held in Korea – helps swell these numbers as Korea hosts some of the world’s top players.

Already confirmed for the 2009 tournament are three-time Major winner Ernie Els, world No.6 Henrik Stenson, world No.12 Lee Westwood and defending champion Graeme McDowell.

Europe’s newly appointed Ryder Cup captain, Colin Montgomerie – the most prolific British winner on the European Tour with an astonishing 31 titles – is also in the line-up together with former Masters champion Fred Couples.

The Ballantine’s Championship represents a unique chance for Korea’s homegrown players to compete against the world’s elite, with at least 30 starting slots in the full field of 156 reserved for KPGA players – an increase from last year’s figure of 25.

With proven Korean winners on the Asian Tour and a large KPGA contingent teeing off at Pinx, fans will have plenty of chance to cheer their homegrown heroes during the week.

Asian Tour executive chairman Kyi Hla Han is upbeat about the chances of a home victory.

“Last year was tremendous for Korean golf as Mo Joong Kyung, Bae Sang Moon, Hwang Inn Choon and Noh Seung Yul won titles on the Asian Tour, which is a great reflection of the growing standard of golf in Korea,” says Han.

“The playing opportunities that the Asian Tour has created have inevitably helped give them an edge and it will be a great story if one of the Koreans goes on to win the Ballantine’s Championship this year.

“It will not surprise me if this happens as there is enough strength in depth in Korean golf now.

“Previously, Korean players were reluctant to leave their comfort zone to compete across Asia but we’ve seen more and more young Korean players venturing to the region, learning to play in different environments and enjoying success on the Asian Tour.”

KPGA general manager Park admits it will be tough for a Korean player to triumph in the Ballantine’s Championship, but says it is certainly possible.

“Jeju is famous for its windy conditions and some of the Korean golfers will not have played there before,” he points out.

“The international players, on the other hand, have experienced many different climates on tour, so I don’t think home advantage will be particularly strong.

“However, around 70 per cent of the Korean players in the tournament will be in their 20s – they are the new generation and they have done much to improve the quality of Korean golf.

“With their youthfulness and competitive attitude, they will be a force. I think there could be a winner among them.”

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Released on behalf of the Ballantine’s Championship by Two Up Front - Asia’s sports PR specialists.

Living legend Colin Montgomerie has been added to the star-studded field for the forthcoming Ballantine’s Championship in Korea.

The Scottish ace – the most prolific British winner on the European Tour with an astonishing 31 titles – will tee it up in the €2.1 million showpiece at Pinx Golf Club on Jeju island from April 23-26.

“Monty” has won the European Tour Order of Merit title a record eight times and has also enjoyed plenty of success in Asia with tournament victories in mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau.

His elevated status in golf was underlined recently when he was named captain of the European team for next year’s Ryder Cup.

“I’ve always enjoyed playing in Asia and have been fortunate enough to win there several times, so I’m very happy to be returning to the region for the Ballantine’s Championship,” he said.

“I’ve heard fantastic reports about the inaugural tournament – I’m told the course, organisation and hospitality were all outstanding – so I am very much looking forward to experiencing it all myself at this year’s event.

“I know Ballantine’s and the organisers are assembling a world class field, so it promises to be a fantastic week at Pinx Golf Club.”

Montgomerie joins a line-up that already includes three time Major winner Ernie Els, world No.6 Henrik Stenson, world No.12 Lee Westwood, defending champion Graeme McDowell and former Masters champion Fred Couples.

Pinx was also the venue for last year’s inaugural Ballantine’s Championship when Northern Ireland’s McDowell triumphed in dramatic fashion by edging out India’s Jeev Milkha Singh on the third extra hole.

Ballantine’s is title sponsoring the tournament – which is co-sanctioned by the European and Asian Tours and Korea PGA – for a minimum of three years.

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Released on behalf of the Ballantine’s Championship by Two Up Front - Asia’s sports PR specialists.