Paul McGinley led the tributes to tournament officials and workers after the 2009 Ballantine’s Championship was completed amid some of the toughest conditions ever seen at a European Tour event.

Howling winds and unseasonal plunging temperatures had threatened to derail last week’s €2.1 million showpiece at Pinx Golf Club on the holiday island of Jeju in Korea.

But the show went on – with players, officials and volunteers alike braving the elements to ensure all four rounds were successfully completed before Thailand’s Thongchai Jaidee emerged triumphant in a three-way playoff.

McGinley, who finished joint 46th after battling through some of the most trying conditions he could remember, was full of praise for tournament directors David Williams and David Parkin and chief referee John Paramor.

“They did a wonderful job in extremely difficult conditions and they should be commended for that,” said the Irish star. “I thought the golf course was very difficult, but it was playable.”

While some players – faced with hitting into fierce winds and contending with balls moving on the greens – felt the third round might have been halted, McGinley believed the decision to continue was correct.

“It’s all about opinion. Yes, it was very difficult, but there wasn’t a par three that wasn’t reachable, there wasn’t a par four that you couldn’t reach in two shots and there wasn’t a par five that wasn’t reachable in three shots,” he said.

“I can’t speak for other guys who maybe said their ball moved a few times, but nobody in our group had a ball move. On one hole, we had a ball blown off the tee four times, but other than that there was no problem.

“I thought it was very difficult but, at the same time, the golf course was playable, in my opinion.”

The extreme weather at the second annual Ballantine’s Championship meant that just one player – Frenchman François Delamontagne – broke par in the third round.

Conditions eased slightly for the final round and Thongchai birdied the first extra hole to beat Spain’s Gonzalo Fernández-Castano and Korea’s Kang Sung Hoon after the trio had finished on four-under-par 284.

The successful completion of the tournament left organisers and sponsors breathing a sigh of relief.

“Despite some challenging weather conditions, it was a great tournament and we are proud of the way we have built on our inaugural event last year,’ said Christian Porta, Chairman and CEO of Chivas Brothers, which owns Ballantine’s.

“For Ballantine’s, it was a great honour to once again see championship golf in Korea back on the world stage. Our sincere thanks go to everyone who worked so hard to stage such a world class event.”

The Ballantine’s Championship – co-sanctioned by the European and Asian Tours and the Korea PGA – will return to Pinx in 2010 when organisers will be expecting better weather.

“While Jeju is famous for its winds, it is fair to say such extreme weather conditions were freakish,” said Martin Capstick of event promoters Parallel Media Group.

“In the circumstances, the officials, staff and volunteers did a remarkable job in ensuring that the tournament continued and finished on time. It was a fantastic team effort by all involved.

“Now, the focus will turn to next year’s event and how we can build on the success of the first two tournaments.”

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

Thongchai Jaidee emerged triumphant from a dramatic three-way playoff to capture the Ballantine’s Championship in Korea on Sunday.

The Thai ace sank a six-foot birdie putt on the first extra hole to edge out Spain’s Gonzalo Fernández-Castaño and local hero Kang Sung Hoon.

The trio had all finished on four-under-par 284 on another day of blustery conditions at Pinx Golf Club on the holiday island of Jeju.

Thongchai – who claimed the fourth European Tour title of his career – was a relieved man after the thrilling finish to the €2.1 million showpiece.

“I’m so happy for my family,” said the father-of-two, who collected a cheque for €333,330.

“I phoned home this week every day and one day my son came on the phone and said to me, ‘Daddy, I want you to bring home the trophy for me.’ Now I can do that.”

Thongchai, whose previous three European Tour victories all came in warm weather tournaments in Asia, mastered the cold and wind to prove he could win in tough conditions.

“When I first played in Europe 10 years ago my hands were so cold I could barely hold the club. But I’ve practised hard and this is the result,” said the 39-year-old.

“This is going to encourage me to play more in Europe this year and then my target will be to get into the world’s top 50.”

During regulation play, Kang had the galleries roaring when he holed out with his approach shot on the par-five 16th for an eagle to grab a one-shot lead at five-under. But he three-putted on the 18th for a bogey five and a final round of 68.

Fernández-Castaño ensured there would be a playoff when he calmly parred the 18th for a 69 and Thongchai made it a three-way tie when he drained a six-foot par putt for a 70.

When the trio returned to the 18th for the playoff, Fernández-Castaño fired his approach shot to the back edge of the green and his long birdie attempt came up short.

Kang missed an eight-foot putt for birdie and Thongchai, who had set up his chance with an immaculate approach, stepped up and sank the winning putt, raising his arms in triumph.

Thongchai’s success in the Ballantine’s Championship – once again co-sanctioned by the European and Asian Tours and Korea PGA – thwarted a fairytale win for Kang.

The 21-year-old, born and raised in Jeju, is in just his second season on the Korean domestic tour and was playing only his third European Tour event.

“Going into this tournament I set myself a goal to be in the top 10 and I achieved that,” he said. “If there is one thing I would do differently it would be the 18th hole where I three-putted. That’s what put me in the playoff.”

It was another disappointment for the 28-year-old Fernández-Castaño who was runner-up in his third straight European Tour event. The Spaniard lost a playoff to Michael Hoey at the Open de Portugal earlier this month and was second to Scott Strange in last week’s China Open.

“I have to say, this one hurts, but that’s golf,” said Fernández-Castaño, who has four European Tour victories to his name.

“I have a feeling that I dropped a few shots out there that cost me the tournament, but I’m sure that everybody else has the same problem. Finishing second again, yes, that means I’m playing well – but of course you want to win. I’m getting closer and hopefully I’ll do it soon.”

Tied for fourth at two-under 286 were three-time Major winner Ernie Els (71), overnight leader Robert-Jan Derksen (76), England’s Seve Benson (69) and Spain’s Rafael Cabrera-Bello (70).

South African superstar Els birdied the first and sixth holes to move within two shots of the lead but was unable to get any closer.

Dutchman Derksen, who began the day two shots clear, was derailed by three bogeys on the front nine. Another dropped shot at the par-four 15th ended his hopes of winning.

Three players finished on one-under 287 including Ireland’s Peter Lawrie, who fired the best round of the day, 66.

Thongchai’s previous European Tour titles came with back-to-back victories in the Malaysian Open in 2004 and 2005 and the Indonesia Open almost two months ago.

The win on Sunday was also his record-extending 12th Asian Tour victory and underlined his standing as one of Asia’s greatest ever golfers.

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Robert-Jan Derksen will take a two-shot lead into the final round of the Ballantine’s Championship in Korea as he goes in search of his first victory in four years.

The Dutchman stood firm as howling winds buffeted Pinx Golf Club on the holiday island of Jeju on Saturday, making for extremely difficult scoring conditions.

On a day when just one player broke par, Derksen carded a commendable three-over 75 in the third round that left him on six-under 210 for the tournament.

Pablo Martin of Spain was his nearest challenger, carding a 74 for a total of four-under 212.

Korean duo Kang Kyung Nam (75) and Kang Wook Soon (77) plus Thailand’s Thongchai Jaidee (77) were two shots further back on two-under 214.

Derksen revealed that the conditions were among the toughest he had experienced. “It wasn’t the coldest, but I think it’s definitely the windiest we’ve played in,” he said.

“The only thing you can do is just do your best. I did that on every shot I played today, and I’m still two in front. So I guess that’s the best part of the day.

“I thought every par was actually great; to make a par on any hole was fantastic.”

Derksen, whose hobby is abstract painting, produced some masterstrokes with his clubs on Saturday.

The highlight of his round came when he eagled the par-five 10th thanks to a brilliant second shot that stopped within inches of the pin.

With the chasing pack dropping shots, Derksen had opened up a five-shot lead after 14 holes but he bogeyed the last four holes to give his rivals hope.

“I’m still two in front, and of course I was a few more in front before that, but it was a very tough day. A lead can go quickly and that showed on the last few holes,” he said.

Derksen, 35, will tee off on Sunday aiming to add the €2.1 million Ballantine’s Championship to his victories in the 2003 Dubai Desert Classic and the 2005 Madeira Island Open.

But he will face stiff competition from Martin, whose only European Tour win came as an amateur at the Open de Portugal in 2007.

“It was really difficult out there,” said the Spaniard. “It was really windy, but I tried to make it fun and I had a good round, so I’m happy.

“We don’t play this kind of golf that often, so it was different. You can hit the ball really well and still shoot an 85, so you need a little bit of luck.

“You just try to have a good, positive attitude, otherwise it’s going to be way too long a day.”

Three-time Major winner Ernie Els stayed in the hunt with a one-over 73 that left him five shots behind Derksen.

The South African was one of five players on one-under 215, the others being Korean Choi Gwang Soo (74), Finland’s Mikko Ilonen (74), Spain’s Gonzalo Fernández-Castaño (76) and Frenchman François Delamontagne (71), who was the only player to break par.

The Ballantine’s Championship is once again co-sanctioned by the European and Asian Tours and Korea PGA.

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François Delamontagne stood alone at the Ballantine’s Championship in Korea on Saturday – the only player to break par in the third round.

As howling winds buffeted Pinx Golf Club on the island of Jeju and sent scores soaring, the Frenchman carded a highly impressive one-under-par 71.

Added to his pair of 72s in the opening two rounds, his sterling effort left him on one-under 215 for the tournament – five shots behind leader Robert-Jan Derksen of the Netherlands.

“I just had a very solid long game and some good putting,” said Delamontagne. “That’s the secret, to make your putts in these conditions. It was amazing, because it was so cold, and massive wind.

“But you know, I’m from Brittany in France and there’s a lot of wind there as well. I like to play in these conditions, but with five or six degrees more!

“In these conditions, you have to be patient and just hit shot after shot and say, ‘OK, I missed a shot but I’m going to miss another one.’ You just have to concentrate on the routine.”

Delamontagne won the French Amateur Championship in 2000 and the French Amateur International Championship the following year but has yet to win as a professional.

Saturday’s brilliant effort saw him move up 36 places to joint sixth in the Ballantine’s Championship and left him on course to eclipse his best finish this season – joint 12th at the Open de Portugal earlier this month.

Teeing off at the 10th hole after tournament organisers, with one eye on the weather, opted for a two-tee start, Delamontagne opened with a pair of birdies.

Bogeys on the 13th and 17th brought him back to level par for the day but he birdied the par-four 18th and then played flawlessly to par the remaining nine holes as the players around him struggled.

Delamontagne – whose father Patrick played football for France – will be looking for more of the same in the final round of the €2.1 million showpiece, which is once again co-sanctioned by the European and Asian Tours and Korea PGA.

“There is one more day and I think if I hit the ball like this tomorrow with the same surface on the green, it will be good,” he said.

“I’m playing well. I think I just need to go out with the same attitude that I had today.”

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Robert-Jan Derksen overcame strong winds and a missing ball mystery to grab the second round lead at the Ballantine’s Championship in Korea.

The Dutchman produced a masterly three-under-par 69 in difficult conditions at Pinx Golf Club on the holiday island of Jeju.

That placed him on nine-under 135 for the tournament, two shots clear of Korea’s Kang Wook Soon and Thongchai Jaidee of Thailand.

“It was a difficult day,” said Derksen, who began on the 10th tee. “But it didn’t start too difficult. I would say the first eight holes were OK, it wasn’t that windy.

“But then it picked up from 18 until I finished on the ninth. Every par was actually a good hole, and I managed to even squeeze in a few birdies.”

Derksen – a two-time winner on the European Tour – stuck to his task despite a double-bogey seven at the fourth hole when his ball was apparently picked up by a spectator.

Unable to find his ball after hitting a wayward drive to the right rough, he hit a provisional shot into the left rough – but that ball went missing as well.

“I definitely had an adventure on No.4,” said Derksen. “We all looked for the first ball for five minutes but couldn’t find it.

“So we walked to the left side where the provisional was. I had a look, but couldn’t find that either. Then I saw the spotter there and she explained to me that the ball had been lying there and now it was gone.

“So we got a referee and he talked to the girl to make sure what had happened. And then he tried to find the spectator who probably picked up my ball, but we couldn’t find him.

“But the girl said that the ball was there before, so I had a free drop and continued from there. If the girl hadn’t been there, it would have been another lost ball and it would have been even worse.”

Kang flew the flag for Korea at the €2.1 million Ballantine’s Championship by carding a 69 that left him tied for second on seven-under 137.

Starting on the 10th in the morning, he fired three birdies in the first six holes before the wind picked up and, although he bogeyed the 18th, he picked up another birdie at the par-four third.

“I played well today,” said Kang, a two-time winner of the Asian Tour’s Order of Merit.

“I got the ball close to the pin, but the very strong winds meant I missed a few birdie chances. Even so, I’m happy with my score.”

Thongchai was level with Kang after a 71. “I played well today,” said the Thai, who also started from the 10th.

“I hit a lot of greens, but had a three-putt on the last. Even so, I’m very happy. The weather is very difficult in the afternoon so we were lucky to start early.

“For the last seven holes the wind was very strong and it was tough to play the course.

“But I like coming to Korea very much and I enjoy this course. I’m looking forward to the weekend.”

First round co-leader Mark Brown of New Zealand dropped to joint fourth after a 73. He was joined on six-under 138 by Spain’s Pablo Martin (69) and Italian Alessandro Tadini (71).

Spain’s Gonzalo Fernández-Castaño, who had shared the lead with Brown after Thursday, was one of six players on five-under after a 74.

Two of the tournament’s big guns, three-time Major winner Ernie Els and world No.9 Henrik Stenson, carded 74s to stand at two-under 142.

“I just hope I can get something going,” said Stenson, who finished his round in heavy rain. “Obviously I’m quite far back, but a good round might make up some ground tomorrow.”

Ryder Cup star Lee Westwood had a 73 and was level-par 144 for the tournament. And former Masters champion Fred Couples made the cut at one-over 145 after a 76.

But defending champion Graeme McDowell will miss the weekend after adding a 73 to his opening 76.

The Ballantine’s Championship is once again co-sanctioned by the European and Asian Tours and Korea PGA.

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Ernie Els is refusing to give up hope of victory after a tough second day at the Ballantine’s Championship in Korea on Friday.

The South African superstar battled his way to a two-over-par 74 in cold and windy conditions at Pinx Golf Club on the island of Jeju.

That left him on two-under 142 for the tournament, seven shots behind leader Robert-Jan Derksen of the Netherlands.

“I had a tough time out there today,” said Els. “Cold, windy, it was a good test of golf. It feels like we’re back in Scotland!

“I was just horrible on the greens today. I left about four or five shots out there on the greens. It was difficult keeping your balance, basically.

“The greens are difficult to read. The course is up against the mountain and everything kind of slopes towards the bay down there and then they’ve got the greens tilted the other way.

“So, yes, it’s difficult to read the greens, and I’ve been having problems.”

Els, the main draw card at the €2.1 million Ballantine’s Championship, had been ideally placed after an opening round 68 that was made in glorious sunshine and calm conditions.

But Jeju’s famous winds were blowing on Friday and scoring suffered as a result.

Els, starting on the back nine, began well with a birdie on the par-five 10th but struggled after that, dropping four shots in 10 holes before a birdie on the par-three fifth halted his slide.

He dropped another shot on No.7 but bounced back with a birdie at the next to leave himself in with a chance heading into the weekend.

The three-time Major winner admitted he would have his work cut out.

“We had a good day yesterday but we knew the weather was coming. I don’t know what’s going to happen tomorrow; maybe we’ll have another good day, who knows? Hopefully I can start grinding something out.”

Despite his struggles in the second round, Els said he was delighted to be in Korea and helping promote the game via the Ballantine’s Championship, which is once again co-sanctioned by the European and Asian Tours and Korea PGA.

The South African is one of the world’s truly global golfers with more than 50 victories worldwide including three Majors – the US Open in 1994 and 1997 and the British Open in 2002 – and an astonishing seven World Match Play Championship titles.

He is also a two-time winner of the European Tour Order of Merit and has 16 victories on the US PGA Tour.

“Golf in Korea is really big,” he said. “There are a lot of good players coming out of this country and they have got some great golf courses, so it’s good to be here.

“This is a big event. We’ve got a great sponsor, good television coverage and some excellent international players here, so this is a big deal for Korean golf.

“This gives them a really good measuring stick to see where they’re at.”

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Mark Brown and Gonzalo Fernández-Castaño upstaged the big names at the Ballantine’s Championship in Korea to claim the first round lead on Thursday. The pair both carded seven-under-par 65s to leave themselves one shot clear of the pack at Pinx Golf Club on the picturesque island of Jeju. But lurking close behind the leaders were three of the tournament’s marquee players – Ernie Els, Henrik Stenson and Fred Couples – who all made strong starts. Fernández-Castaño was delighted to continue his good form after finishing runner-up in last week’s China Open. He fired six birdies plus an eagle at the par-five 10th – with his only blemish being a bogey on the par-four seventh. “The last couple of weeks have been great and, well, coming out here and shooting 65 in the first round, you can’t ask for any better,” said the Spaniard. “We’ve been very lucky with the weather today, it’s been absolutely fantastic, no wind at all. It’s been an easy day compared to the practice rounds we’ve played here. “So I’m very happy. It’s a fantastic way to start the tournament and hopefully we’ll keep it going.” New Zealander Brown was delighted to be joint top of the 2009 Ballantine’s Championship leaderboard after a superb round in which he also eagled the 10th. And with Jeju’s famous winds expected to pick up later in the tournament, he acknowledged his good opening could prove vital. “I think it will blow before the week is out and that will provide a different challenge,” said Brown, who was joint third at the China Open. “It’s good to be in with that score nice and early. I can sit back and relax and try to build on that tomorrow afternoon.” Three players – Thongchai Jaidee of Thailand, Robert-Jan Derksen of Holland and Korea’s Kang Kyung Nam, who plays mainly on his country’s domestic tour – were a shot back on 66. Robert Dinwiddie of England, American Jason Knutzon and Alessandro Tadini of Italy each carded a 67 to be two shots off the pace. But it was also a day when the big guns fired at the €2.1 million tournament, which is once again co-sanctioned by the European and Asian Tours and Korea PGA. Three-time Major winner Els and world No.9 Stenson were among 12 players on four-under 68. “It was a solid round of golf,” said Els. “I didn’t have a bogey on the card, which I haven’t done for a while.” But the South African rued several missed chances. “Weather-wise, it was beautiful and the course the golf course was there for the taking. “So I felt like I left some shots out there, but I feel kind of fresh and my swing felt really good. So I’m looking forward to the rest of the week.” Couples returned a 69 and was satisfied with his opening effort. “I hit the ball pretty well,” said the American. “I made my share of nice little eight and 10 footers to keep the round going. “I bogeyed the last, but it’s a hard hole. I have to just come out tomorrow and try to get it going again.” Of the tournament’s other big names, England’s Lee Westwood and Chinese No.1 Liang Wenchong each shot 71. But defending champion Graeme McDowell had a day to forget, a four-over 76 leaving him plenty of work to do on Friday. “I’m shocked and stunned,” said the Northern Irishman. “I drove it all over the place. It was just a bad morning in the office. “Obviously I’m going to need three really good rounds to try to compete on the weekend. I’ll be going out all guns blazing tomorrow.”

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Henrik Stenson lived up to his billing as the top-ranked player at the Ballantine’s Championship with an impressive opening round on Thursday.

The Swede carded a four-under-par 68 at Pinx Golf Club on the Korean holiday island of Jeju to finish the day just three shots off the pace.

“I’m happy with the day, obviously,” said Stenson. “I came back strong on the back nine, shot four-under there. It’s always good to take it home in 32, and I think it’s a good start for me.”

The world No.9, teeing off from the 10th hole, mixed six birdies with two bogeys as bright sunshine and a lack of breeze made for ideal scoring conditions.

After reaching the turn in level par, Stenson birdied No.3 and No.4 and finished with a flourish with two more birdies on the eighth and ninth.

He admitted that as the highest ranked player in the field the onus was on him to do well.

“I think when you are coming into a tournament and you are among the top players, you always feel like there’s a little bit of pressure on you to perform. I’m no different,” he said.

“I expect myself to perform, and 68 is a good start, so I’m pleased with that, and I’m looking forward to the next three days. I’m going to try my best to have a really good tournament.”

Mark Brown of New Zealand and Spain’s Gonzalo Fernández-Castaño lead the 2009 Ballantine’s Championship after each posed a seven-under 65.

The €2.1 million showpiece is once again co-sanctioned by the European and Asian Tours and Korea PGA.

Despite the glorious weather on Thursday, Stenson predicted scoring would be more difficult than at last year’s inaugural tournament when Graeme McDowell won in a playoff after reaching 24-under 264.

This year’s Ballantine’s Championship is taking place six weeks later in the calendar and the warmer weather means Pinx has considerably more rough.

“If the weather stays like today, you know, the winning score might be creeping close to 20-under, something like that perhaps,” said Stenson.

“But if we’re expecting some strong winds over the weekend, it’s obviously going to bring the scores back. And the course will be playing a little tougher with the rough.

“We’ll see. I think [the winning score] will be between 15 and 20-under, but as the wind comes up, it might come back down a little bit.”

Stenson has already picked up one reward for his efforts at Pinx – a bottle of Ballantine’s 17 Year Old Scotch for notching a birdie on the par-three 17th.

“That’s obviously a highlight,” he said. “I don’t know, if my caddy is going to drink 10 per cent of it, then I’m going to drink 90 per cent. It might be a rough evening!”

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The memories have been flooding back for Graeme McDowell as he prepares to defend his Ballantine’s Championship title in Korea this week.

The Northern Irishman triumphed in last year’s inaugural tournament, edging out India’s Jeev Milkha Singh on the third hole of a sudden death playoff.

McDowell is back at Pinx Golf Club on the holiday island of Jeju and is buoyed by recollections of that dramatic victory.

“It’s always nice to come back to a venue where you’ve won. You remember a lot of the great shots you’ve hit,” he said.

“Winning this tournament last year was pretty special for me. It was my first tournament victory in four years, so it was huge for a number of reasons. It really got my season off and running.

“With it being a Ryder Cup year, I had great aspirations to make the Ryder Cup team.

“And there’s no feeling quite like winning, the confidence you gain from it is second to none. It drives you on and it pushed me into having a great season.

“There’s no doubt, I look back and see winning the Ballantine’s Championship last year as a big jumping block for the rest of the year.”

After his 2008 win, McDowell went on to enjoy the best season of his career, adding the Scottish Open title and making his Ryder Cup debut.

But he faces a tough challenge to hang on to his crown at Pinx.

The stellar line-up for the 2009 Ballantine’s Championship includes three-time Major winner Ernie Els and former Masters champion Fred Couples.

World No.9 Henrik Stenson and Lee Westwood – an 18-time winner on the European Tour – are also teeing it up.

The €2.1 million showpiece is once again co-sanctioned by the European and Asian Tours and Korea PGA.

McDowell acknowledged the size of his task.

“It’s been a long time since I defended a title, since 2005. But just because I won last year, it doesn’t mean I have any right to come and win the tournament again this weekend,” he said.

“Yes, I like the golf course, but we’ve got a great field here this year, a lot of good players, and we’re all level par standing on the first tee tomorrow morning.

“Having said that, I feel like my form is good enough and if I can play my own game, I can certainly compete this weekend.”

McDowell underlined his liking for Pinx when his team won Wednesday’s pro-am tournament – although he was quick to deflect any praise.

“It felt pretty nice out there this morning. Obviously this course has been good to me, but the win today wasn’t really much of my doing,” he said.

“I played quite nicely and made a few birdies, but it was all down to my team, believe me!”

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