Client News
Exciting times for Korean golf, says Els
Jeju, Korea, 22 April 2009 - Ernie Els has heaped praise on the Korean golf boom as he prepares for the country’s biggest tournament, the Ballantine’s Championship.
The three-time Major winner has been a regular visitor to Asia throughout his 20-year career and is starting to see more Korean players break through on to the world stage.
“You’ve obviously got something going in this country,” he told reporters. “I don’t know if it’s your junior programme or what it is, but it’s working!
“Obviously, there is a lot of talent here – and on the ladies’ tour, it seems like almost all the good players are Korean.
“I love to see the next generation come through. I think these are very exciting times for Korean golf.”
Els is the top draw card at the €2.1 million Ballantine’s Championship, which tees off on Thursday at Pinx Golf Club on the picturesque island of Jeju.
The star-studded field also includes former Masters champion Fred Couples and world No.9 Henrik Stenson.
Defending champion Graeme McDowell and his fellow Ryder Cup star Lee Westwood are among the other top names in the line-up.
The tournament is once again co-sanctioned by the European and Asian Tours and Korea PGA.
Els has played in Korea before but is making his first trip to Jeju. “It’s beautiful,” said the South African.
“It must be unbelievable in the summer. We’re staying in a fantastic hotel and I had a very nice day in the pro-am this morning. So far, the little I’ve seen, I’ve been very impressed.”
Els was also full of praise for the par-72 layout at Pinx and predicted scoring would be tougher than at last year’s inaugural Ballantine’s Championship.
On that occasion Northern Irishman McDowell and India’s Jeev Milkha Singh ran away from the field, both finishing seven shots clear on 24-under-par 264.
McDowell then won on the third hole of the sudden death playoff.
“You’ve got some really good birdie opportunity holes, downwind holes, and then the holes uphill into the wind are the holes that you want to par,” said Els.
“So you’ve got a good mix of birdies and difficult holes.
“Obviously I didn’t play here last year but, in spots, if you miss the fairway, the rough is very, very heavy – as heavy as anywhere I’ve played this year.
“And the wind is really blowing. I don’t know how the weather conditions were last year, but I can’t see anyone scoring 24-under this time.”
Els stressed he always enjoyed visiting Asia and that his South African background had contributed to his globe-trotting outlook.
“We want to spread golf around the world, especially in an emerging market like Asia. You need to be there when the game is growing, so that’s what we are doing.
“I’ve travelled my whole career. I come from South Africa, which is a long way away in any case, so anywhere I go, I would be travelling. In America, they ask me why I don’t play all my golf there. And in Europe, they ask me the same thing.
“If I was British, I probably would have played the bulk of my golf in Europe. And if I was born in America, maybe I would have played the bulk of my golf there. But I’m not, I’m South African.
“I guess I get bored after a little while, playing in the same place in the same conditions, and always felt that I wanted to challenge myself and play in different conditions all the time. I’ve always enjoyed travelling.
“And you know, it’s worked for me. I’ve won 60 tournaments around the world, and OK, only 16 in the US, but who knows? That’s just the way I’ve been and that’s the way it will be. I enjoy it that way.”
-- ENDS --
Released on behalf of the Ballantine’s Championship by Two Up Front - Asia’s sports PR specialists.