Client News
Pinx to provide tough test for contenders
Seoul, Korea, 8 April 2009 - Players at this month’s Ballantine’s Championship in Korea can expect the course to provide an even tougher challenge than it did for last year’s inaugural event.
The €2.1 million showpiece is once again being staged at Pinx Golf Club on the holiday island of Jeju – but this year is six weeks later in the calendar, meaning players will have to contend with more rough.
“Last year, due to the early date [mid-March] there was very little rough as the temperatures had not kicked in and there was very little growth,” explained tournament director David Williams.
“This year, because we are six weeks later, there will be good definition and the roughs will be more severe.”
In 2008, Northern Ireland’s Graeme McDowell and Jeev Milkha Singh of India ran away from the field, both finishing on 24-under-par 264 before McDowell won in a playoff.
But low scoring is likely to be at a premium this time around.
“The course will play more difficult because of the presence of more rough,” confirmed Williams.
“This will mean that it will be far more important to hit the fairways off the tee, so accuracy will be very important. Good course strategy will be needed.
“It will be more of a challenge this year as it will be important to hit the fairways to give yourself control when hitting your second shots into the very undulating greens which they have here.
“Also it can get quite windy here which can make a big difference in how the course plays.”
The second Ballantine’s Championship will be held at Pinx from April 23-26.
Players confirmed for the event include three-time Major winner Ernie Els, world No.8 Henrik Stenson, world No.13 Lee Westwood and defending champion McDowell.
Smooth-swinging former Masters champion Fred Couples is also in the starting line-up together with Europe’s next Ryder Cup captain, Colin Montgomerie.
The later slot in the calendar also means that this year’s field is expanded to 156 players – up from 132 last year – because of the additional daylight.
The tournament will once again be co-sanctioned by the European and Asian Tours and Korea PGA.
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Released on behalf of the Ballantine’s Championship by Two Up Front - Asia’s sports PR specialists.