Westwood to spearhead all-star quartet in Korea
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World number one Lee Westwood of England will headline a quartet of golfing greats at the €2.2 million Ballantine's Championship in Korea this April.
The English ace will be joined by South African superstar Ernie Els, world No.10 Ian Poulter and Asian Tour Honorary member, Y.E Yang, as the tournament moves to the prestigious Blackstone Resort in Seoul.
Westwood will be making his first visit to Korea since playing in the 2009 Ballantine's Championship at Pinx Golf Club on the holiday island of Jeju.
In the 21 months since he has been in superb form – winning the inaugural Race to Dubai in 2009, claiming four top-three finishes in Majors, winning on the US Tour for the first time in a decade, and ending Tiger Woods' five-year reign at the top of the Official World Golf Ranking.
"I thoroughly enjoyed playing in the Ballantine's Championship in 2009 and I'm very much looking forward to returning to the tournament this year," said Westwood.
"It is exciting that the event is moving to Blackstone Resort, I've heard great things about the venue and, like the vast majority of the players, it will be my first time there so it promises to be quite a challenge.
"I enjoyed a fantastic 2010 and becoming the world number one has been the fulfilment of a lifelong ambition. Obviously, I'm very keen to maintain the momentum in 2011 so I'm aiming to put on a great display for the Korean fans.
"Korea has really put itself on the world golf map these past few years with the performances of its top players and the facilities there are second to none, so it has all the makings of a great week."
The 2011 Ballantine's Championship, once again co-sanctioned by the European Tour, Asian Tour and Korea PGA, will be played at Blackstone Resort in Incheon, just south of Seoul, from 28 April to 1 May. The club will host the event for at least the next three years.
It will be the first time that the exclusive venue – which opened only in 2009 and has just 300 members – has hosted a professional tournament.
Westwood has an astonishing 20 European Tour titles to his credit – the second highest total by an Englishman after Sir Nick Faldo – and has been a mainstay of Europe's successful Ryder Cup teams in the past decade.
He also has an excellent record in the Far East, including four wins in Japan from 1996-98 and victory in the 1999 Macau Open.
Els, meanwhile, has more than 60 victories worldwide including three Majors – the US Open in 1994 and 1997 and the British Open in 2002.
He recently won the South African Open Championship for an astonishing fifth time and will be looking to make it third time lucky at the Ballantine's Championship after top 10 finishes in the past two years.
"I've got off to a great start this season and hopefully I can maintain this form throughout the year," he said.
"I enjoyed my two previous visits to the Ballantine's Championship and both times I was in with a shout going into the final day, so the aim this time is to take any chances that come my way and be in the mix again on Sunday."
Poulter will be appearing in the Ballantine's Championship for the first time although he previously finished runner-up in the 2008 Korean Open.
He enjoyed a career year in 2010 by becoming the first English winner of a WGC event when he captured the Accenture Match Play Championship in Arizona, then playing a starring role in Europe's Ryder Cup success, before ending the year on a high with victory in the Hong Kong Open.
"I've got fond memories of my last appearance in Korea so I'm really looking forward to making my Ballantine's Championship debut," said Poulter.
"I've heard great things about the tournament from my fellow professionals and I'm told the Blackstone course is exceptional, so it promises to be a great week. I had a wonderful 2010 and I'm very optimistic about what this year holds in store for me."
Yang made history and earned hero status in his native Korea in 2009 by becoming Asia's first Major winner when he fended off Woods to clinch the US PGA Championship. Now he is looking forward to his third appearance in the Ballantine's Championship.
"It's always a thrill to play in front of my home fans so I'm full of anticipation for this year's Ballantine's Championship," said Yang.
"The Korean galleries are always so supportive and knowledgeable and they love seeing the home players mix it with some of the world's best. It's fantastic for Korean golf that the Ballantine's Championship is going from strength to strength and this year's tournament promises to be the best yet," added the Korean.
Chivas Brothers CEO Christian Porta commented: "We are extremely pleased to bring such high calibre and international players to the Ballantine's Championship in 2011 including, for the first time ever at a sanctioned Tour event in Korea, the world number one.
"The field so far really sets the scene for a truly prestigious tournament at our new venue and further symbolises Ballantine's championing of world class golf in Korea."
The Ballantine's Championship is moving to Blackstone Resort after the first three editions were played at Pinx Golf Club.
"We are delighted to announce that Westwood, Els, Poulter and Yang will all be competing in this year's Ballantine's Championship," said David Ciclitira, chairman of event promoter Parallel Media Group.
"Having these four great players confirmed, in addition to our growing family of sponsors which now includes Emirates, Omega, TaylorMade and Konjiam Resort, will help ensure that the tournament's new era at Blackstone Resort gets off to the best possible start."
The tournament has provided some dramatic moments in its short history. Northern Ireland's Graeme McDowell showed his Major-winning potential when he captured the inaugural event on the third extra hole against India's Jeev Milkha Singh, while Thailand's Thongchai Jaidee emerged triumphant when he birdied the first hole of a three-way playoff in 2009.
The 2010 Ballantine's Championship produced an unforgettable finale as unheralded Australian Marcus Fraser – a player who almost gave up the game three years earlier because he was in such a slump – surprised everyone with an incredible wire-to-wire victory.
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