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Choi looking for hat-trick in Seoul

Defending champion Choi Kyung-ju of Korea aims to have a ball at the US$600,000 SK Telecom Open starting on Thursday despite not getting the attention that he is used to in his native country.

With Michelle Wie, the hottest thing in women's golf, slated to take on the men for an eighth time here, the 35-year-old Choi has been put under the shade by the teenage sensation from Hawaii this week.

However, Choi is all business as he guns for a second straight victory, and a third at the SK Telecom Open in four years, when he tees up at the Sky 72 Golf Club on the outskirts of the capital city.

“Winning is my main goal, but most importantly is I want to show to the spectators my game. Some people may notice differences between the players but I want to showcase my talent and hopefully produce top quality golf for the local fans to enjoy,” said Choi, who is better known as KJ, today.

The 16-year-old Wie has hogged all the limelight in making her first Asian Tour appearance. The school-going Wie arrived on Saturday and has been under the spotlight since. She is bidding to make her first halfway cut against the men in eight events.

After a mediocre start to the season in the Unites States this year, Choi, who is ranked 42nd in the world, is now enjoying better form following a sixth place finish at the Shell Houston Open recently.

“It was a good run two weeks ago. It so happens that every time before I come to Korea, I will play well in the US. I feel confident and think I am going to have a solid week here,” he said.

Choi feels right home on the challenging Sky 72 course, which is hosting the SK Telecom Open for the first time. He said the layout was very similar to the courses in Stateside.

“There is no pressure coming into this event as the defending champion. It depends on how I play and it’s not about anything else. As long as I play well and consistently, everything is going to be alright.

“Overall, there is not much difference. The fairways are wider here and the speed of the greens is similar to the greens in America. I don’t have problems with my driver but I’m slightly wary of my second shot because the grass is still growing at this time of the year in Korea.

“This course is more on the short game. It can get quite tricky out there but I’m confident on my lob wedge and short game so I’m feeling good. If you are not careful of the conditions, you can drop shots easily.”

Choi, a three-time winner on the US PGA Tour, enjoyed a relaxed practice round with compatriot Charlie Wi, who is also enjoying a rich vein of form and is currently ranked second on the Asian Tour’s UBS Order of Merit.

“Charlie is a very hard worker and I think he is going to go far on the global scale. In three to four years time, he will be able to make his name out there. The key is to keep it simple,” he said.

SK Telecom has increased the prize money by US$100,000 this year and it is the 12th leg of this season’s Asian Tour.

May 2, 2006