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Goosen and Na to feature in Korea

Two-time Major champion Retief Goosen of South Africa and Korea's Kevin Na will feature in the US$700,000 Kolon-Hana Bank Korea Open.

They will be joined at Woo Jeong Hills Country Club on the outskirts of Seoul by big-hitting American Bubba Watson, the longest driver on the US PGA Tour this season, and the Asian Tour's top stars including Charlie Wi of Korea and last year's number one Thaworn Wiratchant of Thailand

The Korean Open is the 21st leg on the 2006 Asian Tour Schedule.

Goosen returns to Asia for the first time since winning the Volkswagen Masters-China last season and he will arrive in Seoul in good form after finishing runner-up at the recent BMW International Open in Munich, where he lost in a three-way play-off to Swede Henrik Stenson.

The world number six, one of the global travellers of the game, has also registered five top-10s on the US PGA Tour this season, although he is still searching for a maiden victory this year.

Goosen's last triumph was in December when he pipped compatriot Ernie Els in a memorable duel at the South African Airways Open. Goosen will be hoping to go one better than Els, who finished runner-up at the Barclays Singapore Open.

Na enjoyed an outstanding rookie season in Asia in 2002, winning the season-ending Volvo Masters of Asia in Kuala Lumpur and the Rookie of the Year accolade. He subsequently earned his US PGA Tour card in 2004 becoming the youngest member at the age of 21, and finished runner-up twice in 2005.

However, the Korean has missed much of this season through injuries and will be looking to rebuild his game in front of his home fans.

Left-handed Watson has taken the US PGA Tour by storm with his booming drives. He leads the Driving Distance category with an average of 318 yards and has registered three top-10s in his rookie season.

The Asian Tour stars who will be in action in Seoul include reigning Asian Tour Order of Merit winner Thaworn Wiratchant, two-time Asian number one Thongchai Jaidee, a former Korea Open winner and Korea's Charlie Wi, currently second on the UBS Order of Merit.

This season's winners including Australian Kane Webber, Suk Jong-yul of Korea, Thailand's Chinarat Phadungsil and Prom Meesawat and Singapore's number one Mardan Mamat will also challenge for honours in Seoul. Korean veteran Choi Gwang-soo is the title holder.

September 18, 2006