Stars boost field for Johnnie Walker Classic

An impressive contingent of Ryder Cup stalwarts and Canada’s number one player have further boosted the star-studded field for this year’s Johnnie Walker Classic, which tees off at the Blue Canyon Country Club in Phuket, Thailand, from March 1-4, 2007 and is presented by Johnnie Walker.

The European Ryder Cup team’s talisman Colin Montgomerie, reigning captain Ian Woosnam and former captain Sam Torrance will line up alongside past US Masters Champion, Mike Weir in the US$2.44 million tournament, referred to as Asia’s premier golf event since its inception in 1990.

This year’s star attractions at the Johnnie Walker Classic already include three of the world's top ten players: Adam Scott of Australia at number three, South Africans Ernie Els and Retief Goosen, currently ranked fifth and eighth in the world respectively, plus the in-form Englishman, Paul Casey, who just two weeks ago won the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship and is currently ranked 13th in the world.

Ben Anderson, Global Brand Director for Johnnie Walker, commenting on the latest signings said, “Once again the Johnnie Walker Classic is bringing a fantastic field of top international golfers to Asia and it will be a real treat for local golf fans to be able to watch some truly inspiring world-class golfing action right on their very own doorstep.

“And as for the players themselves, we wish them the very best of luck and hope that in the spirit of Johnnie Walker’s “Keep Walking” message, which aims to inspire people to progress towards their dreams and ambitions, their performance at the tournament will inspire many others to take their own first step towards their own goals,” concluded Anderson.

As well as being a hugely-popular player, Montgomerie is one of Europe’s most successful golfers having won a record eight European Order of Merits during an impressive career, the most recent of which came in 2005. During his 2006 season, the Scot came agonisingly close to winning the US Open Championship, narrowly missing out to Australia’s Geoff Ogilvy. At last year’s Ryder Cup matches, Montgomerie became the first European to play in five successive teams and once again he formed the lynchpin of Europe’s win. The 43-year-old’s last victory came in Asia at the UBS Hong Kong Open in December 2005, perhaps a good omen for this year’s Johnnie Walker Classic.

Buoyed no doubt by his successful captaincy of the 2006 Ryder Cup in Ireland and a great deal of experience playing in Asia, Woosnam could provide the surprise package of this year’s Johnnie Walker Classic. The diminutive Welshman boasts over 35 tournament victories to his name, including the 1991 US Masters and the 1993 Johnnie Walker Classic, and remains one of the biggest hitters on tour.

Whilst Torrance has played a record 700 events on The European Tour since he turned professional back in 1970, the 53-year-old Scot is now enjoying a successful career on the Seniors Tour. He has topped the Order of Merit over the last two years and recorded his 40th career victory last September in the Charles Church Scottish Seniors Open. Torrance makes a welcome return to Asia and The European Tour when he competes in the Johnnie Walker Classic in March.

Thirty six-year-old Weir, who makes his debut at the Johnnie Walker Classic in Phuket, became the first Canadian and only the second left-hander to win a Major when he won the US Masters at Augusta in 2003. A lingering neck injury hampered his 2005 season but in 2006 he managed 12 top-25 results, including a joint sixth slot in the US Open and sixth alone in the US PGA Championship, to finish 33rd on the US money list. A win at the Johnnie Walker Classic could just trigger a full return to form for the Canadian.

Phuket, a top golfing destination in Asia, and the Blue Canyon Country Club are both part of Johnnie Walker Classic history, having hosted the tournament on two previous occasions. Firstly in 1994 when Greg Norman narrowly pipped Fred Couples for the title and then again in 1998 when Tiger Woods and Ernie Els tied after the regulation 72 holes with Tiger taking the title at the first extra hole.

Since 1998, Blue Canyon has undergone substantial changes including the construction of the new Lakes Course, which compliments the Canyon Course over which the Johnnie Walker Classic will be contested. The Canyon has undergone a programme of 'fine tuning' to ensure the layout provides a searching test for the 156 professionals who will be playing in March. A number of new tees have been constructed and fairways re-shaped in what is only the first phase of a development programme to further enhance the stature and testing nature of the course.

The Johnnie Walker Classic, with £208,330 (US$416,660) going to the winner, is tri-sanctioned by the European, Asian and Australasian Tours.

January 30, 2007