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Vijay gunning for second victory in Korea

Fijian star Vijay Singh will be on the hunt for his second win in Korea when he headlines the US$1 million Kolon-Hana Bank Korea Open starting on Thursday.

Singh, with 31 wins on the US PGA Tour, won his first event in Korea back in 1995 as he will be relishing his return playing against some of the top Asian stars at the Woo Jeong Hills Country Club this week.

“It is nice to return to Korea since my last outing here. Korea has changed a lot and the courses here are in a much better condition so I’m looking forward to the challenges ahead,” said Singh.

Among the region’s elite on course this week includes China’s Liang Wen-chong, the Asian Tour’s UBS Order of Merit leader, who will be eager to strengthen his position at the top of the ranking in the US$1 million event.

Thailand’s Thaworn Wiratchant, who claimed his ninth Asian Tour title in China last month, will also be tipped to be among the leading contenders after his top-10 outing last year. The 40-year-old Thai stalwart will be flanked by compatriot Prayad Marksaeng, Singapore’s Mardan Mamat, Filipino Juvic Pagunsan and Malaysia’s Airil Rizman Zahari.

Leading the charge will be the 44-year-old Singh who is currently ranked 12th in the world. Singh will tee off alongside defending champion Yang Yong-eun of Korea and compatriot Kim Kyung-tae, who won his maiden Asian Tour title on home soil in May.

Singh, who is ranked third on the US PGA Tour money list, will be hoping to see the results of his swing change at the par-71 course which demands accurate shots off the tee.

“The course is in good shape. The fairways are quite tight and would require solid shots off the tee but overall it will be an interesting week.

“My form at the moment is not bad nor is it good but I’ve made some changes to my swing so I hope it will show this week,” said Singh, who turned pro in 1982.

Singh had started his career in Asia before heading to Europe and eventually making headlines on the US PGA Tour. He has won titles in Malaysia, Singapore and Korea.

Singh is known to be a hard worker and has already won twice in America this year at the Mercedez-Benz Championship and Arnold Palmer Invitational. He was also inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame last year.

But enjoying a solid year in Asia is China’s Liang who will be competing without the guidance of his coach Kel Llewellyn for the first time since the start of the second half of the season.

“I played in Japan last week where I had fallen sick. I am still down with the flu so I hope it will not affect my game this week. There is a strong field here with the presence of Vijay and the other Asian Tour winners but I hope to focus on my game and finish strongly.

“Kel has made my game very consistent and I hope to maintain my performance this week. I am sick and without my coach here but I feel that at the end of the day, it is a battle with myself to deliver a good result,” said Liang, with eight top-10 finishes this season that includes his win in Singapore in March.

October 3, 2007