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Wi going for third SK Telecom title

Local hero Charlie Wi will be competing on familiar ground as he aims for his third SK Telecom Open title which starts on Thursday.

Wi had previously triumphed in the 2001 and 2002 editions and returning to a course where he claimed the runner-up spot in 2004, the 34-year-old talent will be eager to notch one better at the BA Vista Country Club.

Among the other top guns vying for honours in Korea include American-born Australian Aaron Baddeley, Gaurav Ghei of India, the Pine Valley Beijing Open winner, Thai youngster Chinarat Phadungsil of Thailand, who is ranked 34th on the Asian Tour’s UBS Order of Merit, Airil Rizman of Malaysia, who won the Pakistan Open, Chinese Taipei’s Lu Wei-chih, and local trio of Hur Suk-ho, Kim Kyung-tae and Lee Sung.

Wi, a seven-time winner in Asia, will relish his return to Korea as he will be riding on his good run of form this year and eyeing the top prize at the US$600,000 tournament. It was a memorable win for Wi in 2001 when he played in a seven play-off holes to triumph over compatriot Kang Wook-soon and Scotsman Simon Yates.

“The last time I was in Asia was when I played in the Volvo Masters of Asia in December. It’s nice to be back and I’m feeling confident. I’m playing steady and my game is solid. If I’m making the putts, I’ll be right up there,” said Wi, who shares the same coaches as Baddeley on the US PGA Tour. Wi plays primarily in the US where he delivered one top-10 result this season.

“Andy Plummer and Mike Bennettt are our coaches and Baddeley is a good friend of mine. We’ve known each other for a long time. I would like to be in contention on Sunday afternoon hoping for a triple, but golf is a funny game, you will never know.

“If I stay patient and strike it well, I might give myself a chance. I played here in 2004 and hope to finish one better this year,” he added.

With two wins on the US PGA Tour, Baddeley, 26, is tipped to lead the way this week with his physical trainer David Darbyshire on the bag for the first time.

“I’ve been to China and Japan and I’ve always wanted to come to Korea. I’m very confident with my swing. If I can be consistent on the greens, I have a chance to win,” said Baddeley, who had previously played junior golf in Australia with Asian Tour’s Marcus Both and Kane Webber, the 2006 Macau Open winner.

“You have to hit it straight here and I feel good this week. I also have my physical trainer David Darbyshire on the bag for the first time so it’s going to be exciting,” added Baddeley. Darbyshire is also the trainer for Korea’s Choi-kyung-ju and Nick O’hern.

Baddeley claimed a memorable win over Spanish sensation Sergio Garcia in the Greg Norman Invitational in 2001 and also enjoyed two top-10 results in two World Golf Championships events this year.

With four top-10 finishes this season, Australia’s Scott Hend will take on a new approach when he tees off at the BA Vista Country Club hoping to ride on his fine form and finish among the front runners.

“I will have my first taste of the course when I tee off on Thursday. I had some personal matters to attend to but I’ve heard that you can cut the corners and be aggressive out there which is nice,” said Hend, who is ranked third on the UBS Order of Merit.

May 23, 2007