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Asia and Europe's finest to face off over Ballantine's

The cream of Asia's golfing talent will be lining up for a shot at Europe's big guns when the inaugural Ballantine's Championship tees off at the Pinx Golf Club in Jeju Island, Korea next week.

Joining Korean idol Choi Kyung-ju in the star-studded field will be Indian duo Jyoti Randhawa and Jeev Milkha Singh, Asian Tour Order of Merit champion Liang Wen-chong of China and Thai aces Prayad Marksaeng and Thongchai Jaidee.

Japan's Shingo Katayama is also set to tee off at the US$2.9 million Ballantine's Championship.

World number six, Choi can expect a huge backing from the galleries when the tournament gets underway. The US-based Choi is an icon in his homeland after his astonishing success on the US PGA Tour, where he has racked up seven victories, the latest coming in January's Sony Open in Hawaii.

A triumph at the Pinx Golf Club will not only be hugely popular with his fans, but will also further cement Choi's status as Asia's leading player.

The Koreans will also be cheering on other home hopefuls such as Yang Yong-eun - tamer of Tiger Woods in the HSBC Champions in Shanghai 15 months ago - and Hur Suk-ho, bettern known as SK Ho, a nine-time winner in Japan.

Randhawa, meanwhile, is a man in form with three top-10 finishes on the European Tour this year.

His compatriot Singh was runner-up in last month's Enjoy Jakarta Astro Indonesia Open and has shown his pedigree in the past with two European Tour victories.

Liang finished tied for seventh in the Indonesian capital and is looking ominously good after an outstanding 2007 which included his breakthrough victory at the Clariden Leu Singapore Masters.

The powerful European challenge at the Ballantine's Championship will be spearheaded by British Open champion Padraig Harrington.

The Irish star, currently No.10 in the world, has a liking for Asia, having previously won titles in Taiwan and Hong Kong.

The field contains four other European Tour players who have tasted victory on Asian soil in the past two years. They include Spain's José Manuel Lara, Mikko Ilonen of Finland, Frenchman Raphaël Jacquelin and Johan Edfors of Sweden.

"We are delighted that the inaugural Ballantine's Championship has attracted such a world class field," said Simon Burley, international marketing manager for Ballantine's.

"We are sure Korean fans will enjoy watching these household names in action and we are looking forward to what promises to be an exciting tournament."

American duo Chris DiMarco - a three-time runner-up in Majors - and fast-rising star Anthony Kim will also be expected to have a say in the outcome.

Hot-shot Kim - with six top-10 finishes on the PGA Tour in just 18 months - will be looking to make an impact in the country of his parents' birth.

The Californian has visited Korea on many occasions but this will be his first time competing in the country as a professional.

The Ballantine's Championship field will also feature two players who have enjoyed their maiden triumphs on tour early in the season - India's S.S.P. Chowrasia and Felipe Aguilar of Chile.

The tournament, promoted by Parallel Media Group is sanctioned by the Asian Tour, European Tour and Korea PGA.

Scotland's Colin Montgomerie, meanwhile, has withdrawn from the line-up after a change in his competition schedule.

March 6, 2008