Korea's
Choi Kyung-ju and former US Masters champion Fred Couples are amongst
the top names aiming to wrest the SK Telecom Open from title holder
Simon Yates this week.
The US$500,000 event begins at Il Dong Lake Golf Club on Thursday
and is the 11th leg of this season's Asian Tour.
Choi will be shooting for his second title in the event, having won
on home soil in 2003 at a different venue. The two-time winner on
the US PGA Tour will be on a mission at Il Dong Lake as he missed
the cut when the SK Telecom Open was last staged there in 2001.
"I am going to try and win the SK Telecom Open as I've won this
in the past. We're back to the Il Dong Lake course and I do like the
layout although I missed the cut here a few years ago. So I'm going
to try and get one back on the course," said Choi, who is ranked
32nd in the world.
The former powerlifter has yet to taste victory this season but declared
himself pleased with the way he has performed on the PGA Tour. Choi,
making his first appearance in Korea this year, was also delighted
to see Couples making the trip to the Far East.
"I'm looking forward to the week. My family is with me and we'll
stay on for a few days after the event as my parents are coming up
from Wando. I've been pleased with my form in America although I've
not won there yet this year. That's why it'll be good to try and win
this week. It's good to see Fred in the field as well," said
Choi.
Couples, who won the Masters in 1992 as well as 14 other titles on
the US PGA Tour, will look to improve on last year's tied fifth finish
at the SK Telecom Open which was won by Scotsman Yates.
The Thai-based Yates, currently 15th on the Asian Tour Order of Merit,
is hoping to draw some inspiration from his victory 12 months ago
and get back into the mode of challenging for titles again. This year,
he has yet to record a top-10 and was forced to withdraw from last
week's BMW Asian Open in Shanghai due to a slight back strain.
"It's nice to come back and defend. I remember I missed a short
putt at the last hole last year and thought I would have to get into
a play-off but Rick (Gibson) then missed his putt to give me the win.
I played nicely the whole week then and it does seem that I always
play well in Korea," said Yates.
The last time Yates featured at Il Dong Lake four years ago, he had
a putt on the 72nd hole to win the SK Telecom Open but missed his
birdie attempt. He subsequently fell into a three-way play-off with
Korean duo Charlie Wi and Kang Wook-soon, with Wi eventually winning
at the seventh extra hole which set a Tour record for the most play-off
holes.
"I'm looking forward to playing at Il-Dong Lake. However, I've
not played great all year, just making cuts. It's probably because
I've been working on my swing and it's slowly getting better.
"It's great to have Choi in the field. It's nice that the top
Asians come back to the region for events and provide us with the
opportunity of playing against them," said Yates.
Other top names in the field include Thailand's Thaworn Wiratchant,
who has a chance of overhauling compatriot Thongchai Jaidee at the
top of the Order of Merit with a strong performance in Seoul.
Second ranked Thaworn, winner of the Standard Chartered Indonesia
Open in March, trails the merit leader by about US$30,500 but with
Thongchai not in the field, he has a great opportunity to make a move.
Korean-born New Zealander Eddie Lee, who finished fourth in the BMW
Asian Open last week after missing seven cuts in as many starts this
season, will also feature in Seoul where he first found fame in 2002
by winning the Maekyung Open while he was still an amateur.
Australian Scott Strange and Kiwi Richard Lee, winners on the Asian
Tour this season, as well as two-time winner Terry Pilkadaris of Australia
are also in the fray.
India's Amandeep Johl and Korea's Mo Joong-kyung, members of the victorious
Asian team in the recent Visa Dynasty Cup, will also challenge for
the SK Telecom Open title.
Korea's
Choi Kyung-ju and former US Masters champion Fred Couples are amongst
the top names aiming to wrest the SK Telecom Open from title holder
Simon Yates this week.
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