BALLANTINE'S CHAMPIONSHIP RELATED STORIES Ballantine's Championship home page Ballantine's Championship Preview Round 1: Ilonen and Carolan lead the way on 67 Round 2: McDowell heads Jeev for clubhouse lead Round 2: McDowell leads Jeev by two at halfway Round 3: Jeev and McDowell build four shot lead Round 4: McDowell downs Jeev in playoff Final Scores & Prize Money Order of Merit after the Ballantine's Ch'ship About the Pinx Golf Club course Choi is out to impress on home soil Local hero Yang looking for strong support Harrington expects strong Korean challenge Prom looking for repeat of Korean success Wind will play a big role in Jeju, says Ho Choi predicts big impact on Korean golf Asia and Europe's finest to face off at Ballantine's Revamped Pinx course to challenge world's best Yang and DiMarco line up for Ballantine's Ballantine's boost for golf in Korea "Awesome experience" awaits Anthony Kim in Korea Kim Young Kyu to face reality of Tour golf Stellar field for Ballantine's Korea to include Choi AT schedule boosted by Korean and Indian events Full details of the Pinx Golf Club in Jeju ASIAN GOLF TODAY TOP STORIES Liang is Indian wire-to-wire hero Tanihara takes Panasonic title Su Dong's lead cut to two Hole-in-One Jeev shares the lead Korea, Philippines, Italy for World Cup Lu wins record 4th Taiwan Masters Aussie PGA rethinks 'One Asia' GOLF TODAY TOP STORIES Seve has a brain tumor Schwartzel wins by three Johnson wins Texas Open In-Kyung Kim wins maiden title Weibring clinches title with closing 68

 Wind will play a big role in Jeju, says Ho

Seasoned Korean professional SK Ho believes the winner of this week’s inaugural Ballantine’s Championship will be the player who best handles the strong breeze.

The €2 million (US$2.9 million) showpiece – the first European Tour event to be held in Korea – tees off on Thursday (March 13) at Pinx Golf Club on the Korean island of Jeju.

Ho has played on the island before and knows what to expect. “Jeju is famous for its strong wind and now the season is changing from winter to spring I think we might have windy conditions,” he said.

“If that’s the case, then low scoring will be difficult. You will need to be very accurate with your approach shots – if you get your distance wrong, then you will soon be in trouble.”

Ho – a nine-time winner in Japan – is looking for a return to form after what he felt was a disappointing 2007.

“I didn’t play so well last year, but I’ve practised extremely hard throughout the winter and I’m fully prepared for this tournament,” he told reporters.

“This is the first Ballantine’s Championship and I’m delighted to have been invited to play. I’m looking forward to it and am confident I can play well this week.”

Ho was joined at his press conference by compatriot Kim Young Kyu, a player who earned his starting slot in the 132-man field in unusual fashion – by winning a reality TV show.

Kim triumphed in the “Road to the Ballantine’s Championship”, a made-for-TV knockout tournament in which young Korean players battled it out for the right to line up with the stars.

The 25-year-old, who only earned his Korea PGA Tour card last November, will be making his professional debut. “I’d like to thank Ballantine’s for making this possible,” he said.

“I’m very happy but also a bit nervous. I’ve practised for three weeks here at Pinx and I’m a lot more comfortable on the greens now. I’m happy with my game and I’ll be looking to make some good scores.”

Kim will be lining up alongside the game’s elite, including world No.5 and Korean sporting icon KJ Choi and British Open champion Padraig Harrington.

The Ballantine’s Championship is co-sanctioned by the European and Asian Tours and the Korea PGA.

March 10, 2008