2008 Ballantine's Championship - Event Preview: Prom looking for repeat of Korean success

Thai hotshot, Prom Meesawat returns to familiar ground where he begins his quest of repeating his career breakthrough feat in Korea at this week’s Ballantine’s Championship.

Back in 2006, Prom went head-to-head with Korea’s favourite sporting icon, Choi Kyung-yu as well as 2006 Asian Tour Order of Merit winner, Jeev Milkha Singh and emerged victorious, claiming his maiden Asian Tour title at the 2006 SK Telecom in Korea.

At this week’s US$2.9 million event sanctioned by the Asian Tour, European Tour and Korean PGA, Prom will once again be up against the likes of Choi and Singh as well as some of the best from Europe including British Open champion, Padraig Harrington and two-time Major winner Sandy Lyle from Scotland.

“It’s good to come back to Korea this week. I can still remember how happy and excited I was when I won my first title back then. However, it’s a different field with a lot of good players now, so it will be interesting to see how it all goes this week,” said Prom.

Prom quickly began to stamp his mark after that win in 2006 and continued to enjoy another fine season in 2007 by finishing seventh on the Asian Tour Order of Merit and registering six other top-10s.

But after coming narrowly close to winning his first title of the year in Jakarta last month, the burly Thai’s early season form seemed to have hit a rough patch when he finished out of the top-10 and missed the cut in three of the last four events that he has played in this year.

“My form has not been very consistent. Everything is just not coming together at the same time. Sometimes it can be due to my putting and sometimes it can be my tee shots giving me problems,” said Prom. “However, I’ve been working hard on my game and hopefully it’ll all come together this week.”

The gusty and chilly conditions at the Pinx Golf Club could well play a factor in deciding the winner of this week’s inaugural Ballantine’s Championship too. Prom, however believes that he has the experience to play well under such conditions.

“It is quite windy and cold this week. But I’ve performed well and won in such conditions before, so it’s alright. I’m fine with the wind and the cold,” said Prom.

“After missing the cut last week, I want to play well to make up for all the disappointment,” added Prom.

Prom’s other challenges will come from Ryder Cup stars Thomas Björn of Denmark and Ireland’s Paul McGinley as well as Japanese ace Shingo Katayama.

Chris DiMarco of the US – a three-time runner-up in Majors – and fast-rising star Korean star, Anthony Kim, who has six top-10 finishes on the US PGA Tour are also expected to feature strongly among the contenders.

The Korea PGA has been allotted 25 places in the 132-strong starting field, meaning rising Korean professionals are being given an unprecedented chance to gain valuable experience in this tournament.

March 11, 2008

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