2008 Ballantine's Championship - Event Preview: Harrington expects strong Korean challenge

The Irish star is one of the leading contenders at this week’s €2 million (US$2.9 million) showpiece – the first European Tour event to be held in Korea.

World No.5 KJ Choi, Yang Yong Eun and SK Ho will mount a powerful challenge on behalf of the host nation.

Rising American star Anthony Kim – playing in the country of his parents’ birth – is another strong contender.

“I'm not familiar with the local Korean players, but obviously KJ and Anthony and a few others are very strong,” said Harrington.

“Ballantine’s has put such a great field together and this is the first time the European Tour has been here, so the Korean players are going to be up for it this week, no question.

“I would expect to see both KJ and Anthony thereabouts on Sunday and hopefully I'll be there fighting it out with them.”

Harrington, the British Open champion, was full of admiration for Choi – a seven-time winner on the PGA Tour – and Kim.

“I've played quite a lot with KJ over the years and the best word to describe him is relentless,” he said.

“He just keeps doing his thing and he appears to be very self confident and goes about his business in his way.

“KJ Choi is trying to be KJ Choi – he’s not trying to be anybody else. That’s an intimidating factor in a player when he's comfortable with who he is, and KJ is certainly that.”

Harrington said he was impressed with 22-year-old Kim, who has six top-10 finishes on the PGA Tour since turning professional in 2006.

“I've played with him and he's a strong, talented player. There’s nothing lacking in the quality of his game and he has a very bright future.”

The Ballantine’s Championship – co-sanctioned by the European Tour, Asian Tour and Korea PGA – starts on Thursday (March 13) at Pinx Golf Club on the island of Jeju.

And if Harrington emerges the winner, he will have the perfect spot for the trophy – his kitchen table.

For that is where he keeps his British Open trophy – the Claret Jug – as a daily reminder of his famous victory at Carnoustie last year.

“It sits on the breakfast table in my kitchen,” he told amused reporters after a practice round at Pinx.

“Every morning I come down, I open the kitchen door and I have my breakfast while it sits there. It seems like it's at home there!”

March 11, 2008