GS CALTEX MAEKYUNG OPEN RELATED STORIES GS Caltex Maekyung Open home page GS Caltex Maekyung Open Preview Round 1: Koreans dominate first day leaderboard Round 2: Oh moves one clear and eyes maiden win Round 3: Tight finish promised as Bae closes on home hat-trick Round 4: Bae completes home hat-trick in playoff Final Scores & Prize Money About the course Four to watch this week Hwang targets home title defence Wu Ashun growing in confidence 2008 flashback: Hwang denies Noh historic chance as he claims his maiden win MORE ASIAN GOLF NEWS Old Guard Show Form In Philippines Mike Kerr New Asian Tour CEO Nirat Eyes Title In Philippines 2012 Performance Stats Hiratsuka Hopes To Defend In Myanmar Sponsors Show Support For Philippine Open Champions Head To Myanmar 84 Players Make Final Stage

 Event Preview: Hwang targets home title defence

Korea’s Hwang Inn-choon is well aware of the new challenges facing his title defence when he heads to the Nam Seoul Country Club for the GS Caltex Maekyung Open starting on Thursday.

No player has successfully defended his title at the approximately US$470,000 full field Asian Tour event and if Hwang hopes to claim the honour of being the first to do so, much will have to depend on his determination and ability to fend off the challenges from the elite Asian Tour field who have gathered in Seoul this week.

Thailand’s Thaworn Wiratchant who has 10 wins on the Asian Tour will be eager to get back to his winning ways and add another title to his illustrious career on the Asian Tour.

Others in the stellar field include India’s Gaganjeet Bhullar who will be looking for a good performance this week to boost his preparations for his maiden British Open appearance in July and Korea’s rising teenage star, Noh Seung-yul, touted as the future of golf in Korea.

Just 12 months ago, Hwang, a relative unknown then, had denied Noh his day of glory after emerging triumphant in a tense, sudden-death shoot-out at the Nam Seoul Country Club.

But having come of age on the Asian Tour by winning the Rookie of the Year title and his maiden title at the Midea China Classic last season, Hwang believes that apart from the established players from the Asian Tour, Noh will return as a more accomplished player, set to pose a serious threat to his title defence.

“Noh is a very good player. Since defeating him in the play-off last year, I’ve watched him grown from strength to strength on the Asian Tour. I’m sure he’s now back as a better player with more experience and I’ll have to be careful,” said Hwang.

Hwang is also delighted that he has since recovered from his knee injury which forced him to miss the Ballantine’s Championship a fortnight ago.

“I hurt my knee recently but thankfully I’ve since recovered. I was afraid that I would not be able to return to defend my title but everything’s okay now and I’m ready,” added the Korean who savoured his maiden success at last year’s event since turning professional in 2002,

Meanwhile, fellow compatriot Kang Wook-soon is ready to roll back the years and reclaim the GS Caltex Maekyung Open title that he last won in 2000.

Kang is arguably one of Korea’s most decorated players, having made a name for himself in Asia by winning two Order of Merit titles in 1996 and 1998. The 42-year-old Korean also became the first player in the Asian Tour’s history to surpass US$500,000 in career earnings.

While Kang plays mostly on the domestic circuit today, he still keeps tabs on the Asian Tour and is aware that the local charges including himself will face stiff opposition from the Asian Tour contingent, given the unprecedented depth and quality in the Asian Tour today.

“There are many good players on the Asian Tour. As a full field Asian Tour event, the GS Caltex Maekyung Open will provide the home crowd with a high standard of golf,” said Kang.

“I think I played in the Asian Tour for over 15 years, and for me, the weather was very hot. So physically, it was very difficult for me. I thought I would let younger players have a go at the game, and I just wanted to be in Korea,” said Kang who has decided to put a stop to his globe-trotting lifestyle and remain in the comforts of home.

Thaworn who has uncharacteristically been suffering a loss of form since the start of the season knows that he needs to quickly regain the form that made him the first player to enjoy a career 10th victory on the Asian Tour, which was later matched by fellow compatriot Thongchai Jaidee.

“The season has not been going too well for me but I hope to get back to my winning ways again this week,” said the 42-year-old Thai whose last win on the Asian Tour came at the Bangkok Airways Open in 2008.

The GS Caltex Maekyung Open, sanctioned with the Korean Golf Association is the ninth leg of this season’s Asian Tour and is also the second Asian Tour event in Korea.

May 13, 2009