Golf: Lee Westwood, Ian Poulter and Ernie Els to play at Ballantine's Championship
Lee Westwood, Ernie Els, and Ian Poulter have been finalised for the Ballantine's Championship to be held in Korea in April 2011.
The trio will tee off on the greens of Blackstone Resort in April for the purse of 2.2 million Euros. Lee Westwood confirmed the news in Abu Dhabi before the start of Emirates Airline Invitational.
He said, “I thoroughly enjoyed playing in the Ballantine's Championship in 2009 and I’m very much looking forward to returning to the tournament this year. I enjoyed a fantastic 2010 and becoming the world number one has been the fulfilment of a life-long
ambition. Obviously I'm very keen to maintain the momentum in 2011 so I'm aiming to put on a great display for the Korean fans.”
Yang Yong-eun, Asia’s first major winner when he defeated Tiger Woods at the 2009 Professional Golfers Association Championship, will also participate in the tournament. The Korean will visit the Blackstone Resort for the first time, although this will be
his third attempt on the title.
Yang said, “It's always nerve-racking to play before home fans. Korean fans are passionate and knowledgeable of golf. I know fans are especially proud of seeing their native sons play against world-class golfers. I am really eager to play at this tournament.”
Apart from these two, Ballantine's Championship will be honoured by PGA Grand Slam winner Ernie Els and world number eleven Ian Poulter. Els will eye his third successive appearance in the event, whereas Poulter will visit the course for the first time.
Poulter, who won the USB Hong Kong Open in 2010, told the press that he left an amazing year behind and was looking forward for a similar start, which is why he chose the Championship as his debut event.
The fourth edition of the Ballantine’s Championship, which is being co-sanctioned by European and Asian Tour, will kick off on April 28, 2011 at Blackstone Resort.
Few of the biggest names in golf will inaugurate the Asian tour on the greens of Seoul. Although the officials of the tournament are yet to announce the entire field, participation of Poulter, Westwood and Els is sure to attract fans from all over the world.
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