Seoul: Thailand’s Kiradech Aphibarnrat will be looking forward to claim another major scalp when he tees off against some of the world’s best players at the Ballantine’s Championship which returns to the Blackstone Golf Club from April 25-28.
The €2.2 million showpiece will be the first event to be played in Korea on the Asian Tour this season and is sanctioned by the Asian Tour, European Tour and Korea PGA.
Kiradech, who currently leads the Asian Tour Order of Merit, held off a host of star players to win his first co-sanctioned title in Malaysia last month and is ready to repeat his victorious feat at the Ballantine’s Championship next week.
With the sixth edition of the Ballantine’s Championship headlined by 2010 Open Champion Louis Oosthuizen as well as American Ryder Cup stars Dustin Johnson and Zach Johnson, Kiradech wants to prove that he can stay equal to the task again.
“I try to finish as high as possible with every tournament that I compete in. I’m enjoying a good run of form and I’m feeling very confident about my game, especially after my win in Malaysia,” said Kiradech.
Kiradech is among over 30 champions from the Asian Tour poised to ignite the rivalry with their counterparts from the European Tour at the Ballantine’s Championship.
Other Asian Tour stars expected to feature prominently at the Ballantine’s Championship include India’s Anirban Lahiri and Gaganjeet Bhullar and Australia’s Scott Hend, winner of the Chiangmai Golf Classic last month.
Bhullar, who trails Kiradech on the Order of Merit by slightly under US$350,000 in second place, is ready to play catch-up when he steps up to the tee at the Ballantine’s Championship.
“My goal is to win the Order of Merit this season. I’ve gained lots of confidence from my second placed finish at the Avantha Masters and I’m look forward to playing well again,” said Bhullar, a four-time Asian Tour winner.
Past and present Asian Tour Order of Merit winners which include three-time Order of Merit winner Thongchai Jaidee of Thailand, compatriot Thaworn Wiratchant, India’s Jeev Milkha Singh and China’s Liang Wen-chong will also be looking to vie for top honours.
To date, Thongchai and Australia’s Marcus Fraser remain as the only Asian Tour players to have won the Ballantine’s Championship in 2009 and 2010 respectively.
The Ballantine’s Championship was established in 2008 and builds on Ballantine’s long-standing association with golf.
In addition to the Championship, Ballantine’s sponsors several top-flight players and events, as well as invests in grass-roots activity such as the Golf Fund in China and the Road to the Ballantine’s Championship in Korea.
