Kuala Lumpur: Major champion David Toms of the United States will make his debut at the CJ Invitational Hosted by KJ Choi with every intention of ending a two-year title drought next week.
Toms, winner of the 2001 U.S. PGA Championship, will be among an elite cast at the US$750,000 event which includes current Asian Tour Order of Merit leader Kiradech Aphibarnrat of Thailand, Siddikur of Bangladesh, Angelo Que of the Philippines and Rikard Karlberg of Sweden.
Lee Dong-hwan, a two-time winner in Japan, Baek Seuk-hyun, ranked sixth on the Asian Tour Order of Merit, Kim Gi-whan and Lee Sung will lead the local charge along with two-time defending champion Choi, who is the tournament host, at the immaculate Haesley Nine Bridges Golf Club on the outskirts of Seoul.
Toms has won 11 titles on the U.S. PGA Tour but not since 2011. He has enjoyed a solid 2013 season in the United States, finishing seventh at the U.S. PGA Championship and securing three other top-20s.
Like most players in the field next week, Toms will be aiming to dethrone Korean legend Choi, who is on a mission to secure an unprecedented third straight win in his own event. No player in Asian Tour history has won the same tournament in three successive years.
“I’m excited to be a part of this prestigious event. I’ve heard many great things about the event as well as the golf course, which I’m really looking forward to playing on,” said the 46-year-old Toms.
“I’ve enjoyed quite a solid season so far, so my main goal is obviously to win the event. K.J. has won his own event twice so he will be the man to beat.”
Toms, who is making his first visit to the ‘Land of the Morning Calm’, also saluted Choi for inspiring promising golfing talent in Korea and across Asia. Many young stars have since emerged including Noh Seung-yul, the 2010 Asian Tour Order of Merit champion, and Bae Sang-moon, who won on the PGA Tour this season.
“Golf has enjoyed rapid growth in Asia. There are many talented players in Asia and the success of K.J. across the globe has inspired many young players to turn professional and aim to follow in his footsteps,” said the American.
“K.J. is certainly a role model to the younger generation of golfers in Asia and I’m proud to be invited to play in his event.”
Reigning Asian Tour Order of Merit champion Thaworn Wiratchant of Thailand, Gaganjeet Bhullar of India, the big-hitting Scott Hend of Australia, Jbe Kruger of South Africa and Berry Henson of the United States, all winners on the Asian Tour, will also feature in the event.
The CJ Invitational Hosted by KJ Choi is title sponsored by the CJ Group, Korea’s food-to-entertainment conglomerate and is promoted by IMG. It is also the final counting event for Asian Tour players to qualify for the WGC-HSBC Champions in Shanghai later this month.
