Major Champion Y E Yang returns to his Korean home town for the Ballantine’s Championship this week eyeing a European Tour double fresh from his victory in the Volvo China Open.
The reigning US PGA Champion, who grew up on Jeju Island, is in superb form having finished tied eighth in the Masters Tournament before capturing his third European Tour title in China last week.
He will face some stiff competition if he is to become the first player since Charl Schwartzel at the start of the season to win back-to-back European Tour titles, with Ernie Els and Anthony Kim – who are also in a rich vein of form – joining him in the field at Pinx Golf Club.
Yang, who famously held off the challenge of Tiger Woods at Hazeltine last year to become the first Major Champion from Asia, finished two strokes clear of Rhys Davies and Stephen Dodd last week, dropping only four strokes in four rounds despite some tricky conditions in Suzhou.
After showing no side effects from his gruelling 30 hour trip from Augusta National to China, Yang is hoping that home advantage – and indeed home support – can help him succeed this week on the honeymoon island where he was born and raised and where he picked up golf at the age of 19, watching countless hours of instructional videos by golf legends Jack Nicklaus and Sir Nick Faldo.
He said: “Jeju is my home town where I grew up. Going back is always fun and exciting and to do it as a champion is that much more sweet.
“I guess playing in front of my friends and family – like anyone else in professional sport – is something special. After my win last week I will feel really good for a few more weeks not just this one.
“I guess there will be more people rooting for me and my main goal is to leave an impression with them, the sponsors who have invested so much in me and ultimately I would like put up a good show worthy of a Major winner.”
Three-time Major Champion Els has returned to his top form in 2010, winning back-to-back events last month - the WGC- CA Championship followed by the Arnold Palmer invitational on the US PGA Tour.
The South African made his debut in the Ballantine’s Championship last year and contended strongly throughout, eventually finishing tied fourth, two shots behind play-off winner Thongchai Jaidee.
"I thoroughly enjoyed my Ballantine's Championship debut and was pleased with a top-five finish, although if I could have got a couple more putts to drop on the final day it might have been even better!" said Els.
"It's a wonderful course and the Korean fans are passionate and knowledgeable, so I'm delighted to be returning."
Kim finished tied fifth in the inaugural Ballantine’s Championship two years ago and will be full of confidence following a superb final round at the Masters Tournament, where he surged through the field with a final round 65 to finish third. That followed his victory in the Shell Houston Open on the US PGA Tour and he is keen to do well in Korea, where the Californian born 24 year old’s parents are from.
"One motivation for returning is the reception I received from the Korean fans," he explained. "They gave me a wonderful welcome last year and were fantastic in their support throughout the four rounds.
"I would dearly love to win a tournament in the country of my parents' birth and my message to the fans in Korea is that I'll be going all out to do that this time."
Jaidee returns to Jeju Island to defend the trophy having finished tied eighth in China last week after recovering from an arm injury which forced him to retire at the Masters Tournament.
He is joined in the field by Northern Ireland’s Graeme McDowell, winner of the inaugural event two years ago, who was also tied eight in Suzhou as was Sweden’s Henrik Stenson, who also makes the relatively short journey to Korea.
Korean teenager Noh Seung-yul will be another player chasing success on home soil. The 18 year old became the second youngest winner in European Tour history earlier this season when he won the Maybank Malaysian Open.
