Some of the world’s best golfers joined more than 600 guests at the Grand Hyatt hotel in Seoul for the opening ceremony to this year’s Ballantine’s Championship.
Former Ryder Cup star Jean Van de Velde introduced the likes of Lee Westwood, Ernie Els, YE Yang and Dustin Johnson.
Also in attendance on a star-studded evening were Ian Poulter, Miguel Angel Jiménez, Liang Wen-chong and defending champion Marcus Fraser.
Fraser was hugely impressed with the evening, commenting: “The venue looked great. Ballantine’s is such a unique and luxurious brand so it is no surprise that it was such a good set up. They really do things better than anyone else. We’re very lucky to have Ballantine’s involved in golf.”
To mark Ballantine’s and golf’s shared Scottish heritage, a traditional address to the haggis was made with the Scottish delicacy served as part of a sumptuous four-course menu.
World Number One Lee Westwood particularly pleased with the menu: “I’ve had haggis many times, I love it, so great to have it served over here in Korea.”
The evening was also used to introduce this year’s Championship Blend, of which only ten bottles have been produced.
The blend was a collaboration between Ballantine’s Master Blender Sandy Hyslop and Fraser in recognition of his win last year, and contains whiskies all aged for at least 38 years.
