Englishmen Ian Poulter and Lee Westwood are both targeting victory in the Ballantine’s Championship in Korea as they seek to maintain their outstanding records in the Far East.
Between them, the pair have won a total of nine times in the region with numerous other top 10 finishes, and both are relishing the chance to lift another trophy when the €2.2 million Ballantine’s Championship is staged from April 28 to May 1 at the prestigious Blackstone Golf Club near Seoul.
“I love it,” said Poulter, when asked about playing in Asia. “Any chance I get to play Asian tournaments I take them. I’ve had a bit of success there and I enjoy playing golf there.”
The World Number 16 won last year’s UBS Hong Kong Open and the 2009 Barclays Singapore Open to go with his success in the Japan Golf Tour’s 2007 Phoenix Open.
Poulter, who has ten European Tour victories to his name, will be appearing in the Ballantine’s Championship for the first time.
“It’s going to be another fun week, I’m very much looking forward to it and hopefully I can go one better than the last time I was in Korea,” said the 35 year old, who finished runner-up in the 2008 Korean Open.
“I was a little disappointed then, I bogeyed the last and as a result came up one shot shy, so I would like to go one better this time. That’s what I’m going to be working towards.”
Westwood has six career victories in Asia and has been especially successful in Japan, winning the Taiheiyo Masters three years running from 1996 to 1998.
He featured in the 2009 Ballantine’s Championship when the tournament was played at Pinx Golf Club on the Korean holiday island of Jeju and is keen try out Blackstone Golf Club.
“It will be fun,” said the World Number Two. “I’ve never been to Seoul before and it’s always nice to experience new places and cultures – and the courses in Asia are normally good, so I’m really looking forward to it.
“I’ve played well in Asia in the past and had quite a lot of wins there – four in Japan, plus Macau and Malaysia. I’ve always enjoyed playing in Asia.
“It falls in the middle of two Majors, coming between the Masters and the US Open, and it’s important for me to play some strong events in that stretch so the Ballantine’s Championships fits in perfectly.
“The Majors are what it is all about for me this year and it is vital that I get my game into good shape for those.”
Poulter and Westwood are part of a world-class field at the 2011 Ballantine’s Championship which also includes three-time Major winner Ernie Els, 18-time European Tour winner Miguel Ángel Jiménez and US PGA Tour star Dustin Johnson.
A powerful Korean contingent will be led by Asia’s first Major winner, YE Yang, reigning Asian Tour Order of Merit champion Noh Seung Yul, and Kim Kyung Tae, a three-time winner in Japan last year.
