Chris DiMarco is hoping that his lucky charm, his wife Amy, can signal a return to form and carry him to success at the Ballantine’s Championship in Korea.
The American Ryder Cup player arrived on the beautiful island of Jeju in Korea with his wife set to resume the caddieing duties that helped the 39 year old to his last tournament victory at the 2006 Abu Dhabi Golf Championship on The European Tour International Schedule.
By his own admission, DiMarco has been struggling to recapture the fitness and form that made him one of golf’s fiercest competitors since a skiing accident last season sparked a series of injuries that have hampered his game for the last six months.
But the American, three times a winner in his homeland, is hoping that, with Amy carrying his bag, and a change of scenery from the US PGA Tour, can spark a revival in form to propel him back up the World Rankings and into contention for a place on The USA’s 2008 Ryder Cup Team.
“Amy caddied for me many years ago before we had kids and then she was on the bag for me in Abu Dhabi which I won in 2006 and then again in 2007 when we were fourth, so she is a very lucky charm and I think I will need that luck this week!” smiled DiMarco at his press conference at the Pinx Golf Club.
“We have some funny moments out on the course. You know, when I ask her maybe ‘what do you think, a four or five iron’ and she just kind of goes, ‘hit it on the green, there's the pin, hit it right at it.’
“Just the bluntness of her and you know, the matter of fact of it is, it makes you really think, well, yeah, there's the pin, hit it right at it, why am I thinking of all that other stuff. I think it helps me. I don't think I over think but I think I tend to maybe bring too much in instead of getting really focused on what's at hand.”
DiMarco will strat his bid for glory at the Ballantine’s Championship in the company of World Number Five and tournament favourite KJ Choi and American-Korean Anthony Kim, one of the game’s rising stars.
“Obviously it's great for the country to have a tournament here and it's going to be an honour playing with K.J,” DiMarco continued.
“I know it's going to be absolutely special for him to be in his home country and for him to be here and I know the crowds are going to be phenomenal and I'm looking forward to that. He's a great guy, great ambassador for his country. And to be part of it and to be part of that threesome with him and Anthony Kim is going to be quite an honour.”
