SHANGHAI, Feb. 22--Xinhua-PRNewswire/InfoQuest Three more top international golfers, world number six Sergio Garcia, Korean number one Choi Kyoung-ju and China's leading player Zhang Lian-wei, have confirmed their participation at this year's US$2.35 million JOHNNIE WALKER CLASSIC at the prestigious Pine Valley Golf Resort and Country Club in Beijing from April 21 to 24. Photos: -- Choi Kyoung-ju (KJ) http://xprnnews.xfn.info/jwgc/kc-choi/ChoiofKorea-1.htm http://xprnnews.xfn.info/jwgc/kc-choi/ChoiofKorea-2.htm http://xprnnews.xfn.info/jwgc/kc-choi/ChoiofKorea-3.htm http://xprnnews.xfn.info/jwgc/kc-choi/ChoiofKorea-4.htm http://xprnnews.xfn.info/jwgc/kc-choi/ChoiofKorea-5.htm -- Sergio Garcia http://xprnnews.xfn.info/jwgc/sergiogarcia/GarciaJWCPerth2003-1.htm http://xprnnews.xfn.info/jwgc/sergiogarcia/GarciaJWCPerth2003-2.htm http://xprnnews.xfn.info/jwgc/sergiogarcia/GarciaJWCPerth2003.htm http://xprnnews.xfn.info/jwgc/sergiogarcia/GarciaJWYoungGolferPerth2003.htm -- Zhang Lian-wei http://xprnnews.xfn.info/johnniewalker/zhang-perth2003-1.htm http://xprnnews.xfn.info/johnniewalker/zhang-perth2003-2.htm http://xprnnews.xfn.info/johnniewalker/zhang-perth2004.htm The tournament presented by JOHNNIE WALKER, the world's leading Scotch whisky, is Asia's richest professional golf event, and has already attracted three star golfers; World Number 3, South Africa's Ernie Els, six-time major winner Nick Faldo, and this year's defending champion, Miguel Angel Jimenez, ranked 14 in the world. "We are excited to welcome three more of the most inspiring names in golf to our tournament," commented Ben Anderson, Global Brand Director for JOHNNIE WALKER. "We salute these three players for their determination to "Keep Walking," and succeed at the top of their game and we look forward to enjoying what will be undoubtedly some of the best golf to be played in Asia this year." Spanish superstar Garcia, born in Castellon just 25 years ago will spearhead the battle for the US$396,000 winners cheque. Nicknamed 'El Nino,' Garcia started playing golf when only three years old, copying his father Victor, the local club-pro, who still coaches him to this day. He turned professional in 1999 after playing in 28 professional tournaments while still an amateur. He won the British Amateur Championship in 1998, a victory that qualified him for the US Masters. Since those heady amateur days, Sergio has won five tournaments on the US PGA Tour, five in Europe and four more around the world. He is one of the best known and popular players around the world, and although always smiling, he is extremely competitive having played on three Ryder Cup teams. Joining Garcia will be Korea's Choi Kyoung-ju, known around the world as KJ. Ranked 28th in the world, KJ turned pro in 1994 and became the first Korean golfer to qualify for the US PGA Tour. He has since won twice in the US, once in Europe and once on the Asian Tour. However KJ's hallmark is his consistency, achieving seven top-10 finishes last year, including a memorable third place in the US Masters, which helped him win over US$2 million, to finish the year in 26th spot on the US Tour Money list. Born in Shenzhen, 39-year-old Zhang Lian-wei trained as a javelin thrower before turning to golf and becoming China's most successful golfer. He won the China Amateur Championship three times before turning professional in 1994. Zhang started the 2003 season in stunning fashion when he beat Els to win the Caltex Masters in Singapore. Last year, Zhang became the first Chinese player to be invited to the prestigious US Masters and to make the cut in a US PGA Tour event, at the FedEx St. Jude Classic. The JOHNNIE WALKER CLASSIC is jointly owned and proudly presented by JOHNNIE WALKER and IMG and is jointly sanctioned by the European, Asian and Australasian Tours and by the China Golf Association. Contact Holly Hu - Shanghai +86-137-6168-3747 [email protected] SOURCE JOHNNIE WALKER --Distributed by AsiaNet (www.asianetnews.net)--