BEIJING, April 21 --Xinhua-PRNewswire/InfoQuest
South African superstar Ernie Els is looking to become the first three-time winner of the US$2.3 million Johnnie Walker Classic which is to be staged in
mainland China for the first time this week.
The world number three headlines an elite line-up at Pine Valley Golf
Resort and Country Club which includes three other top-10 players in compatriot
Retief Goosen, Spain's Sergio Garcia and Adam Scott of Australia and defending
champion, Miguel Angel Jimenez.
Asia's challenge will come from its victorious Dynasty Cup team members, who trounced Japan, whilst Korea's Choi Kyung-ju, a two-time winner on the US PGA Tour, makes his first appearance in Asia this season.
"I've never been to Beijing and Johnnie Walker events have been good to me. I've won this a couple of times and I have also played quite a lot in Asia, so it is interesting for me to have the two combined here this week," said Els,
who won this event in 1997 and 2003.
Goosen, ranked fifth in the world, is also a former winner of the Johnnie Walker Classic, taking an eight-shot victory in Perth three years ago. "You know, I would have liked to have won some tournaments already this year but my golf hasn't been as good as I want it to be. I think it's getting better and I'll try to see if I can win this Johnnie Walker Classic," said Goosen, who currently tops the European Tour Order of Merit.
With strong and chilly winds prevailing over Beijing this week, playing
conditions are expected to test the golfers bidding for the prestigious title,
won previously by luminaries such as Tiger Woods, Greg Norman and Fred Couples.
Asia's flagbearers in the region's richest event and tri-sanctioned by the European, Asian and Australasian Tours will no doubt be carried by home heroes Zhang Lian-wei and Liang Wen-chong as well as Asian Tour number one Thongchai Jaidee and India's Jyoti Randhawa, who was tied second behind Jimenez in last year's event held in Bangkok.
Another Indian, Rahil Gangjee, is hoping to play his way back into the
headlines in the Johnnie Walker Classic. Twelve months ago, the slightly built
Gangjee claimed his first Asian Tour triumph at the Jack Nicklaus-designed Pine
Valley, winning the inaugural Volkswagen Masters.
"It's good to be back on this course and I'm looking forward to a good week here, especially as it's got a great field," said the 26-year-old Gangjee.
Like Ganjee, Angelo Que of the Philippines was a first-time winner last
season and his career has skyrocketed since then. The Manila-based Que secured
the winning point for Asia last week but knows it's back to individual business
here.
Other top names vying for the Johnnie Walker Classic title include
seven-time European Tour number one Colin Montgomerie, six-time Major champion
Nick Faldo, Ryder Cup stars Luke Donald and Paul Casey and Denmark's Thomas
Bjorn, who was tied second with Randhawa last year.
For further enquiries, please contact Burson-Marsteller at:
Holly Hu - Shanghai
Tel: +86-21-6249-1640 ext. 171
Fax: +86-21-6249-1646
Mobile: +86-13761683747
Email: [email protected]
SOURCE: JOHNNIE WALKER
--Distributed by AsiaNet (www.asianetnews.net)--