By Kang Seung-woo
The Ballantine’s Championship has returned to Korea.
The only European Tour event staged in Korea, following the maiden tournament in 2008 will tee off Thursday at the Blackstone Golf Club in Icheon, Gyeonggi Province.
Even though Lee Westwood of England, who defeated Miguel Angel Jimenez of Spain by a single shot to win last year’s tournament, will not return to defend his title due to personal reasons the field still has several high-profile golfers. Englishman Ian Poulter, Australian Adam Scott and reigning British Open champion Darren Clarke of Northern Ireland will all compete.
Poulter, who failed to make the cut at last year’s event, has been playing well on the U.S. Tour after finishing third at the Arnold Palmer Invitational and seventh at the Masters and.
“I would like to take the good form on to the golf course and be able to have a chance to win this golf tournament. You know, I think to be here, to represent Ballantine’s this week, they have done a great job and I’m very happy to be here,” Poulter, an 11-time European Tour winner, said at a media briefing on Tuesday.