Local golfers hopeful of Korea Open title

By Kang Seung-woo

With defending champion Rickie Fowler out of the Kolon Korea Open, high-profile local players are looking to capitalize on his absence and claim the title, worth 300 million won ($270,000).

The 1 billion won tournament, the final major of this year’s Korea PGA Tour, will tee off Thursday at Woojeong Hills Country Club in Cheonan, South Chungcheong Province, about 90 kilometers south of Seoul.

The flamboyant Fowler, who claimed his first professional victory at last year’s Korea Open, canceled the plan to defend his title last week due to back problems. He has also withdrawn from next week’s CIMB Classic in Malaysia, which will feature Tiger Woods.

Without the 23-year-old American, domestic players including former champions are hopeful of their chances.

Yang Yong-eun, the 2006 and 2010 champion who has struggled to find the form that saw him defeat Woods for the 2009 PGA Championship this season, finished as runner-up at the Nanshan China Masters last week.

“I haven’t played well on the PGA Tour this year but I think I am getting my groove back after the close call last weekend,” Yang said in a press conference Tuesday. The 40-year-old, a two-time PGA Tour winner, failed to make the top 10 in 20 previous appearances.

“I’ve always done well at Woojeong Hills, and I will try to build on those fond memories and turn my season around this week.”

Bae Sang-moon, who made his U.S. tour debut this year and has two top-10 finishes, plans to channel his championship performance in 2008 and 2009.

“I always play at Woojeong Hills with confidence and after watching the setup during the pro-am round Monday, I’ve grown even more confident,” the 26-year-old said.

“My two Korea Open wins helped me develop into a better player. I hope to showcase my skills this week.”

Noh Seung-yul, who had the most impressive season on the PGA Tour among the Koreans with three top-10 and 13 top-25 finishes in 28 events, will try to pick up where he left off in the United States for a maiden win on home soil.

“I have yet to claim a title in a local tournament so I have trained hard (to triumph),” he said.

The field will also feature Japan’s Ryo Ishikawa, a nine-time Japanese tour winner.

Organizers have altered the playoff format for this year. Previously, if players were tied after 72 holes, they squared off in a sudden-death hole on the 18th but this year, if needed, a playoff will be played on the 16th, 17th and 18th holes and the aggregate score will determine the champion.