High-Profile Golf Prospects to Compete at Korea Open
By Kang Seung-woo
Staff Reporter
Three of the world's most impressive young golfers ― Danny Lee, Rory McIlroy and Ryo Ishikawa ― will headline the Kolon-Hana Bank Korea Open, which begins Thursday.
The triumvirate, seen as some of the top candidates to become golf's next great player, is set to compete at the 1 billion won ($814,000) tournament at the Woo Jeong Hills Country Club in Cheonan, South Chungcheong Province.
The winner of the 52-year-old event will receive a 300-million-won prize.
It will be the first time that the trio has played together since the Masters in April, where McIlroy tied for 20th and Lee and Ishikawa missed the cut.
The youngsters will square off against some of the top local players, such as reigning champion Bae Sang-moon and Lee Seung-ho, a two-time KPGA winner this year.
Korean and international golfers have split the titles in the previous 10 contests, which have attracted big-time players like Vijay Singh of Fiji, Anthony Kim and John Daly of the United States, Sergio Garcia of Spain and local favorite Choi Kyoung-ju.
Lee, who was born in Korea in 1990 and moved to New Zealand at eight years old, made history by eclipsing Woods as the youngest golfer to win the U.S. Amateur in 2008 at 18 years and one month.
The mark was broken this year when Korean An Byeong-hun ― who will also be competing this week ― won the title at 17.
In addition, Lee, whose first name in Korean is Jin-myung, set another age record at the European Tour when he won the Johnnie Walker Classic in February 2009 at 18. He was also just the second amateur to win on the Tour.
He has yet to notch a win since turning pro following the Masters but Lee, who has played on the U.S. PGA Tour on a sponsor's exemption, finished tied for seventh at the AT&T National in July to reaffirm his potential.
Lee joined McIlroy, Ishikawa, Bae and Noh Sung-yul at a tournament press conference on Tuesday and said the youngsters could steal the show.
"Along with these four other young players, I will provide an exciting game,'' Lee said.
Lee, ranked 118th, will play for New Zealand along with David Smail at the World Cup of Golf in November in China.
The sensational Ishikawa became the youngest winner on the Japan Golf Tour after topping the Munsingwear Open at 15 years and eight months.
Ishikawa is short at just 1.73 meters tall, but his drives can reach about 300 yards.
Since turning pro last year, the 17-year-old, coming off last week's win at the Fujisankei Classic, has hoisted four trophies in Japan.
"It is my first tournament in Korea,'' world No. 47 Ishikawa said.
"I am thrilled to play the course, which is one of the best in Korea. I will try to provide a solid performance for fans.'' His good looks, which have led him to be dubbed the "bashful prince,'' have attracted about 30 Japanese reporters to Korea.
McIlroy, who is the oldest among the three at 20, sits 24th in the world rankings and grabbed his first career victory at the Dubai Desert Classic, a European Tour event, in February after edging Englishman Justin Rose by one.
For his age, he has already drawn raves from the world's best golfers, including Woods.
"He has all of the components to be the best player in the world, there's no doubt. It's just a matter of time and experience, and then basically gaining that experience in big events, that takes time, and I mean he's only 19. Just give him some time, and I'm sure he'll be there,'' Woods said after the WGC-CA Championship in March.
The native of Northern Ireland said he wants to get a good result in his second visit to the Far East nation.
Local players are also gearing up for the title.
"I will prove that there are good golfers in Korea,'' Bae, 23, said.
He held off Ian Poulter of England and Anthony Kim last year.