ID :
211031
Tue, 10/04/2011 - 10:11
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/211031
The shortlink copeid
(LEAD) Major champions headline field at Korea Open
(ATTN: ADDS golfers' comments throughout; CHANGES dateline)
CHEONAN, South Korea, Oct. 4 (Yonhap) -- The reigning U.S. Open champion Rory McIlroy and former PGA Championship winner Yang Yong-eun will headline the field this week at the Korea Open, organizers said Tuesday.
The 54th edition of the South Korean national golf tournament will be held from Thursday to Sunday at the par-71 Woojeong Hills Country Club in Cheonan, about 90 kilometers south of Seoul. The winner will take home 300 million won (US$254,000).
McIlroy, the 22-year-old from Northern Ireland, fired a 16-under to win this year's U.S. Open by eight shots, setting the record for the lowest score in relation to par at the annual U.S. national championship. He finished tied for third at the 2009 Korea Open and this will be his first appearance here since.
Yang, who famously beat then-world No. 1 Tiger Woods to win the 2009 PGA Championship, is the defending Korea Open winner. Last year, he overcame a 10-shot final round deficit to claim his second title.
Woojeong Hills has hosted the past three Korea Opens, and Yang has never finished lower than third in those events. Yang, who was paired with McIlroy in the final round at the U.S. Open, said if the two meet again in the final pairing Sunday, he will try to come out on top.
"The U.S. Open course (Congressional in Maryland) perfectly fit McIlroy's draws," Yang said. "I had no chance against him then because he was great with his shots and putts. But if we're in the final group again this time, I will show him better shots."
McIlroy said he will try to do better than his third-place finish from 2009. He called Yang a strong favorite but said he has fond memories of beating him at the U.S. Open.
McIlroy said some par-3 holes at Woojeong Hills can be challenging and accuracy with irons will make the difference.
Other marquee names this week include Rickie Fowler, the 2010 PGA Tour's Rookie of the Year, also known for his colorful outfits, and South Korean Noh Seung-yul, last year's top money winner on the Asian Tour. Noh blew his final round lead against Yang last year and will look to rebound from the disappointment.
Among others, Hong Soon-sang and Park Sang-hyun, currently second and third on the Korean Tour money list, will duel for local bragging rights.
Notorious for long, thick roughs along the fairways, Woojeong Hills will play at 7,225 yards this year, 12 yards longer than a year ago.
(END)
CHEONAN, South Korea, Oct. 4 (Yonhap) -- The reigning U.S. Open champion Rory McIlroy and former PGA Championship winner Yang Yong-eun will headline the field this week at the Korea Open, organizers said Tuesday.
The 54th edition of the South Korean national golf tournament will be held from Thursday to Sunday at the par-71 Woojeong Hills Country Club in Cheonan, about 90 kilometers south of Seoul. The winner will take home 300 million won (US$254,000).
McIlroy, the 22-year-old from Northern Ireland, fired a 16-under to win this year's U.S. Open by eight shots, setting the record for the lowest score in relation to par at the annual U.S. national championship. He finished tied for third at the 2009 Korea Open and this will be his first appearance here since.
Yang, who famously beat then-world No. 1 Tiger Woods to win the 2009 PGA Championship, is the defending Korea Open winner. Last year, he overcame a 10-shot final round deficit to claim his second title.
Woojeong Hills has hosted the past three Korea Opens, and Yang has never finished lower than third in those events. Yang, who was paired with McIlroy in the final round at the U.S. Open, said if the two meet again in the final pairing Sunday, he will try to come out on top.
"The U.S. Open course (Congressional in Maryland) perfectly fit McIlroy's draws," Yang said. "I had no chance against him then because he was great with his shots and putts. But if we're in the final group again this time, I will show him better shots."
McIlroy said he will try to do better than his third-place finish from 2009. He called Yang a strong favorite but said he has fond memories of beating him at the U.S. Open.
McIlroy said some par-3 holes at Woojeong Hills can be challenging and accuracy with irons will make the difference.
Other marquee names this week include Rickie Fowler, the 2010 PGA Tour's Rookie of the Year, also known for his colorful outfits, and South Korean Noh Seung-yul, last year's top money winner on the Asian Tour. Noh blew his final round lead against Yang last year and will look to rebound from the disappointment.
Among others, Hong Soon-sang and Park Sang-hyun, currently second and third on the Korean Tour money list, will duel for local bragging rights.
Notorious for long, thick roughs along the fairways, Woojeong Hills will play at 7,225 yards this year, 12 yards longer than a year ago.
(END)
