Els, Kim and Stenson confirmed for Korean Showpiece

Ernie Els

Three-time Major winner Ernie Els, PGA Tour star Anthony Kim and world No.10 Henrik Stenson will be displaying their phenomenal talents at this year’s Ballantine’s Championship in Korea.

They will be joined in the €2.2 million showpiece by European Tour legend Miguel Angel Jiménez and the tournament's 2008 champion, Graeme McDowell.

Korean hero Yang Yong Eun, who became Asia's first ever Major winner when he captured the PGA Championship last year, has already been confirmed for the event.

The third edition of the Ballantine's Championship will be held from 22-25 April, once again at Pinx Golf Club on the holiday island of Jeju.

South African superstar Els made his debut in the tournament last year and contended strongly throughout, eventually finishing equal fourth, two shots behind playoff winner Thongchai Jaidee.

"I thoroughly enjoyed my Ballantine's Championship debut and was pleased with a top-five finish, although if I could have got a couple more putts to drop on the final day it might have been even better!" said Els. "It's a wonderful course and the Korean fans are passionate and knowledgeable, so I'm delighted to be returning."

Els has a career record that marks him out as one of the all-time greats. Apart from his three Majors - the US Open in 1994 and 1997 and the British Open in 2002 - he has won an astonishing seven World Match Play Championship titles, twice finished on top of the European Tour Order of Merit and has triumphed 16 times on the PGA Tour.

Like Els, Kim will return to Pinx looking to settle some unfinished business. The Korean-American ace wowed fans at the inaugural tournament two years ago before eventually finishing joint fifth. But he believes he could have put more pressure on leaders McDowell and Jeev Milkha Singh, who pulled away from the field before going to a playoff in which McDowell prevailed.

"I feel I have some unfinished business at the Ballantine's Championship and that is part of my motivation for returning this year," said Kim. "In 2008 I felt I was right in the mix after two rounds but failed to really get anything going on the weekend, while at the same time you have to say Graeme and Jeev played some amazing golf and ran away from the rest of us.

"But looking at it positively, I shot four rounds in the 60s so I believe it's a course that really suits my game and one where I can feel comfortable."

Kim, born in California to Korean parents who immigrated to the US, has another reason to look forward to playing in his ancestral homeland again. "The other motivation for returning is the reception I received from the Korean fans," he explained. "They gave me a wonderful welcome and were fantastic in their support throughout the four rounds.

"I would dearly love to win a tournament in the country of my parents' birth and my message to the fans in Korea is that I'll be going all out to do that this time."

Kim emerged as one of the most exciting young talents in world golf in 2007 when he had an impressive rookie season on the PGA Tour. But his career really took off in 2008 when he captured two titles, the Wachovia Championship and AT&T National, and played a leading role in helping the US regain the Ryder Cup.

Last year, he followed up his desire to be more of a world golfer by taking up affiliate membership of the European Tour and he finished runner-up to England's Ross Fisher in the Volvo World Match Play.

Stenson, meanwhile, has six European Tour victories to his name and last year captured the biggest title of his career when he won The Players Championship on the PGA Tour by four shots. The Swede will be returning to Pinx after making his debut in the 2009 tournament.

"I enjoyed playing in last year's Ballantine's Championship so I'm very happy to be appearing in the 2010 event," he said. "I know Ballantine's are compiling a fantastic field so I'm looking forward to the challenge of competing against these great players. It promises to be an exciting week."

Spanish veteran Jiménez, one of golf's great characters, will be playing in Korea for the first time since finishing joint second in the 2004 Shinhan Korea Golf Championship. His victory in the recent Omega Dubai Desert Classic was his 16th on the European Tour and he has won events in Thailand, Hong Kong and China in recent years.

"I'm really looking forward to playing in Korea once again," said Jiménez. "I had a wonderful experience when competing in 2004 and have heard great things about the Ballantine's Championship from my fellow pros. Asia has been very kind to me in the past and I always seem to play well there, so hopefully I can put on a great show for the Korean fans."

Northern Ireland's McDowell triumphed in dramatic fashion at Pinx two years ago, edging out Indian ace Jeev on the third extra hole. That victory sparked a stellar season that yielded a second success at the Barclays Scottish Open and his Ryder Cup debut.

"I'm delighted to be headed back to Korea in April to compete in the Ballantine's Championship for the third consecutive year," said McDowell. "As a global brand ambassador for Ballantine's, I'm proud to be involved with such an excellent partner of international golf and I'm confident the 2010 tournament will once again be of the highest quality.

"My game is in good shape at the moment, and I'm feeling fit and ready for the busy season ahead. I look forward to trying to repeat my win in 2008, which triggered the best period in my career so far."

The Ballantine's Championship, the first European Tour event to be played in Korea, will once again be co-sanctioned by the Asian Tour and Korea PGA.

Ballantine's has already announced it is extending its title sponsorship by three years through to the 2013 event.

"The depth of talent and character in the players announced today is a reflection of the stature of the Ballantine's Championship and we look forward to hosting them at the prestigious Pinx Golf Club in April," said Peter Moore, Ballantine's Global Brand Director.

"By supporting three major European Tour events and investing in golf from grassroots to the world's best, Ballantine's has established itself as a major golf sponsor and we are committed to the sport long-term around the world."