Kim targets Korea for first overseas victory

Anthony Kim (right) and YE Yang share a lighthearted moment during a photo shoot ahead of this week’s Ballantine’s Championship. (Credit: Paul Lakatos/Parallel Media Group)

Anthony Kim is keen to win a tournament outside the United States for the first time and he would love it to happen in Korea, his parents’ homeland.

The PGA Tour ace is one of the leading contenders at this week's Ballantine's Championship, which takes place at Pinx Golf Club on the Korean holiday island of Jeju.

"I'm so excited to see some Korean faces in the gallery and hopefully I can make them all proud," Kim told reporters on Tuesday (20 April).

"I'm very excited and honoured to be here in Korea, and I've been looking forward to coming back to this tournament for a long time. I want to thank Ballantine's for having me back.

"As far as my form is concerned, I've been scoring well. I'm pretty happy about how I'm playing, but mostly about how I'm chipping and putting. So if I can keep that up, I should be in good shape.

"The golf course seems to be short enough where the driver won't be too big an issue, and I've been working hard to try to get that back into play, so I'm looking forward to a great week."

Kim, 25, born in California to Korean parents who immigrated to the US, played in the inaugural Ballantine's Championship two years ago, when he was a big hit with fans on his way to finishing joint fifth.

After three career victories on the PGA Tour, including the Houston Open earlier this month, followed by an excellent third place at the Masters, he is now looking abroad for his next success.

"Absolutely," he replied when asked if an overseas win was his next priority. "I signed up again for the European Tour this year and it wasn't a tough decision.

"I want to play all over the world, and I think it's important for young players like myself and others to grow the game wherever we can.

"So I'm excited for this chance and I want to thank the European Tour and everyone here in Korea for giving me this opportunity. All I can do is try my best and I'm going to give it everything I have this week.

"To be perfectly honest, I'd like to play more [on the European Tour]. I have such a great time out here. There's a different feel than the PGA Tour but, at the same time, it's very relaxing and the players seem to get on a bit better than the PGA Tour. So I'm very happy to be a member."

Kim, the world No.10, admitted he was a more mature player than when he last played in the Ballantine's Championship.

"I've changed quite a bit as a person and as a golfer. I'm having a lot more fun than I was a couple of years ago. It's a lot easier for me to come to a tournament and enjoy being out there, enjoy the fans, enjoy the support.

"I don't know if, physically, I'm a different player, but because I'm more patient, and I've had more life experiences, I'm realising how lucky I am to be playing golf for a living and enjoying those moments."

Kim is joined in the Ballantine's Championship by Korean icon YE Yang - the first Asian to capture a Major when he triumphed at last year's PGA Championship and the winner of last week's China Open.

The stellar field also includes world No.7 Ernie Els, six-time European Tour winner Henrik Stenson and the first two winners of the Ballantine's Championship, Graeme McDowell and Thongchai Jaidee.

A late addition to the field was Rhys Davies, joint second at last week's China Open and winner of the Trophée Hassan II in Morocco last month.

The Welshman was due to return home after the China Open but, with European air travel still paralysed by the volcanic dust cloud emanating from Iceland, he opted to stay in Asia and play in Korea.

However, Spain's Miguel Ángel Jiménez was forced to withdraw from the tournament after being unable to secure a flight from Europe.

The 2010 Ballantine's Championship, which tees off at Pinx Golf Club on Thursday (22 April), is once again co-sanctioned by the European Tour, Asian Tour and Korea PGA.