Australian Matt Griffin will be looking to shut out K.J Choi as he defends his title on an unfamiliar course at this week's SK Telecom Open.
Griffin won at Pinx Country Club on Jeju Island last year in a tournament reduced to three rounds because of fog, but he said there were some similarities between the venues.
“They’re both quite open and the wind can be a big factor if it picks up,” he said.
“The greens here are probably a bit slower, but I like the course and I think I can do well.
Despite missing the cut at last week’s GS Caltex Maekyung Open, the winner of last season’s Order of Merit title feels his game is not far off.
“I don’t think I’m playing badly at all, just a few things here and there not quite going my way. If it comes right, I should be ok,” he said.
K.J Choi said there were several reasons he wanted to do well this week — not least to win for the first time since the 2012 CJ Invitational, a tournament he hosts on the Korean Tour each year.
“It is my first time home since the ferry accident and the nation is sad,” said Choi, referring to the sinking of the M.V. Sewol last month with nearly 500 people aboard. “I hope I can do something by winning.”
Park Jun-won was still riding high from last week’s maiden victory at Namseoul as he practiced on Wednesday, but the slightly built 27-year-old said he expected it wouldn’t be easy around the far longer 6,622-metre (7,241-yard) Ocean Course.
“I’m still smiling,” he said. “Still thinking about the weekend.”