A determined Ernie Els believes he can still win another Major and has made that his top target this year.

The ”Big Easy“ – who will return to Korea next month to play in the €2.2 million Ballantine’s Championship – is adamant he can still work his magic over the closing holes of golf’s big four tournaments.

“Yes, absolutely, I can win another Major,” insisted Els, winner of the US Open in 1994 and 1997 and the British Open in 2002. “That is what I’m working on right now.

“I’m trying to get my putting going as good as I can as that’s the one thing that’s holding me back a little bit, and then I’ll just work on my confidence and try and get it going.

“I’ve got all the experience in the world, I just need to let it all blend in and happen. I’m definitely looking forward to a Major this year.”

Ernie Els will return to play in the Ballantine’s Championship in Korea Pic: Parallel Media Group

Els, 41, famous for his globe-trotting schedule, revealed he was cutting back on tournament commitments and relaxing more.

“I did that this year for the first time. I had a five-week break before playing in the Match Play [WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship in Tucson from 23-27 February]. I normally play in the Middle East and on the US West Coast, but I had a nice break and took it easy.”

Els started this season with a bang, winning the South African Open Championship for an astonishing fifth time, and will be looking to make it third time lucky at the Ballantine’s Championship after top 10 finishes in the past two years.

“I had a chance last year and I didn’t play a good final nine holes,” said the world No.13. “So I’m coming back this year with the objective to try and win the tournament.

“It’s a prestigious event and they get a number of really good players, so if you can win, you’ve beaten a really good field. I would love to win, especially on a new course.”

The Ballantine’s Championship, to be staged from 28 April to 1 May, is moving to the prestigious Blackstone Resort in Seoul after the first three editions were played at Pinx Golf Club on the holiday island of Jeju.

Joining Els in Korea’s biggest golf tournament will be world No.2 Lee Westwood, his fellow Englishman and world No.14 Ian Poulter, and Korean hero YE Yang, Asia’s first Major winner.

Els insisted he would do his homework ahead of the event. “I always read up on who designed the course,” he confirmed.

“It will be a long flight to get there so you can do a bit of background research and start reading up on the designer and his philosophy.

“You also take a look at the weather report, so you start to familiarise yourself with what you might expect.”

Els, one of golf’s truly global players with more than 60 victories worldwide, was full of praise for Asian golf and the advances it has made.

“The changes have been huge,” he said. “I’ve been playing in Asia since the early Nineties, so I’ve seen some of the players come and go, but I’ve never seen it as strong as it is now.

“Golf in Asia has exploded, everywhere you go it is such a popular sport. They televise tournaments from Europe and the US and, of course, there is such a large audience.”

The 2011 Ballantine’s Championship will once again be co-sanctioned by the European Tour, Asian Tour and Korea PGA.

Blackstone Resort, in Incheon, just south of Seoul, will host the event for at least the next three years. It is the first time that the exclusive venue – which opened only in 2009 and has just 300 members – has staged a professional tournament.

World No.1 Lee Westwood will headline a quartet of golfing greats at the €2.2 million Ballantine’s Championship in Korea this April.

The English ace will be joined by South African superstar Ernie Els, world No.10 Ian Poulter and Asia’s first Major winner, YE Yang, as the tournament moves to the prestigious Blackstone Resort in Seoul.

Westwood will be making his first visit to Korea since playing in the 2009 Ballantine’s Championship at Pinx Golf Club on the holiday island of Jeju.

In the 21 months since he has been in superb form – winning the inaugural Race to Dubai in 2009, claiming four top-three finishes in Majors, winning on the US Tour for the first time in a decade, and ending Tiger Woods’ five-year reign at the top of the Official World Golf Ranking.

“I thoroughly enjoyed playing in the Ballantine’s Championship in 2009 and I’m very much looking forward to returning to the tournament this year,” said Westwood.

“It is exciting that the event is moving to Blackstone Resort, I’ve heard great things about the venue and, like the vast majority of the players, it will be my first time there so it promises to be quite a challenge. “I enjoyed a fantastic 2010 and becoming the world No.1 has been the fulfillment of a lifelong ambition. Obviously, I’m very keen to maintain the momentum in 2011 so I’m aiming to put on a great display for the Korean fans.

“Korea has really put itself on the world golf map these past few years with the performances of its top players and the facilities there are second to none, so it has all the makings of a great week.”

The 2011 Ballantine’s Championship – once again co-sanctioned by the European Tour, Asian Tour and Korea PGA – will be played at Blackstone Resort in Icheon, just south of Seoul, from 28 April to 1 May. The club will host the event for at least the next three years.

It will be the first time that the exclusive venue – which opened only in 2009 and has just 300 members – has hosted a professional tournament.

Ernie Els has more than 60 victories worldwide including three Majors – the US Open in 1994 and 1997 and the British Open in 2002.

He recently won the South African Open Championship for an astonishing fifth time and will be looking to make it third time lucky at the Ballantine’s Championship after top 10 finishes in the past two years.

“I’ve got off to a great start this season and hopefully I can maintain this form throughout the year,” he said.

“I enjoyed my two previous visits to the Ballantine’s Championship and both times I was in with a shout going into the final day, so the aim this time is to take any chances that come my way and be in the mix again on Sunday.”

Ian Poulter in Hong Kong (Pic: Getty Images)

Ian Poulter will be appearing in the Ballantine’s Championship for the first time although he previously finished runner-up in the 2008 Korean Open.

He enjoyed a career year in 2010 – becoming the first English winner of a WGC event when he captured the Accenture Match Play Championship in Arizona, then playing a starring role in Europe’s Ryder Cup success, before ending the year on a high with victory in the Hong Kong Open.

“I’ve got fond memories of my last appearance in Korea so I’m really looking forward to making my Ballantine’s Championship debut,” said Poulter.

“I’ve heard great things about the tournament from my fellow professionals and I’m told the Blackstone course is exceptional, so it promises to be a great week. I had a wonderful 2010 and I’m very optimistic about what this year holds in store for me.”

Korean YE Yang made history – and earned hero status in his native Korea – in 2009 by becoming Asia’s first Major winner when he fended off Woods to clinch the US PGA Championship. Now he is looking forward to his third appearance in the Ballantine’s Championship.

“It’s always a thrill to play in front of my home fans so I’m full of anticipation for this year’s Ballantine’s Championship,” he said. “The Korean galleries are always so supportive and knowledgeable and they love seeing the home players mix it with some of the world’s best.

“It’s fantastic for Korean golf that the Ballantine’s Championship is going from strength to strength and this year’s tournament promises to be the best yet.”

Korea’s YE Yang (Pic: SportyDeskTops)

Still in the chasing pack on the last day of the Ballantine’s Championship on South Korea’s Jeju island, the ask proved too much for our Ernie Els as Aussie Marcus Fraser took the title in rather blustery conditions.

Marcus Fraser stayed calm amid the blustery conditions at the Ballantine’s Championship yesterday (25 April) to claim the biggest title of his career.

The 31-year-old Australian carded a three-under-par 69 at Pinx Golf Club on the Korean holiday island of Jeju to win the €2.2 million showpiece by four strokes.

Fraser remained clear of the chasing pack – which included world No.7 Ernie Els – and kept his composure on the back nine to become the first wire-to-wire winner on the European Tour this year.

He finished on 12-under 204 for the tournament, which was reduced to 54 holes after play was held up for six hours on the first day due to fog.

Australia’s Brett Rumford (71) and Northern Ireland’s Gareth Maybin (72) were second on eight-under.

Fraser’s only previous European Tour success came seven years ago at the BMW Russian Open, a dual ranking event with the Challenge Tour, and he admitted it had been a long and frustrating wait for his next win.

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“Unbelievable, I can’t describe it,” said an emotional Fraser. “I just don’t know how I did that today. I’ve had so many chances to win in the last seven years, so to go out there and play like I did today and this week, it’s a big relief.”

Fraser, who collected the winner’s cheque for €367,500, admitted leading from the first day of the Ballantine’s Championship had increased the pressure.

“I don’t know if I have anything left in me to go a fourth round, but I don’t care,” he said. “I’ve worked very hard the last few years to be in a position where I should be winning golf tournaments, so it’s a huge reward.”

Fraser had dropped only one shot in the tournament before playing safe and laying up at the par-four 18th, where he tapped in for a bogey.

“At no point did I think I had it. I knew roughly what was going on but never got ahead of myself,” he said. “And on the last I just concentrated on getting on the fairway, and there was no way I was going to risk going for the green from there.”

Since his 2003 victory, Fraser’s best performance had been finishing runner-up in the Australian Masters at the start of the 2009 season.

Until the Ballantine’s Championship, his best finish this season was joint 11th at the Omega Dubai Desert Classic.

Rumford, meanwhile, was happy with his week’s work. “I just missed a truckload of putts early today, and in rounds one and two, so I’ll be working on my putting for the upcoming tournaments,” he said.

“But it was really tough out there, any missed shots and the wind was really throwing the ball about. Even so, I’m really happy for Marcus, it’s his second win on tour and no one is more deserving. He’s a great guy.”

Maybin also struggled on the greens. “I missed a couple of short putts, so I’ll go back and work on that,” he said. “But it’s been a pretty good week. I didn’t come in here with a whole lot of form, so to finish second is a great result any time.”

Teenager Noh Seung Yul flew the flag for Korea with a sparkling 68 to finish equal fourth on seven-under with England’s Oliver Fisher, who carded a 71.

Defending champion Thongchai Jaidee of Thailand, who started the day just one shot behind Fraser, returned a disappointing 75 to finish equal 10th on five-under.

Three-time Major winner South AfricanErnie Els also finished on five-under after a difficult day. The Big Easy started the final round just two shots off the pace but, after closing the gap to one early in his round, fell away on the back nine and returned a 74.

Marcus Fraser with the Ballantine’s Championship spoils (Pic: Paul Lakatos/Parallel Media Group)

If there’s one player Howzit-HongKong.com would like to see tee off at the Hong Kong Open, it’s The Big Easy. 

For now, we have to be content that Ernie Els will be teeing off at the Ballantine’s Championship in nearby Korea tomorrow, Thursday (22 April) at Pinx Golf Club on the Korean holiday island of Jeju.

The Championship will also feature top Asian players like Korea’s YE Yang, Thailand’s Thongchai Jaydee as well as 2008 winner Greame McDowell.

Follow all the action from the 2010 Ballantine’s Championship on the official website here

 When the big guy eventually doos  (oops!) does get here, hopefully we’ll catch him uttering his now-famous:

Only Ernie Els can get away with saying THAT in public!

After a week off, Ernie Els is refreshed and raring to go at the Ballantine’s Championship in Korea.

The world No.7 chose to spend a few days relaxing at the family home in West Palm Beach, Florida, after playing in the Masters two weeks ago and says he can feel the benefit.

Els will tee off at the Ballantine’s Championship in Korea tomorrow (Pic: Paul Lakatos/Parallel Media)

“I didn’t do anything,” he revealed. “I went home Sunday night after the Masters and I was home all week. The weather was great, I was in the pool with the kids, did the school run in the morning and afternoon.

“I didn’t touch a club until I came here on Monday. I did a company day Monday, I practised yesterday and played today [Wednesday]. So I feel ready to go now.”

The South African superstar returned to his best form in March with wins at the WGC-CA Championship and Arnold Palmer Invitational to take his career total of PGA Tour victories to 18.

“Obviously, I’ve had a pretty good start to the season. I’ve played mostly in the US, I haven’t travelled too much this year, and I think it’s helped my game,” he reflected.

“The win in Miami [the WGC-CA Championship] was big for me, I got a lot of confidence back, and then Bay Hill [the Arnold Palmer Invitational] was a run-on from that.

“Maybe I should have taken the week off before the Masters as I was a bit jaded there, but I still had a top 20.

“My reason for playing so much was to try and get form in March, and it came rapidly! And then I couldn’t pull out of tournaments, that would have been unfair. So yes, the season’s been going well this year.”

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Els – with three Major victories in his career – is one of the leading contenders in the Ballantine’s Championship, which tees off tomorrow Thursday (22 April) at Pinx Golf Club on the Korean holiday island of Jeju.

Other stars in the field include Asia’s first Major champion, YE Yang, three-time PGA Tour winner Anthony Kim and Henrik Stenson, who has six European Tour titles to his name.

Els finished joint fourth at last year’s Ballantine’s Championship, two shots behind eventual playoff winner Thongchai Jaidee, in a tournament played in unusually cold and windy weather.

“I had a good tournament last year,” he said. “So many people could have won it. My putt on 18 just missed and I missed one on 17 as well.

“But I had a very nice week, I enjoyed it, except for maybe the weather! It was very tough last year, hopefully this year it’s a little better.

“It’s a golf course where, if the weather conditions are nice, you can really make a lot of birdies. It lends itself to attacking golf. But if the weather isn’t good, like last year, then it’s just a question of trying to play safe.”

Els said playing in different weather conditions was one of the attractions of the European Tour and a major difference compared to the PGA Tour.

“The European Tour now is really a world tour,” he said. “You play in a lot of different conditions, I think that’s the biggest difference.

“In the US in March, you play the Florida Swing, so it’s very similar, the greens and stuff, so you can get into a flow a little bit more.

“But the European Tour is the best training ground in the world, because you play different conditions against different players and different cultures. You learn a lot more about your game on the European Tour.”

The strong field at the Ballantine’s Championship also includes the tournament’s first two winners – Graeme McDowell, who triumphed in 2008, and Thongchai.

The €2.2 million showpiece is once again co-sanctioned by the European Tour, Asian Tour and Korea PGA.

Ernie Els is refusing to give up hope of victory after a tough second day at the Ballantine’s Championship in Korea on Friday.

The South African superstar battled his way to a two-over-par 74 in cold and windy conditions at Pinx Golf Club on the island of Jeju.  That left him on two-under 142 for the tournament, seven shots behind leader Robert-Jan Derksen of the Netherlands. 

“I had a tough time out there today,” said Els. “Cold, windy, it was a good test of golf. It feels like we’re back in Scotland!  I was just horrible on the greens today. I left about four or five shots out there on the greens. It was difficult keeping your balance, basically.” 

“The greens are difficult to read. The course is up against the mountain and everything kind of slopes towards the bay down there and then they’ve got the greens tilted the other way.”

“So, yes, it’s difficult to read the greens, and I’ve been having problems.”

 Els, the main draw card at the €2.1 million Ballantine’s Championship, had been ideally placed after an opening round 68 that was made in glorious sunshine and calm conditions.  But Jeju’s famous winds were blowing on Friday and scoring suffered as a result. 

Els, starting on the back nine, began well with a birdie on the par-five 10th but struggled after that, dropping four shots in 10 holes before a birdie on the par-three fifth halted his slide.   He dropped another shot on No.7 but bounced back with a birdie at the next to leave himself in with a chance heading into the weekend. 

The three-time Major winner admitted he would have his work cut out.  “We had a good day yesterday but we knew the weather was coming. I don’t know what’s going to happen tomorrow; maybe we’ll have another good day, who knows? Hopefully I can start grinding something out.”

Despite his struggles in the second round, Els said he was delighted to be in Korea and helping promote the game via the Ballantine’s Championship, which is once again co-sanctioned by the European and Asian Tours and Korea PGA.

The South African is one of the world’s truly global golfers with more than 50 victories worldwide including three Majors, the US Open in 1994 and 1997 and the British Open in 2002 and an astonishing seven World Match Play Championship titles.

 He is also a two-time winner of theEuropean Tour Order of Merit and has 16 victories on the US PGA Tour. 

“Golf in Korea is really big,” he said.  “There are a lot of good players coming out of this country and they have got some great golf courses, so it’s good to be here.  This is a big event. We’ve got a great sponsor, good television coverage and some excellent international players here, so this is a big deal for Korean golf.”

“This gives them a really good measuring stick to see where they’re at.  

Ernie Els waits on the 17th tee during the second round of the Ballantine’s Championship at Pinx Golf Club in Jeju, Korea, on Friday. Els battled through windy conditions to card a two-over-par 74. (Paul Lakatos/Parallel Media Group)