“Strong Wind… No Under Par”

Fifth hole (par 3, 192 yards)

Facing a strong headwind, Choi Kyung-ju (Superior, TaylorMade) grabbed a 3-wood on his caddie’s advice instead of a driving iron. Although it was theright hit, the ball did not even go to a bunker. It went as much as 20 yards short of the pin. Amazed, Choi and Krodger, Choi’s caddie, laughed for a while. For Choi, 192 yards is the distance he normally hits with a 5- or 6-iron.

Brian Gay of the U.S. chose a driver, after watching Choi’s shot. But his ball also failed to reach the green. Both recorded a bogey on this hole with two putts each.

It is the second round of the first ever official PGA tour event in Asia that took placeat the Jungmun Golf Course in Jeju Island on November 26, entitled the 2004 Shinhan Korea Golf Championship. The event has a total prize of $3.55 million, $1 million dollars of it to the winner.

As rain sprinkled sporadically in the morning, the temperature fell. What irritated players more was the 14m/sec wind. The wind was so strong that the players could not even stand straight. Even the world-famous players could not show their splendid shots.

Organizers of the event placed the teeing ground by 30 to 40 yards closer to the pin, allowing for the strong wind. But, bogeys abounded as drivers and second shots were too short. In some cases, the wind even moved the putted ball again.

All 38 players recorded over-pars. Carlos Franco from Paraguay was “Taylor Best” with 1-over-par 73 shots. He later shared fourth place with another player by recording 144 shots according to interim sum total.

Choi had as many as six bogeys in the first nine holes alone. He ranked 30th with the interim total of 9-over-par 153. He lost five shots with seven bogeys and two birdies. He said jokingly, “Fishing boats should never sail out to sea on a day like this. I know it because I’m from Wando, a very windy place.”

Yang Yong-Eun (Casco) from Jeju Island, who is accustomed to windy weather, jumped to first place, recording one eagle, two birdies, one double bogey, and losing three shots with five bogeys. He ranked second the day before with an interim total of 3-under-par 141. He was ahead of runner-ups by two strokes, including Padraig Harrington from Ireland, sixth in the world ranking. Na Sang-wook (Kolon Elode) shared fourth place with Carlos Franco, recording even par.