Amandeep Johl carries Indian hopes in Korea Open

Seoul, Sep 20 (UNI) Veteran Amandeep Johl will spearhead the Indian challenge while two-time US Open champion Retief Goosen will try to outshine compatriot Ernie Els when he headlines the 700,000 dollar Korea Open starting here tomorrow.

Johl, currently 25th in the Asian Tour Order of Merit, will be part of a star-studded field in the event.

World number six Goosen, will start as firm favourite at Woo Jeong Hills Country Club where other contenders include Korea's Kevin Na, big-hitting US PGA Tour regular Bubba Watson and the Asian Tour's leading stars including Korea's Charlie Wi and last year's number one Thaworn Wiratchant.

Goosen arrived here after runner-up finish at the BMW International Open in Munich, losing in a three-way play-off to Sweden's Henrik Stenson.

With five other top-10s posted on the US PGA Tour this season, Goosen, will have to stave off the challenge from fellow South African Els, who finished third in the Korean Open in 2004. Els was also the runner-up at the Barclays Singapore Open a fortnight ago after losing in a play-off to Adam Scott of Australia.

''It's a good course here. You need to drive it well and while there's not a lot of rough out there, it can be tricky as you tend to get 'fliers' from out of it. We'll need to control our distances very well from the rough. The greens are also very good and I expect scoring to be on the lower side than it has been in the past here,'' said Goosen.

Meanwhile, reigning number one Thaworn will carry the region's charge along with local favourite Wi, who is currently second on the UBS Order of Merit.

Thailand's Chapchai Nirat and Prom Meesawat, Australian duo Unho Park and Brad Kennedy, Johl, Singapore's Mardan Mamat and American Anthony Kang, who are all ranked in the top-20 of the UBS Order of Merit, are also tipped to challenge.

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