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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Friday, January 15, 2010

Korean golfers square off in Sony Open

Advertiser Staff

Golfing fans, Korean or not, will be going to Waialae Country Club this weekend to watch the Sony Open golf tournament.

Three Koreans will be playing; Yong-eun Yang, K.J. Choi and Kevin Na. The golf season started last week with the SBS Championship at Kapalua followed by Sony Open this week. Y.E. Yang, who won the PGA Championship last year, played at the Plantation course last week, followed by many Korean fans in the gallery and is sure to draw even a larger crowd this week.

Kevin Na, the youngest of the three Korean players, was born Sept. 15, 1983, and turned pro in 2001. He earned over $2.7 million last year, tied for fifth place at last year's Sony Open and tied for third in both the Players Championship and the FBR Open.

K.J. Choi, born May 19, 1970, is the oldest of the three Korean players and a very steady player on the PGA tour, earning over $4.5 million in 2007 and just under a million last year. A veteran player, Choi has seven PGA tour wins: Compaq Classic of New Orleans (2002), Tampa Bay Classic (2002), Chrysler Classic of Greensboro (2005), Chrysler Championship (2006), Memorial Tournament (2007), AT&T National (2007) and Sony Open in Hawai'i (2008).

Many remember Choi for his third-place finish at the Masters in 2004. After winning the Sony Open in 2008, Choi donated over $300,000 to the victims of families who lost loved ones in a warehouse fire in South Korea. His total victories add to 17, looking at another win at the Sony Open this week.

There is no doubt that one of the most talked-about PGA tour players last year was Y.E. Yang, who had two PGA wins in 2009: The Honda Classic in March, as well as one of the very few majors — the 2009 PGA Championship. Yang, born Jan. 15, 1972 in South Korea, celebrates his birthday today. Yang is only the second Korean to win on the PGA tour. Yang had a two-shot deficit going into the last round with playing partner Tiger Woods at the PGA Championship. He won the tournament three shots ahead of Woods. Yang became a hero in South Korea and the first Asia-born male to win a major championship. Yang's ranking in 2008 was 145 and moved to 38th after the PGA Championship. He earned just under $3.5 million last year and started 2010 by earning $90,000 at the SBS Championship last week.

Many Koreans in Hawai'i are planning to show up at the Sony Open in support of these players, and in a tournament without Tiger Woods, anyone has a good chance of winning. From what I know, all three players are very good about giving autographs, so bring your Sharpie.

'Smile, Honey'
Episodes 19 and 20
Tonight at 7:45 p.m.: Jeumja walks in as Hyunsu is hugging Jungin to comfort her. Desperate, Hyunsu and Jungin fake a fight, and their families get involved to stop their fight. Sanghoon tells Hyunsu to be nicer to Jungin. Tomorrow at 7:45 p.m.: Hyunsu hides under the covers when he hears Sungjoon coming up to Jungin's room, and Jungin pretends to read. But Sungjoon catches Hyunsoo and tells them to set a date for the wedding.
'Love You 1000 Times'
Episodes 15 and 16
Sunday at 6:45 p.m.; Yeon-hee goes to Se-hoon's house to deliver Sun-young's birthday cake. Eun-nim begins to like Gang-ho, but feels that she's not worthy of those kind of feelings. Se-hoon breaks it off with Yeon-hee. Sun-young has questions about the "other" necklace. Sunday at 7:45 p.m.: Gang-ho tries harder to show Eun-nim how he feels about her. Meanwhile, Eun-nim tries to avoid Gang-ho. After Se-hoon breaks off their affair, Yeon-hee practically stalks him. Sun-young asks Se-hoon about the other necklace. Chul tries to win Nan-jeong over with food.
'Angel's Temptation'
Episodes 15 and 16
Monday at 7:45 p.m.: Jae-sung proposes to Aran. He wins Aran's heart by telling her to use him even if she approached him for money. Aran is blissfully happy with Jae-sung's proposal. Aran tells her uncle and aunt to find Kyung-ran, and they trace her to Angel Orphanage. Tuesday at 7:45 p.m.: Aran's devastated when the police take her as a suspect in a hit-and-run accident. Aran calls Joo-seung for help, and Joo-seung tells the police to bring Shin Hyun-woo in as witness. Joo-seung finds evidence Ahn Jae-sung is actually Shin Hyun-woo. Aran calls off the wedding.
'He's Beautiful'
Episodes 15 and 16
(Final episode)
Wednesday at 7:45 p.m.: Reporter Kim wants to interview Shinwoo and Minyeo together, and Shinwoo thinks it'd be best for ANJell to go far away. The group goes to Japan to meet their fans. Shinwoo confesses his feelings to Minam in Japan, and Taekyung sees the two of them together in an embrace. The real Minam finally returns. Thursday at 7:45 p.m.: Taekyung runs into Minyeo on the street. He tries to go after her, but fans surround him. Mr. Ma begs Minyeo to pose as Minam while Minam's away doing shows behind Mr. Ahn's back. Minyeo, Shinwoo, Tae-kyung and Mr. Ahn end up having a drink and Taekyung realizes Minyeo is posing as Minam.