Golf- British Stars Chase Perth Success

Page last updated at 10:32 GMT, Wednesday, 18 February 2009

British stars chase Perth success:

Ian Poulter splashes out of a bunker during a practice round in Perth Colin Montgomerie, Lee Westwood and Ian Poulter will spearhead the British challenge when the European Tour reaches Australia on Thursday. The trio are part of a strong field for the Johnnie Walker Classic in Perth. But they face a tough challenge against two of the USPGA Tour's rising stars in Camilo Villegas and Anthony Kim. Villegas, from Colombia, has already reached the world's top 10 and the 27-year-old said: "I try to improve every year. That's my goal." He won two titles in the United States at the end of last season and also had a couple of top-10 finishes in majors in 2008. "It was very gratifying to see the two wins happening at the end of the year - to position myself in a better spot in the world rankings and to increase the challenges ahead of me, because that's what happens when you play good," he added. "You've got to challenge yourself more, you've got to improve, get even better and live up to it". 606: DEBATE Who will win the tournament? Kim, 23, was one of the stars of the USA's victorious Ryder Cup team last September and hopes to make a positive start in the so-called Race to Dubai, the European Tour's new season-long competition which leads to the $10m Dubai World Championship in November. "It is definitely going to bring more players over here, so it's going to make the European Tour stronger," said Kim, who now regards himself as a "global player" instead of focusing on the USPGA Tour. Local favourite Greg Norman, the two-time Open champion, believes Villegas and Kim are part of a younger generation of golfers striving to close the gap on world number one Tiger Woods, who is almost ready to return to action following knee surgery. "I think these two guys have got the opportunity to take the bull by the horns and not get intimidated by anybody, any golf shot or any tournament," the 54-year-old commented. "I think they have had a tremendous opportunity since Tiger has been off the scene for nearly 12 months to give themselves the confidence to say 'OK, I can go out there and do this'."