Liang proud to carry Asia's flag

Liang Wenchong never imagined his life would change so dramatically when a golf club was first put into his hands 14 years ago.

The 29-year-old will become only the second Chinese mainland player to compete in the prestigious Masters tournament at Augusta National Golf Club next week.

Liang is the best player in a new generation of Chinese golfers with a burning desire to excel on the global stage and the skill and mentality to succeed.

He believes a player from the Asian Tour can one day win the Masters. But for now, he's just happy to be there.

"I am grateful for the chance to play in the US Masters," said Liang, who will be joined by Asian Tour stalwarts Jeev Milkha Singh of India and Thailand's Prayad Marksaeng at the Masters.

"As representatives of Asia, we want to do a good job there and leave a good impression," Liang said.

Liang's mentor Zhang Lianwei walked the hallowed Augusta grounds in the 2004 Masters, but missed the cut by two strokes. Liang hopes to achieve where his mentor failed.

Liang, who won once and posted eight other top-10 finishes to become Asia's No 1 last season, will be riding a wave of confidence following his joint 12th finish at the Zurich Classic in New Orleans on the US PGA Tour last weekend.

His highly regarded coach Kel Llewellyn believes the Chinese ace will leave a mark on international golf.

"I think Liang is potentially a Major champion," said the Australian, who previously guided Kyi Hla Han and Jyoti Randhawa to the top of the Asian Tour.

"He has such a wonderful temperament. He works hard in practice sessions often lasting 12 hours and nothing really bothers him. He has that ability to detach himself from past and future."

Liang knows that a good showing at the Masters, the year's first Major, will bolster China's growing interest in golf. But he says it is not up to him alone to grow the nation's interest in the sport.

"I think that the progress of golf does not lie entirely with one player. It is the combined efforts of many players playing well in tournaments that will help spread the game," Liang said.

Life-changing moment

Liang recalls the moment his life changed forever.

"When I was studying in secondary school in 1993, two teachers from Zhongshan Hot Springs Golf Club came to teach us golf and it was then that I developed an interest in the game which led me down this path," he said.

"I won the Chinese Amateur Open Award in 1995 and from 1996 to 1998 I was the China Amateur Open Champion. I was given the opportunity to join the China Tour and I later managed to secure a fourth place in the 1999 Volvo China Open, which was when I decided to turn professional."

Despite his success, Liang remains humble and has not forgotten his roots. He donated all of his winnings from the Singapore Masters ($183,000) to the development of golf in China. With the donation, Zhongshan Club, China's first modern golf course designed by Arnold Palmer in 1984, set up a foundation.

"I have very close ties with Zhongshan Club. It is like a parent to me. Without it, I wouldn't have come so far," Liang said.

"We want golf in China to grow and it is clubs like this that provide a foundation and support for players like me to progress. Otherwise, there would only be rich people playing golf.

"It was good that I had the support and the facilities when I was younger so that I could be what I am today. I hope that this support will continue in the future as I want to help others become good golfers. By giving them my winnings, I am just giving back what I can," said Liang.

Liang knows he needs to leave the comforts of home to test himself abroad.

"I really want to thank the Asian Tour for giving me the chance to play. I definitely want to progress and play internationally and I will always remember and appreciate what the Asian Tour has done for me," said Liang, who is also China's first golfer to earn more than $1 million over his career.

"The highest goal in golf is to play on the US PGA Tour and I will continue to work hard at my game to achieve this."

China Daily

(China Daily 04/08/2008 page23)