South Africa's Goosen seeks third title in China

South African Retief Goosen will come to Shanghai flying high after a joint runner-up finish at the recent WGC CA Championship in Florida and will be one of the top draws at the upcoming $2.3 million BMW Asian Open from April 24-27 at Tomson Pudong Golf Club.

The two-time US Open winner and current world No 26 is one of the game's elite players and tends to play some of his best golf in China, a country where he won tournaments in 2005 and 2006. Last season, he led the Champions' event in Shanghai through three rounds only to finish tied for third. He tied for 15th at Tomson Pudong in his BMW Asian Open debut.

"I have played in China many times, the first time probably being the World Cup in 1995. I have been lucky to play in Shanghai, Beijing, Shenzhen and Hainan Island," said Goosen, the winner of 32 tournaments worldwide.

"I have visited Shanghai quite a few times and the city has been built up considerably since I first visited, which shows that it is definitely one of the leading cities of the world."

Goosen, who captured US Open titles in 2001 and 2004, is coming to Shanghai fresh off an appearance at the US Masters, a tournament where he has finished joint runner-up and equal third the last two years (he finished tied for 17th in the latest edition). He had high praise for the quality of China's golf courses and said the growth of golf here was testament to how the game had become a global sport.

"The quality of golf courses is fantastic. I thoroughly enjoy playing courses in China and in front of the enthusiastic golf fans there. The people are very hospitable and I personally like to support those countries and companies that are putting an enormous amount of time and energy into promoting golf on the global stage.

"Tomson Pudong is a tough driving course, you need to drive straight. I enjoyed playing it and I hope to do better than my last visit."

Goosen, who grew up playing with superstar Ernie Els, said his frequent trips to China have given him the opportunity to see the country's up-and-coming talent first hand. He said he liked what he saw and predicted a bright future for the country's growing ranks of professionals.

"China has got some fantastic golfers, including Liang Wenchong, who has the game to become a star global player.

"In general, golf is growing in China and there will definitely be more and more top golfers coming out of the country in the future."

He had equal praise for the many young stars on the European Tour such as Germany's Martin Kaymer, Scotland's Marc Warren and Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy, all of whom will be at the BMW Asian Open. But he said it would take a long time before someone will be able to unseat Tiger Woods as the game's top player.

"There is great depth in European golf and all the young guys have the potential be brilliant. However, with Tiger having won nearly every tournament he has played in this year so far, it is safe to assume he will keep his No 1 ranking for a while yet."

Goosen said he wasn't worried about the competition and instead chooses to concentrate on improving his own game in pursuit of a third major title and a third European Tour Order of Merit.

"Winning, at the end of the day, is the goal. By winning majors you put yourself in a great position to win the Order of Merit."

China Daily

(China Daily 04/15/2008 page23)