Driving Chinese golf forward
(China Daily)
Updated: 2006-03-02 06:21

Maintaining consistency

When asked why Volvo did not invite top world players such as Tiger Woods, Michael Campbell or Ratief Goosen, Pyatt said that "Stars are good, we love them. But we are here to develop golf in China. We welcome them, but on the same conditions as other participating players."

"It is important that China's golfers have the platforms to train and compete.

"We want to help develop the sport in China and want to continue this long term. We need the consistency rather than hosting just one or two events by paying a big sum of money to invite the world's big stars."

Pyatt's ideas are echoed by officials from CGA.

"It really needed confidence and courage when in 1995 they put Volvo Open into China," said Zhang Xiaoning, Secretary-General of CGA. "Now twelve years have passed. It is clear the tournament helped a lot of people know about the sport and also created the golf culture in China."

With six European Tour events in China this season, Zhang believed Volvo China Open is of the greatest value, thanks to its trust in China more than a decade ago and its dedication ever since.

"More and more people are paying attention to golf due to the event's consistency and it also helped bring up a group of promising youngsters," Zhang added.

"I am glad to see that Volvo China Open offers so many chances for Chinese golfers to compete with good players from Asian and European Tours. It is of great help to the development of golf in China."