Golf Update: Liang Wenchong, highest ranked golfer from the People's Republic of China
Liang Wenchong missed the chance of taking the trophy of the last biggest major of the season back home.
This year would have been written in golden words if Liang Wenchong would have won the USPGA championship that was taking place at the Whistling Straits last week. After making a course record by hitting an eight-under 64 on Saturday at the Whistling Straits course, Liang Wenchong was on the road to become the first golfer from the people republic of China to win the USPGA championship, which is one of the biggest majors of the year.
However, the Chinese No 1 settled in the final round with a one-over 73 and got a spot in a tie for the 8th position. He was three shots behind the winner Martin Kaymer of Germany. Liang Wenchong posted eight birdies on the challenging Whistling Straits layout and managed to equal par on his final hole which was the 9th, by sinking a 20-foot eagle .For Liang this was his first major championship of the season.
According to the media reports, Liang Wenchong wanted to imitate Yang Yong-eun, who happens to be the first man from Asia to win a major title at the Hazel tine National, by claiming last season’s PGA Championship. Yang Yong’s performance especially in the third-round of the play, was truly amazing and it actually changed the stereotypic image of the golf scenario in China .It made people realize that there were professional golfers in China as well .
At one place where Liang’s camp were celebrating his finish in the first group, at the same time 1,248 people died in China because of a mud slide. So at the end of the day Liang Wenchong’s victory got overshadowed by a national mourning back home, but this did not stop the player from getting an international recognition for delivering one of the finest putting on the course of Whistling Straits , which is known for its longest par.
Moving forward to Liang Wenchong’s achievements, this 32-year-old veteran won the 2007 Asian Order of Merit but for some his victory was just some fluke. However, his top 8 finish in the USPGA championship has erased those misconceptions regarding the player. In fact back in 2007, Liang became the Asia’s no 1 player and it was predicted by a local newspaper of there that very soon China was going to have a major winner.
Quite likely, one can expect that if good players are arising from China than there must be some rapid growth in the golf industry of China as well. This growth is linked with the fast moving economy of China and in result, the overall impact on the golfing industry has been positive. From the government’s side scholarships are being given to the rookies so that they can work on their game without a concern for their future, secondly big driving ranges are being made in the cities with more and advanced golf courses .As a record there are around 500 golf courses in China.
Moving forward, this was the 32-year-old Liang Wenchong, who finished in the top 8 after scoring 8 under in the USPGA championship that took place last week; however, he won’t be seen in the October at Celtic Manor, as he does not qualify the criteria of being an American or a European! Now that is stereotypic, as the biggest qualification of playing in the Ryder Cup is the origin where sports know no boundaries. According to the analyst’s opinion, Liang Wenchong is a player with tremendous potential and the Ryder cup team could have used him if he would have been allowed to play. The Ryder cup is in its starting phase with the selection going on for the 12 best players for the American and the European team, however, this selection is not an easy job as this is the biggest event of the season and no compromises can be accepted here.
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