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ASIAN GOLF TODAY TOP STORIES
GOLF TODAY TOP STORIES
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Liang ready to win in Singapore
 China's Liang Wen-chong is ready to step out
from the shadows of his more illustrious compatriot Zhang Lian-wei
when he takes aim at the US$1 million OSIM Singapore Masters which
starts on Thursday.
The 27-year-old Liang has often been touted as China's next big
thing in golf and as he settles into his seventh season in the professional
ranks, he feels the Lion City could be the launchpad to greater
feats and ultimately lead him to play against Tiger Woods on the
US PGA Tour.
With five consecutive seasons where he has finished in the top-50
of the Asian Tour's UBS Order of Merit and two fairly good seasons
in Japan on his resume, Liang feels ready to land his first major
win in the region.
A return to Laguna National Golf and Country Club, this week's
venue, has added to Liang's growing confidence. In last year's Singapore
Masters, he finished as the top Asian in tied fifth place.
"Mentally, I'm feeling good," said Liang, whose best
finish on the Order of Merit was 12th in 2002. "I've got more
experience now playing on both the Asian Tour and in Japan and I
feel like my game is where I want it to be. I would certainly like
to win a big title soon and I hope to play well this week.
"It's a big compliment that people refer me as the next Zhang
but I still have to do it (win). I feel I could win in Japan as
well," added the 27-year-old, who has posted 15 top-10s from
69 appearances on the Asian Tour since 1999.
Singapore could be a perfect backdrop to herald Liang's arrival
on the big stage as Zhang, long regarded as China's pioneer in the
professional game, registered his biggest career win yet in 2003
when he upset Ernie Els of South Africa in the Singapore Masters.
"Zhang has achieved so much in his career," said Liang,
who has won several events on the China domestic circuit. "I
know how to win and I'll keep pushing for it until I achieve this.
I played well here last year and I like this week's venue. There
isn't as much rough as previously and the greens are good. I'm also
pretty happy with my form now (where he finished tied 19th in Indonesia
last week)."
Liang added that he would attempt to qualify for the US PGA Tour
in two years time. "I think about this occasionally, and will
likely go to Qualifying School in 2008. I will be more comfortable
doing this once I register a win. I would like to have an exemption
safely in hand first in Asia before I venture to the US.
"Europe is not really for me as it's more difficult to get
different visas to travel to various parts of the continent. I would
definitely like to play on the US PGA Tour," added Liang.
Since finishing fourth in the Volvo China Open as an amateur, Liang
has certainly grown in stature. Getting married and becoming a father
for the first time last year has also brought about a stability
in his life as he seeks for success on Asia's finest fairways.
While Liang has a footnote in Asian golf history where he shot
the Tour's 100th hole-in-one in 2002, the Chinese ace, who hails
from Zhongshan, the site of China's first modern-day golf course,
knows that his career will be measured by the number of career victories.
"You know, I practise very hard to try and realise my goals.
I know that is the only way to succeed and I'm putting in every
effort to win tournaments," said Liang.
At the Osim Singapore Masters, which is jointly sanctioned by the
Asian Tour and European Tour, Liang will have to contend with the
likes of title holder Nick Dougherty of England, Thai duo Thaworn
Wiratchant and Thongchai Jaidee, India's Shiv Kapur and Jyoti Randhawa
and Korea's Charlie Wi, currently leading the UBS Order of Merit.
Last week's winner Simon Dyson of England will also attempt to
secure back-to-back triumphs at Laguna National.
March 8, 2006
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