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Liang wants more opportunities for Chinese

Top Chinese golfer Liang Wen-chong wants more opportunities for local players at the many big international events now played in China, including this week's $5-million HSBC Champions tournament.

Liang, who looks likely to end the year as Asian number one, is frustrated that only seven of his compatriots will tee off alongside him on Thursday in the fourth of five strokeplay events in China this year co-sanctioned by the European Tour.

"I myself would like to understand better especially why the organisers changed the rules again this year so that there are only eight Chinese players in the draw," the 29-year-old told reporters on Wednesday.

"We need to get as much experience as possible by competing in as many tournaments as possible to be better," he added.

Liang showed that his commitment to the development of golf in China was not mere words by donating the $183,000 he won for taking the Singapore Masters title early in the season to the cause.

Another eight top-10 finishes on the Asian Tour this year have clearly established Liang as his country's number one but he thinks it will require more than a couple of players breaking through for Chinese golf to achieve its full potential

"There is a huge fan base and the local media who wish for me to play great in the home country but I really want to see more golfers develop in China," said Liang, who will play with world number two Phil Mickelson in the first two rounds in Shanghai.

"We can focus on improving the standard of the game instead of drawing all the attention on only one or two players.

"We need to develop a better foundation here in China and for the development of golf, and to find the key issues in order to link China's level to the international level."

Liang's mentor Zhang Lianwei, the first Chinese to win a European Tour event, said he hoped to use his recent appointment to the board of the Asian Tour to help create more opportunities for his compatriots.

"As a Chinese player, I would also like to see more Chinese players competing in international tournaments as well as seeing more world-class tournaments being held in China," he said.

November 7, 2007