2006 China Tour Hainan Leg - Round 1: Grip change gives Yuan four stroke lead

The mainland’s biggest hitter made a minor adjustment with his shortest club to take a convincing four shot lead after the first round of the 2006 Omega China Tour’s opening event, the Hainan Leg, at the Kangle Garden Spa in Hainan.

Yuan Hao changed his putting grip midway through his round, sparking a run of five birdies in eight holes on his way to a six-under-par 66, a four-shot lead, his best score on the tour and the quickest start of his professional career.

“This is not only my lowest round of the China Tour, but also my best first round score ever,” said the 26-year-old Guangdong native.

“I changed my putting grip on the back nine and immediately started with two birdies. I started telling myself that with this kind of grip I should go easy with the right hand and the answer was right. I started to feel my putting stroke come back. It’s beautiful out there, especially the greens. I can feel the ball rolling true and it rolled pretty fast too. I would say I was lucky that I changed my putting grip on my back nine, otherwise I wouldn’t have had this kind of score. The other reason that I played so well is that I kept my momentum going all the time. I hit the greens in regulation almost 100 per cent on the back nine and was peppering the flags. I putted well, so I’m happy with the way I played.”

Yuan’s closest rivals are all Guangdong natives, which suggests the southerners might have had an advantage in the 30 degree Celsius heat and high humidity.

Zheng Wengen, the first Chinese golfer to turn professional back in 1994, and Lai Yuanlang both shot 70. Yuan Tian, an Omega China Tour debutant who is based in the Guangdong provincial capital Guangzhou, was one under par while the big two – Asian Tour regulars Zhang Lianwei and Liang Wenchong who also hail from the province – both shot even par 72s.

“I made a big mistake,” the 40-year-old Zhang said, admitting that he committed the cardinal sin of letting a bogey on the fourth hole affect him on the par four fifth, where he carded a seven.

“That cost me a lot: A triple bogey! I drove way straight into the water, and it took me five shots to get on the green!”

Liang Wenchong started well with two birdies in his first three well, but in between was disrupted by a TV cameraman who walked onto the green as he was preparing to putt and never quite recaptured the feeling of his bright opening.

“I realise that it’s his first time on a golf course and the behaviour of the media and the fans on the course is improving. We all understand that it will take a lot of time,” he said.

“Playing European or Asian Tour I wouldn’t even bother to worry about any sudden movement of fans or media, no matter whether I’m on the fairway or green. I kind of concentrate more on my attack and my tempo. But here I always worry that someone will move suddenly every time I’m ready to putt or ready to swing.”

However, despite the interruptions and trailing the leader by six shots Liang, who plans to play 30 events on the Japan Golf Tour this year, said he was enjoying himself.

“I feel like I’ve come home every time I come to the China Tour. Everybody knows each other. It’s more relaxed and to be honest with you, I feel free here on the China Tour!”

Omega China Tour – Hainan Leg

Leading First Round scores (Par 72)

66 – Yuan Hao

70 – Lai Yuanlang, Zheng Wengen

71 – Yuan Tian

72 – Liang Wenchong, Zhang Lianwei

73 – Chen Yong, Liao Guiming, Tang Jinchang, Xiao Zhijin

74 – Chen Dongsheng, Cheng Fei, Feng Xu, Fu Xin, Liu Guojie, Qi Zengfa, Shi Ningjie, Tan Yongzong, Wang Lei, Wu Xujun, Xing Xiaoxuan, Zhong Yonguang,

April 6, 2006