Zhang hopes to drive to victory in China

Chinese stalwart Zhang Lian-wei is counting on a new driver in the bag to end his title drought at the Crowne Plaza Open, which begins on Thursday.

The 40-year-old Zhang , China 's most famous successful golf export, will wield a new driver at the challenging Grand Epoch City Golf Club on the outskirts of the Chinese capital city and hopes it will bring him good fortune.

A five-time winner on the Asian Tour, the self-taught golfer has not won since the Volvo China Open in November of 2003 but Zhang is hoping the winless run will end at this week's US$200,000 Asian Tour event.

Current Order of Merit leader Thaworn Wiratchant of Thailand , and Zhang's Visa Dynasty Cup teammates Liang Wen-chong of China , Singapore 's Mardan Mamat and Thai duo Prayad Marksaeng and Boonchu Ruangkit will also compete in Beijing this week.

"I've been practising with a new Honma driver for the past two weeks at home," said Zhang, whose last competitive appearance was a tied 28th finish at the Singapore Open earlier this month.

"This is a better driver than the previous one as I'm able to hit the ball with a higher ball-flight trajectory. I've gained an additional of 10 yards in distance as well, so hopefully it'll help my game this week."

Zhang, presently 20th on the Asian Tour Order of Merit, finished third in the Volkswagen Masters-China in Beijing this month and hopes to improve by a couple of rungs here. But the charismatic Zhang acknowledged that the Grand Epoch City course will pose a tough challenge.

"The rough is thick and the greens are undulating. There are at least three par four holes that are very long, so it'll be a good test for the players," said Zhang.

With the growth of professional golf in China developing rapidly as witnessed by the emergence of new events on the Asian Tour, other leading Chinese players like Liang and Li Choa are also keen to get onto the winner's podium more regularly.

All eyes will also be on Thaworn, who will be looking to extend his lead on the Order of Merit. Thaworn has shown some impressive form of late, winning the Taiwan Open thanks to a closing 64 a fortnight ago.

With US$394,365 in earnings this season, which is already a new record for earnings in a single season, Thaworn, who leads second-ranked Thongchai Jaidee by approximately US$48,000, is raking in the air miles in his push to finish as the Asian Tour number one in December. The Crowne Plaza Open, inaugurated last year, will be his fifth straight Asian Tour event.

Australian Kurt Barnes and Chinese Taipei duo Lu Wei-lan and veteran Lu Wen-teh, who shared third place at the Mercuries Taiwan Masters, are in this week's field hoping to ride on their recent good form but last week's winner Lu Wei-chih is taking the week off.

There will be added incentive for this week's winner as lifting the Crowne Plaza Open will also mean a ticket to the lucrative HSBC Champions Tournament, which will be staged in Shanghai later in November. World number one Tiger Woods has already confirmed his entry for the US$5 million event, which is Asia 's richest tournament.

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