Chinese No 1 Liang Welcomes World’s Best to Volvo China Open
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China’s leading golfer, Liang Wenchong will go head-to-head with two of the most well known players in world golf in an effort to bring the Volvo China Open title back 'home’ for the first time since the event in 2004. Triple 'Major’ champion Pádriag Harrington and Spanish sensation Sergio García, both make their Volvo China Open debut this year in its new setting of Luxehills International Country Club in China’s 'Gateway City,’ Chengdu from 21st – 24th April 2011.
Liang will be hoping to follow in the footsteps of his compatriot, friend and mentor, Zhang Lianwei, who won the Volvo China Open in 2003, the year before China’s national open golf championship joined the European Tour.
"Every player from whatever country dreams of winning his national open golf championship and, of course, I am no different," said Liang, adding, "For me, winning the Volvo China Open would be like winning a 'Major’ title and my preparations will be geared-up to playing my very best golf at Luxehills, where I have great memories from winning there in 2010 on my way to the OneAsia Order of Merit title."
The 32-year-old Chinese number-one had emerged OneAsia Order of Merit last year after an impressive season where he took home victories at the Luxehills Chengdu Open and Thailand Open. He also finished runner-up at the Indonesia Open presented by Enjoy Jakarta, close behind New Zealand's Michael Hendry.
A winner also on the European Tour, Liang famously won the 2007 Singapore Masters and donated his RMB1.2million (Approx.US$183,000) first prize towards golf development in his native China.
"The Volvo China Open has been growing in importance over the past few years, and with a record prize purse of RMB20million (Approx. US$3million), many of the best players in world golf will be attracted to play," said the father of two, explaining, "I welcome Pádraig and Sergio, two great golfers to my country and to my open golf championship, and other world-class golfers are welcome too, because if I am to win my own Open Championship, I have to beat the very best in the world."
Harrington, who has 26 professional titles to his name, the last three of them 'Majors,’ will be making his maiden appearance in the Volvo China Open and is excited by the prospect of playing in an open championship that has grown in significance every year since its launch back in 1995.
"I have always enjoyed playing in China and been made to feel incredibly welcome," said the 39-year-old Ryder Cup star, adding, "I have won twice on Chinese soil, at the 2003 Asian Open and the 2004 Hong Kong Open and would love to make it a hat-trick by capturing the Volvo China Open in April this year."
And the two-time winner of the British Open, is bringing his family to China, explaining, "We have always promised the kids we would visit the Great Wall of China, the Forbidden City and the Terracotta Warriors, but when they heard the Volvo China Open was to be staged in Chengdu, the home of the Giant Panda, that was it, decision made and we are all really looking forward to it."
Meanwhile, Spanish star Sergio García, is steadily regaining the form he lost last year with solid performances in the Middle East Swing.
"I have great memories of China, a top 10 in the Johnnie Walker Classic in Beijing in 2005, winning the HSBC Champions in Shanghai in 2008, a win that took me to second on the Official World Golf Ranking," said the 31-year-old Spaniard, adding,
"I am really looking forward to playing some golf with Liang who I have heard a great deal about and is a great role model for Chinese kids taking up the game."
Continued the eight-time European Tour winner, whose eight PGA Tour titles includes the Players Championship, golf’s 'fifth unofficial 'Major’ championship,’ "There are big incentives for me to win the Volvo China Open, first, it is the national open of golf’s fastest-growing market and, second, it qualifies me for the Volvo World Match Play Championship on home soil in Spain in May."
