Chinese golf star Liang Wenchong will put the battle for Asian supremacy at the back of his mind as he chases a maiden victory at the Volvo Masters of Asia starting tomorrow.
Liang, who has led the race for the UBS Order of Merit crown since May, only needs to finish ahead of Thailand's Chapchai Nirat at the Thai Country Club to become the first Chinese player to end the season as Asia's No. 1.
However, the 29-year-old said his main goal is to produce a winning performance at the Asian Tour's season-finale in Bangkok.
PHOTO: AFP
"I'm not going to think too much about the Order of Merit race or finishing ahead of Chapchai," Liang said. "My goal is to try and win the Volvo Masters of Asia. If I can do that, it will take care of everything else."
LONG SHOT
The only way Chapchai, second in the rankings, can topple Liang is by pulling off a home victory and hoping the Chinese ace finishes outside the top three.
Whatever happens, Liang has enjoyed the best season in his career with one victory and eight other top-10s.
"It's been a great year for me. I've been pleased with how it has developed and I think my game has improved as I now have more experience playing around the world," said Liang, who leads the money race by US$95,005.
"It would be very meaningful if I can become the first Chinese player to win the UBS Order of Merit title and it could help develop golf further in my country," he said.
"When I was young, I aspired to be like Zhang Lianwei and I hope I can also be a source of inspiration to the younger generation," Liang said.
FOCUSED
Liang has been paired with Chapchai in the opening round, but is adamant he is focusing solely on his own game.
"It is a good pairing and I'm looking forward to it. But I will just concentrate on my own game," he said.
"I know Chapchai needs to win here if he is to upstage me in the Order of Merit race but I will not be too concerned with what he does," Liang said.
The Zhongshan-based golfer is oozing with confidence after arriving in the Thai capital following a joint third finish in Japan at the weekend.
The Volvo champion will earn a ticket to the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational next year while the top-three players from the Order of Merit gain berths to the lucrative WGC-CA Championship.
Taiwan’s Hsieh Su-wei and partner Jelena Ostapenko of Latvia yesterday advanced to the women’s doubles final at the Australian Open after defeating New Zealand’s Erin Routliffe and Gabriela Dabrowski of Canada 7-6 (7/3), 3-6, 6-3 in their semi-final. Hsieh has won nine Grand Slam doubles titles and has a shot at a 10th tomorrow, when the Latvian-Taiwanese duo are to play Taylor Townsend of the US and Katerina Siniakova of the Czech Republic in the championship match at the A$96.5 million (US$61 million) outdoor hard court tournament at Melbourne Park. Townsend and Siniakova eliminated Russian pair Diana Shnaider and Mirra Andreeva 6-7
Manchester City have reached do-or-die territory in the UEFA Champions League earlier than expected ahead of what Pep Guardiola has described as a “final” against Club Brugge today. City have disproved the suggestion a new format to Europe’s top club competition would remove any jeopardy for the top clubs as Guardiola stares down the barrel of failing to make the Champions League knockout stages for the first time in his career. The English champions have endured a torrid season both in their English Premier League title defense and on the continent. A run of one win in 13 games, which included Champions League
FINAL WEEK LOOMS: PSG rose to 22nd place to set up another tense challenge against 24th-placed Stuttgart, while Man City require victory against Club Brugge Manchester City are on the brink of a humiliating UEFA Champions League exit after a stunning loss to Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday, while Real Madrid is no longer at risk after routing Salzburg. Man City blew a two-goal lead in a high-stakes clash of super-wealthy underachievers that PSG won 4-2 in Paris, who could still be eliminated alongside the English champions after the final round of games next week. Only the top 24 in the 36-team standings are to advance. Man City, the 2023 champions, are in 25th place, but could squeeze into the knockout playoffs round by beating Club Brugge. “We will
Things are somewhat out of control at the Australian Open this year, and that has only a little to do with the results on the courts. Yes, there were some upsets, including Madison Keys eliminating No. 2 Iga Swiatek in the women’s singles semi-finals on Thursday. It also was the first time since 1990 that three teenagers beat top-10 men’s seeds at a Grand Slam tennis tournament. The loser of one of those matches, Daniil Medvedev, got fined US$76,000 for behaving badly. Last year’s women’s singles runner-up exited in the first round. However, the real fuss is happening elsewhere. The rowdy fans, for one
RSS