Taiwan’s Lu Wei-chih, who almost quit golf three years ago after being diagnosed with a brain tumor, upstaged a high-quality field to grab a share of the lead at the European Tour’s Hong Kong Open yesterday.
The 36-year-old fired eight birdies on the way to a six-under-par 64 to sit level with Italian Andrea Pavan in the co-sanctioned Asian Tour event.
To be heading a field featuring major winners Justin Rose (65), Graeme McDowell (66) and Padraig Harrington (70) is a fantastic achievement for world No. 786 Lu, who endured a slow recovery after having a non-malignant tumor removed in 2012.
Photo: Reuters
Lu, who has three tournament wins to his name, revealed in an emotional press conference that he had once thought his career was over.
“For the first six months after the surgery, I pretty much gave up all my confidence and trust because I had no power and I didn’t think I can play golf anymore,” he said. “So I had to rest over six months, and then finally, I started playing a little bit of the Taiwan Tour.”
However, he said he could barely make it round a course after the 14th or 15th hole as he struggled to rebuild his fitness.
His weight ballooned to 9kg and his doctor warned him it was only through exercise, nutrition and time that his condition would recover.
Even after he started playing again every week two years ago, he said: “I wasn’t quite sure how much longer I will last [as a golfer].”
Slowly, he managed to rediscover glimpses of his form and he returned to action in the second half of 2013, since taking part in seven tournaments and missing only one cut.
“About a year after my surgery, I started talking to the Asian Tour and they gave me the opportunity to get back on the Tour and play some events, and finally, I started coming back mentally and physically,” he said.
Lu credited his wife and in particular his 10-year-old son and five-year-old daughter for helping him on his way to recovery.
“They keep supporting me, and I just have to tell myself that I want to be a real golfer again and compete on the Tour,” he said.
Even with his weight now back down to 84kg, he said he was not out of the woods.
“The doctor said after the surgery there’s no quick fix; no pill that can really make the recovery much quicker,” he said.
Englishman Rose fired a bogey-free round at Fanling to keep on the coattails of the lead duo and share third alongside Lu’s fellow Taiwanese, C.T. Pan, and Indian Jeev Milkha Singh.
Pan shot a five-under 65, while his compatriot Lin Wen-tang carded a three-under 67 for a share of 12th, while Taiwan’s Chan Shih-chang and Hung Chien-yao shot a one-over 71 and four-over 74 respectively.
Irishman Kevin Phelan needs a top-six finish to retain his European Tour card for next season and he made a good start with a four-under 66 to sit tied sixth with Northern Irishman McDowell, among others.
Englishman Ian Poulter showed no ill-effects of a late long-haul dash to Hong Kong from Florida by firing a three-under 67 for a share of 12th.
Poulter dropped out of the top 50 in the world rankings on Sunday, making him ineligible for next week’s HSBC Champions event in China and unable to complete the 13 events required to maintain his European Tour membership next season.
He was only able to take a spot in the field in Hong Kong after former US PGA champion Rich Beem gave up his place and he required local professional Alan Gibson to step in as caddie with his regular bag man on holiday.
After all the drama, the Englishman was pleased to be in contention.
“Fairly happy with that result today... three-under par and left a few out there. Fair chance of a little snooze in the courtesy car to hotel,” Poulter posted on Twitter.
Additional reporting by staff writer
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