Changing Of The Guard As China Throws Its Weight Firmly Behind OneAsia
20/03/09

Beijing (March 20): Leading Chinese golf official Zhang Xiaoning has been reported as confirming that next month's 15th edition of the Volvo China Open will form part of the newly-launched OneAsia Super Series. Speaking at a press conference in Beijing, Zhang made it clear that the US$2.2 million event will be co-sanctioned by OneAsia and the European Tour. According to Zhang, director of the China Golf Association (CGA), which owns the China Open, there is no place at the table for the Asian Tour, who has distanced itself from OneAsia. In a report released by the Reuters news agency, Zhang was adamant that the CGA would now be changing its focus in terms of where it placed professional events in the country. He said: "Our future trend is to have all OneAsia Tour events in China instead of Asian Tour events.

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Japanese Prince Ishikawa Losing His Bashfulness
19/03/09

Innisbrook (March 19): During his two weeks back home, Japanese teenage sensation Ryo Ishikawa sat a school exam and counted the days until he returned to the United States and sampled once more the genuine American hamburger. "The last two weeks I miss American hamburgers," said Ishikawa, as he reintroduced himself to the US media ahead of this week's Transitions Championship. Although he missed the half-way cut on his US PGA Tour debut at last month's Northern Trust Open, interest in Ishikawa has not dimmed - and nor is it likely to as he continues his preparation for his US Masters debut at Augusta National in April

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Defeating Dad The Target For Teenager Wu Jianlong
17/03/09

Xiamen (March 17): A father and son will compete on the Omega China Tour for the first time when Fujian native Wu Weihuang and his 17-year-old son, Jianlong, both compete in this week’s RMB1 million Dell Championship in Xiamen, which tees off on Thursday. The 40-year-old Wu, fourth last year, is among the favourites in Xiamen, while his son is a schoolboy amateur competing in a professional event for the first time at the invitation of the host venue, the Orient (Xiamen) Golf and Country Club. Wu senior, a former martial arts champion, is one of the Tour’s most remarkable characters and draws big crowds at any professional golf event in Xiamen. An expert in Nanquan, a contemporary form of Wushu, he embarked on a successful career in the construction industry then branched into golf in the mid-1990s when business contacts introduced him to the game.

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Augusta National Now Firmly Within Prayad's Sights
17/03/09

Singapore (March 17): Prayad Marksaeng is on the brink of securing himself a place in the starting line-up in next month’s US Masters. On the back of his equal 13th place finish in the WGC-CA Championship, the Thai has risen four spots to 51st in the latest edition of the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR), released today. The top-50 players at the end of the month will gain entry to the first Major championship of the year, to be staged at Augusta National from April 9-12.

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Mickelson Hangs Tough To Slay Doral's Blue Monster
16/03/09

Miami (March 16): He may not have been in peak physical condition. But Phil Mickelson shrugged aside the effects of dehydration to score a notable and timely victory in the US$8 million WGC-CA Championship. The left-hander had spent time on Saturday night in an emergency facility hooked to an IV. He was sufficiently recovered on Sunday, though, to get the better of fellow American Nick Watney in an enthralling final-day head-to-head shootout. Mickelson fired a closing three-under-par 69 at the Doral Golf Resot and Spa for a winning total of 19-under 269. That was one shot ahead of Watney, who closed with a 70. Jim Furyk placed third on 272, while Indian Jeev Milkha Singh carded a 70 to claim sole possession of fourth spot on 274.

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Hong Kong Open Seeks New Title Sponsor To Replace UBS In 2010
11/03/09

Hong Kong (March 11): UBS, Switzerland’s biggest bank, will complete its five-year commitment to the Hong Kong Open by title-sponsoring the 51st edition at the Hong Kong Golf Club in November. However, the European Tour and co-sanctioning partner, the Asian Tour, and Parallel Media Group, the promoters, have confirmed that the bank will not continue its association with the tournament beyond 2009 and that preliminary discussions have started with potential new title sponsors. The 2009 UBS Hong Kong Open will have a prize fund of US$2.5 million compared to approximately US$700,000 prior to the arrival of UBS as title sponsors in 2005.

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