The best of China golf is coming to Hong Kong
The World City Championship presented by Hong Kong Golf Club (WCC) is bringing some of the best players from around the planet to Fanling from 23-26 March, but the US$1 million Asian Tour tournament is also providing a welcome platform for Chinese players to showcase their talents for an international audience.
Eight elite players from the Chinese mainland are set to take on global stars like former Hong Kong Open winner Ian Poulter and The Open champion Henrik Stenson for the WCC, joining 20 locals who have lined up to fly the flag for the SAR as international tournament golf makes its much-anticipated return to town.
When factoring in the large Hong Kong contingent, 20% of the 132-strong World City Championship field will come from Hong Kong and the mainland.
Leading the way on the ground at Fanling will be DP World Tour star Li Haotong, China Tour champion Liu Yanwei, and the evergreen Zhang Lianwei, five-times a winner on the Asian Tour across his illustrious career.
Alongside these established Chinese golf legends is another fast developing star in amateur sensation Ding Wenyi, who received an invitation from the Hong Kong Golf Club.
Ding grabbed headlines around the world last July when he won the US Junior Amateur – becoming the first man from China to win a USGA event.
Since then the Beijing-raised star has been testing himself against the professionals at top-tier tournaments such as February’s Singapore Classic - and his reputation as one of the sport's hottest prospects has been growing. He was excited to be making a second Asian Tour appearance and to be taking on the composite course at Fanling.
“I have played on the Asian Tour once before in Saudi Arabia. It’s a great Tour and I am really looking forward to playing again. There are going to be a lot of great golfers in Hong Kong and it would be a great opportunity for any amateur golfer to be able to play with the professionals, especially this tournament provides the qualification chance for the Open. I will do my best to go for it.
“I have played at Fanling once, but not on the tournament composite course, it is not long, but it is a golf course to test the iron play accuracy. I think I might need further work on my iron play and putting to tackle the challenge,” said the 18-year old China phenom.
Li Haotong has been a fixture on the international golf circuit for years, with three victories on the DP World Tour and an historic third place finish at The Open in 2017 establishing him as one of the leading Asian players of his generation - and a ground-breaker in terms of golf in China.
The 27-year old is looking forward to returning to Hong Kong, saying, “I am very excited to play in this new tournament. The Fanling course and Hong Kong Golf Club has a lot of history, and I know they will present an amazing event for the players and the fans.
“It has been a while since I last played in Hong Kong. Being back after all the years feels special and I cannot wait to see all of the fans there again. Of course, there is always pressure to play in front of home crowds, but I will use that as motivation to do my best.”
Li also welcomed the large contingent of Chinees golfers saying, “All of these players are the proof that Chinese golf is booming. There are so many young talented Chinese golfers like Wenyi Ding in the field this time, and this tournament is the platform they need to show the world just how good they are,” he said.
The 25-year-old Liu had a breakout year on the China Tour in 2020/21 with victory in the Zhengzhou Classic helping propel him to third place in the Order of Merit. He’s looking to re-ignite that form as play across Asia continues to return to normal, post-pandemic.
Zhang is meanwhile a star who needs little (re-)introduction, having been a pioneer in terms of golf in China and golfers from China playing internationally.
Alongside his Asian Tour triumphs, the 57-year-old was the first Chinese player to win on the DP World Tour, thanks to victory at the Singapore Masters in 2003 - and he has been a regular and hugely popular visitor to the Hong Kong Open down through the years.
Rounding out the mainland China presence at the WCC will be Tong Yang, Bai Zhengkai, Chen Guxin and Chen Zhihao.
Golf fans in Hong Kong can watch all the action at Fanling free of charge all week - after registering for entry via www.ticketflap.com.
