Homegrown series nurturing tomorrow's stars

Since its inception in 2014, the PGA Tour Series-China has served as a ladder for the nation's top talent to climb into the elite ranks of global golf.

Now, with the domestic game really gaining a head of steam, the series is keen to reinforce its reputation as a stepping stone to greatness.

Owned and operated by the PGA Tour in partnership with the China Golf Association and Shankai Sports, the series awards Web.com Tour cards to its top five money winners.

In turn, the Web.com Tour feeds new talent into the PGA Tour proper.

It's a proven route to stardom, which has served the likes of Li Haotong well.

"I have traveled around Chinese golf courses and I have felt the people's passion and love for the sport," said Greg Carlson, executive director of the PGA Tour Series-China, in an exclusive interview with China Daily on Monday in Shanghai.

"Nine players from China have won 16 of the 54 PGA Tour Series-China tournaments held over its history. To date, that's the highest percentage among all countries represented on the PGA Tour Series-China.

"In addition to our expertise and brand, we provide official world ranking points, which get players into the Olympics, and we provide Web.com Tour access to further players' careers.

"We are honored to be a part of growing the game of golf in China, and all of us involved in golf bear this responsibility.

"We are excited to provide players in this part of the world with a competitive tour where they can improve their game."

Along with Li, the PGA Tour Series-China has nurtured a number of other notable talents, including Zhang Xinjun, who won the Web.com Tour's Dormie Network Classic in San Antonio, Texas, last month to secure a return to the PGA Tour proper.

Zhang and fellow PGA Tour Series-China graduate Dou Zecheng made history in 2017 when they became the first players from the Chinese mainland to earn PGA Tour cards.

Back on the Web.com Tour this year, Dou won the first event of the season in the Bahamas, while Zhang has racked up four top-10 finishes.

Dou and Yuan Yechun are well-positioned to join Zhang on the PGA Tour next term.

Dou is currently 11th in the Web.com Tour's top 25 rankings while Yuan is just outside the qualifying section, sitting in 27th place.

"I need to keep working on the same things I've been working on, which is a positive attitude on the course," Zhang said after his win in Texas.

"There were times on the PGA Tour when I let my emotions get the better of me. I need to continue to grow emotionally and hopefully it'll be a new me playing out there."

China's world No 35 Li remains the PGA Tour Series-China's most famous graduate.

The 23-year-old, who played on the series in 2014, continues to go from strength to strength on the global stage, and last month showed he belongs at the very highest level with a solid showing in his second appearance at the Masters, playing alongside eventual winner Tiger Woods.

"Li is playing a considerable amount on the PGA Tour this season but he always acknowledges his roots and pays tribute to the PGA Tour Series-China for giving him the opportunity to grow into the golfer he is today," said Carlson, who witnessed the development of the Chinese ace first-hand.

"We look forward to the day he breaks through to win on the PGA Tour, knowing his professional career really took off on this tour in China."

Carlson said the PGA intends to sharpen its focus on finding younger talent.

"The PGA Tour Series-China operates a junior program, but we want to explore other opportunities such as junior tournaments," he said.

"For kids, there's a balance they can achieve between academic life and golf. Golf can also teach them about discipline and scheduling in everyday life.

"We've been cooperating with Chinese schools by having players talk to students to give them a sense of the sport. We also invite kids to golf courses to let them know the beauty of the sport."

The China Golf Association (CGA) is grateful for the PGA's efforts in developing the sport here. "The PGA Tour Series-China has been a competitive and attractive international platform for Chinese golfers," said Zhang Ning, the director of the CGA's development department.

"The strength of Chinese golf has been growing quickly in recent years, while many young talents who started their careers in the PGA Tour Series-China have proved their worth."