Green Shoots: Meet China's New Generation Of Talented Golfers

GOLF

高球天地

green shoots 嶄露頭角

TEXT/文 DAN WASHBURN

Meet China’s new generation of talented golfers 為你介紹中國新一代的高球精英

G

olf. Some claim the Chinese invented the sport. No one who has ever glanced at the world golf rankings, however, would argue they perfected it. But to be realistic, the game of golf in the People’s Republic of China is younger than Tiger Woods. The country’s first golf course didn’t open until 1984, China didn’t acknowledge “golf pro” as a legitimate occupation until 1994 and, even today, a small percentage of the Chinese population plays the sport. There is, it’s safe to say, room for growth. Many say Chinese golfers are already on the verge of making a lasting mark at the highest levels of the game. Leading this charge is a new generation of young players, eager to prove China’s golf scene is coming of age. “I do believe really that China is the new wave for golf,” says world-renowned golf coach David Leadbetter. “I think it’s only a matter of time before some real stars are produced.” Traditionally, most Chinese professionals – including trailblazer Zhang Lianwei, the first Mainland golfer to win a European Tour event – were self-taught, came from poor backgrounds and came to the game late in life. The future Chinese stars represent a dramatic paradigm shift. They are the first generation who, from a young age, grew up aware of golf, playing the sport and, most importantly, able to afford top-level golf instruction. Here are four of the top young golfers in China. 44

silkroad September 2009

有 比Tiger

人爭論，高爾夫球其實是中國人發明的 運動。不過，觀乎高爾夫球手的世界排 名榜，中國選手的技術尚未臻至爐火純 青的氣候，卻是不爭的事實。而實際上， 這種運動在中國內地發展的時日，甚至

Woods還要年輕。中國首個高球場直至1984年才

開幕；而在1994年以前，中國並沒有所謂的「職業高爾夫球 手」。至今，中國打高球的人口依然佔少數，由此可見，高爾 夫球在內地仍然有很大的發展空間。 很多人認為，中國的高球手很快就會在一流高球賽事中 寫下光輝的一頁，而中國的新生代年輕球手將一馬當先，以 實力證明高球運動於中國已經漸入佳境，日趨成熟。 世界知名的高球教練David

Leadbetter 說：「我深信中

國是高球壇的一股新勢力，中國的高球巨星快將誕生。」 傳統上，大部分的中國職業高球手都是自學成材的窮家 子弟，開始接觸高球時年紀亦已經不小，首位在歐洲巡迴 賽中勝出的球手張連偉便是一例。然而，中國高球界的明 日之星與前輩球手有著截然不同的際遇，許多人從小便已 開始接觸並練習高球，最重要的是，他們都負擔得起頂尖 高球教練所收取的昂貴學費。 以下為你介紹中國高球界的四位頂尖年輕高球好手。

Wu Ashun slowly learned to love the sport 中國高球手吳阿順學會 慢慢愛上高球運動

English name: Alex Born: June 22, 1985 Birthplace: Zhangzhou, Fujian Hometown: Zhangzhou, Fujian Current residence: Shanghai Home course: Tomson Golf Club, Shanghai Height: 1 m 83 cms Weight: 81 kilograms Swing: Right handed Year started golf: 2001 Year turned pro: 2008 英文名：Alex 出生日期：1985年6月22日 出生地點：福建漳州 故鄉：福建漳州 現居地：上海 所屬球會：上海湯臣高爾夫 球場 身高：1米83 體重：81公斤 揮桿：右手 開始打高球的年份：2001年 成為職業球手年份：2008年

WU ASHUN

Twenty-three-year-old Wu Ashun just might be the best Chinese professional golfer under the age of 30 – and prior to 2001, he had never even heard of golf. The son of a truck driver and a municipal worker, Wu was a normal 16-year-old growing up in a small village near the agricultural city of Zhangzhou, in eastern Fujian Province. Then, a golf academy opened in the city and a representative visited Wu’s school looking for potential talent. Wu didn’t know what golf was, but his interest was piqued. “I was very active back then, playing basketball and other sports, so when they told us about the chance to get a free education and learn golf, I was curious. So I went to take the test,” explains Wu, who after a series of physical challenges was one of a dozen students chosen from more than 100 candidates. Wu said his parents “were always supportive” of his decision to play golf, even if the sport confused them. Wu admits he found golf a little dull at first, but the game grew on him. “I didn’t like golf at first. I thought it was boring. But I never thought about quitting. I started to get interested slowly.” By the time he was 18, he was consistently shooting scores in the 70s and he placed second in his first tournament, a youth event in Guangzhou. “He’s going to be a very nice player,” observed Irish golf professional Paul McGinley earlier this year. “He’s a very good talent and it’s great to see the Chinese players coming through.”

吳阿順 現年 23歲的吳阿順，堪稱是 30 歲以下的中國職業 高球精英之一，但在2001年之前，他甚至沒聽說過 高爾夫球這項運動。 吳阿順兒時在福建東部漳州的農村長大，父母是貨車司機 和工人。他16歲那年，漳州開了一家高球訓練中心，中心派 人到他的學校尋找有天份的學生。吳阿順當時雖然不知道 高爾夫球為何物，但這個活動卻激發了他的好奇心。 吳阿順說：「當時的我很好動，喜歡打籃球及各種運動。 因此當有人說這是個學打高爾夫球及免費受教育的好機會 時，我非常好奇，便去參加測試。」經過體能測試後，他從 百多名應考者中脫穎而出，成為12名獲選學員之一。 吳阿順的父母雖然對高球不甚了解，但他們都支持他的 決定。剛開始練球時他覺得高球有些沉悶，過了一段時間才 喜歡上這項運動。他說：「剛開始時我並不喜歡高爾夫球， 但也從未想過要放棄，後來對這項運動逐漸產生興趣。」 在他18 歲時，吳阿順已打出平均70 多桿的成績，並在首 次參加比賽時於廣州舉行的青少年高球賽事拿下第二名。 愛爾蘭籍的職業高球手Paul

McGinley在看過吳阿順的

表現後，曾在今年年初表示：「他很有天份，將會成為出色 的球手。中國球手嶄露頭角是教人欣喜的現象。」 September 2009 silkroad

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GOLF

高球天地

“The best way for young golfers to develop is to find their own way of improving ... to push themselves and discover a way on their own” 「年輕的高球手必須自己去摸索改善球技的方法，這樣才能 進步……球手們需要推動自己，尋找改善的方法」

Ask 19-year-old Hu Mu who is the best Chinese golfer from his generation and he doesn’t hesitate with his answer. “Me,” says China’s top-ranked amateur. “Never a doubt.”

Hu Mu’s father Hu Jiansong was his caddy for the Omega China Tour last year 胡牧的父親胡建松在 去年的歐米茄中國巡迴賽 中擔任兒子的桿弟

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Hu has a right to be confident. He’s been considered the future of Chinese golf – “China’s Tiger Woods”, “Golf’s Yao Ming”, “Mister One in a Billion”, etc. – since 2001, just three years after he started playing. That’s when an 11-year-old Hu won the China Junior Golf Open – in the 15-18-year-old division. Later that year he moved from Shenzhen to Florida, where he began training under Leadbetter, perhaps the most famous golf coach in the world. Money was not an issue – Hu’s father, Hu Jiansong, made a fortune selling Otis elevators in Shenzhen during the boom years of the 1990s. “He was a very good ball striker even at a young age,” recalls Leadbetter. “He’s a great talent. He’s a hard, hard worker. We have high hopes for him in the future, no question about it. He sort of reminds me a little bit of Rory McIlroy, that type of individual. He’s a very aggressive player.” Hu says: “The best way for young golfers to develop is to find their own way of improving. Don’t over rely on coaches and parents. They need to push themselves and discover a way on their own to get better.” Hu recently completed his freshman year studying Social and Behavioral Sciences at the University of Florida, where he plays golf for the college team, the Gators. But he says he’s happy he decided to put off turning pro for college. “At Florida, I learned to calm myself down, not just on the golf course but in everyday life,” he says. “Also it reminded me why I play golf. I play because I love the sport, not because I need to make a career out of it.”

silkroad September 2009

胡牧 問19歲的胡牧，在他這一代中國高球手中，誰的表 現最出色？這位中國頂尖業餘高球手會毫不猶豫地 回答：「我，毫無疑問。」

也難怪他如此自信。從2001 年開始，只打了三年高爾夫球 的胡牧，已被視為中國高球壇的明日之星，被冠以「中國

Tiger Woods」、「高球界姚明」、「13 億人之中才出一個 」等封號。當時年僅 11歲的胡牧，在中國青少年高爾夫球公 開賽 15至 18歲的年齡組別中奪冠。同年他從深圳移居佛羅 里達州，接受全球知名高球教練Leadbetter的培訓。胡牧 的家境富裕，其父胡建松在經濟起飛的90年 代在深圳售賣奧的斯電梯致富。

Leadbetter 憶述：「胡牧很有天份， 而 且 非 常 努力，小 時 候 在 擊 球 方 面 已 表 現得 十 分 優 秀，我 們 對他 的 前 途 寄 予 厚 望。他 讓 我 想 起

Rory McIlroy，他們是屬於 同一種類型的人。此外，他 也是一位非常積極進取的 高球手。」 胡牧認為：「年輕的高 球手必須自己去摸索改善 球技的方法，這樣才能進 步，千萬別過 於依 賴教 練 和父母。球手們需要推動自 己，尋找改善的方法。」 胡牧在佛羅里達大學的社 會與行為科學系就讀，第一 個 學 年 剛 剛 結 束，他 亦 是 大學高球校隊 Gators 的成 員。即使如此，胡牧說他很 高興自己選擇了大學教育， 沒有轉為職業球手。 他說：「在佛州，我學會 了在高爾夫球場上甚至在日 常生活中讓自己平靜下來， 這 樣 有助 我 更 清 楚自己打 高爾夫球的真正 原因。我是 因為真心喜歡這種運動而打球， 並不是 為了要 成 為 職 業球手 來 揚名立萬。」

Photos. Hu Mu: David Paul Morris – World Sport Group. Previous page: Wu Ashun: Jeff Hargrove

HU MU

Born: October 8, 1989 Birthplace: Jiande, Zhejiang Hometown: Shenzhen Current residence: Orlando, Florida Home course: Bella Collina Golf Club Height: 1 m 78 cms Weight: 77 kilograms Swing: Right handed Year started golf: 1997 College: University of Florida (Class of 2012)

Hu is a hard worker and described as an aggressive player 胡牧非常努力，教練形容 他是個積極進取的球手

出生日期：1989年10月8日 出生地點：浙江建德 故鄉：深圳 現居地：佛州奧蘭多 所屬球會：Bella Collina

Golf Club 身高：1米78 體重：77公斤 揮桿：右手 開始打高球的年份：1997年 就讀院校：佛羅里達大學 （將於2012年畢業）

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Golf

高球天地

FENG SHANSHAN

The world’s highest-ranked Chinese golfer is 20 years old and female. Feng Shanshan, now in her second year as the first Chinese regular on the LPGA (Ladies Professional Golf Association) Tour, is one of the game’s top 50 players.

馮珊珊是首個獲女子 職業高爾夫球總會巡 迴賽全卡參賽資格的 中國球手，也是天生 的高球好手

English name: Jenny Born: August 5, 1989 Birthplace: Guangzhou Hometown: Guangzhou Current residence: Howey-in the-Hills, Florida Home course: Dragon Lake Golf Club, Guangzhou Height: 1 m 70 cms Weight: 60 kilograms Swing: Right handed Year started golf: 1999 Year turned pro: 2007

馮珊珊 正值雙十年華的馮珊珊，是現今世界排名最高的中 國高球女選手，更是首個獲女子職業高爾夫球總會 巡迴賽全卡參賽資格的中國球手，她已是第二年參 加這項賽事，並且在巡迴賽排名前50名。 作為巡迴賽上唯一的中國高爾夫球手，馮珊珊表示：「當我 每一次看到中國國旗在 LPGA賽場上飄揚的時候，我感到 既興奮又自豪。中國的高球手欠缺的不是技術，而是機會。

英文名：Jenny 出生日期：1989年8月5日 出生地點：廣州 故鄉：廣州 現居地：美國佛州

信心。我相信，會有更多的中國高球手在LPGA巡迴賽上登

Howey-in-the-Hills

廣州市高爾夫球協會秘書長。她在父親的悉心指導下，十

我認為中國高球手應該把握更多參加國際賽事的機會，開 拓自己的視野。他們的實力已毋庸置疑，對自己應該更有 場，這一天應該很快就會到來。」 出身於高球世家的馮珊珊，家境不算富裕，父親馮雄是

所屬球會：廣州九龍湖

歲開始打高爾夫球，並在連續三年贏得中國業餘高爾夫球

高爾夫球會 身高：1米7 體重：60公斤 揮桿：右手 開始打高球的年份：1999年 成為職業球手年份：2007年

巡迴賽總冠軍後，於2007年移居美國南卡羅來納州Hilton

Head Island，入讀首屈一指的高球學校 Hank Haney International Junior Golf Academy（IJGA）。之後不到 一年，她便成為2008 LPGA球季賽兩名獲外卡參賽資格的 業餘球手之一，亦是首名獲此資格的中國女球手。 馮珊珊於IJGA的高球教練Matt

Fields說：「只要她繼續

努力，保持信心，就有機會打進巡迴賽的前20名。」 48

silkroad September 2009

Photos. Feng Shanshan: Gregory Shamus – Getty Images. Sun Dong: David Paul Morris – World Sport Group

The first Chinese regular on the LPGA Tour, Feng Shanshan is a natural talent

“Every time I see the Chinese flag flapping about in the sky at an LPGA tournament site, I feel very excited and proud,” says Feng, who remains the lone Chinese golfer on tour. “What Chinese players lack are not skills, but opportunities. I think Chinese golfers should grasp more opportunities to attend more international tournaments, which will broaden their outlook. They must be confident in themselves because they are really good. I believe the day you see more Chinese players on the LPGA Tour will come soon.” Feng was not born into money, but she may have been born to golf – her father, Feng Xiong, is General Secretary of the Guangzhou Golf Association. Feng Shanshan began playing at the age of 10 under her father’s watchful eye. After winning the China Amateur Tournament three years in a row, she moved to the United States in 2007, enrolling at the prestigious Hank Haney International Junior Golf Academy on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. Less than a year later she was one of only two amateurs and the first woman from China to earn exempt status for the 2008 LPGA season. “If she continues to work hard and believe in herself, she could be one of the top 20 players on the tour,” says Matt Fields, who coached Feng at the academy.

SU DONG

Su Dong may only be 19 years old, but he’s a big guy with big potential. After toying with the idea of attending Duke University in the United States and playing golf there, he turned professional in January. In February, in his first tournament as a professional, the big-hitting Su Dong placed second and won a cheque for RMB21,000 (about HK$23,800) at Harbour Plaza Golf Club in Dongguan. The top-three finish also earned Su a spot in this year’s Volvo China Open, arguably the most prestigious tournament for Mainland golfers. Of course, the organisers of the Volvo China Open have long been aware of Su’s prodiginous talents. In 2005, when he was just 15 years old, Su wowed onlookers with a fifth-place finish in a qualifying tournament. He went on to play in the Volvo China Open as a second alternate, prompting tournament executive director Alistair Polson to compare Su to Spanish superstar Sergio Garcia. “I think he’s got the mental toughness to go a long way,” Polson said of Su at the time. Su, who grew up in Beijing but has lived in Vancouver, Canada, since 2003, excelled at sports as a child, but at the age of 11 his father encouraged him to give golf a try. Few Chinese were playing at an elite level in those days, so Su’s father thought golf was the sport that gave his son a chance to become one of the nation’s best. He was right. “I played golf for three months and I finished third in the China Junior Golf Championships,” Su says, “but there were only eight people competing.”

English name: James Born: December 22, 1989 Birthplace: Beijing Hometown: Beijing Current residence: Vancouver, Canada Home course: Reignwood Pine Valley, Beijing Height: 1 m 83 cms Weight: 100 kilograms Swing: Right handed Year started golf: 2001 Year turned pro: 2009 英文名：James 出生日期：1989年 12月22日 出生地點：北京 故鄉：北京 現居地：加拿大 溫哥華 所屬球會：北京 華彬莊園高爾夫 俱樂部 身高：1米83 體重：100公斤 揮桿：右手 開始打高球的年份： 2001年 成為職業球手年份： 2009年

蘇東 蘇東雖然只有19歲，但身形絕對不小，而且潛力雄 厚。他曾經考慮入讀美國的杜克大學並繼續打高爾 夫球。不過，今年1月，他決定轉為職業球手。 今年2月，他在東莞海逸高爾夫球會參加了人生的首場職業 球賽，並奪得亞軍，贏得一張21,000人民幣（約23,800 港 元）的支票。在這場賽事中奪得前三名的佳績，也為他贏 得今年Volvo中國公開賽的參賽資格。對中國的高球手來 說，這項賽事堪稱最為聲譽卓著的高球錦標賽。 其實，Volvo 中國公開賽的主辦機構早已注意到蘇東的 超卓球技。2005年，才15歲的他在資格賽中獲得第五名，令

Su Dong is a mentally tough golfer 蘇東是位意志力堅強 的高球手

人刮目相看，最後更以資格賽第二名進入當年的Volvo 中 國公開賽。公開賽行政總裁 Alistair 牙高球明星Sergio

Polson把蘇東與西班 Garcia 相提並論，他認為：「我相信他

有很堅強的意志力，足以應付未來的挑戰。」 蘇東在北京長大， 2003 年移居加拿大溫哥華，自小就 擅長各項運動，11歲時在父親的鼓勵下開始打高爾夫球。 當年中國出色的高球手並不多，蘇東的父親覺得兒子有 機會成為中國最優秀的高球手之一，事實證明他的直覺沒 錯。蘇東輕聲笑著說：「我才打了三個月的高球，就拿下 全國青少年高爾夫球錦標賽第三名，雖然比賽只有八人 參加。」 September 2009 silkroad

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