Caption: Liang and Wu.
By NICOLE O’FARRELL
China’s best golfers Wu Ashun and Liang Wenchong are amongst those headed to Fiji to contest the Fiji International golf tournament.
To be played from August 14-17 Wu and Liang add to the international flavour of the PGA Tour of Australasia and OneAsia tournament and will lead the Chinese charge at Natadola Bay.
Needing little introduction in world golf, Liang was the first Chinese player to reach the top 100 of the Official World Golf Rankings and is regarded as his country’s most successful golfer.
The holder of many international records and titles, Liang was the first ever Chinese player to win the Asian Tour Order of Merit in 2007 and the following year became the first Chinese golfer to make the cut at a Major tournament.
Competing in all corners of the world, Liang has gone on to succeed at the highest level and is OneAsia’s most prolific winner.
A four-time champion, Liang’s previous OneAsia victories include the 2009 Midea China Classic, the 2010 Chengdu Open, the 2010 Thailand Open and the 2012 Nanshan China Masters.
He is also a former European Tour champion having taken out the 2007 Singapore Masters.
Alongside Liang, Wu is another of Asia’s most credentialed golfers and heads to Fiji as a two-time Japan Tour winner.
The Fiji International will be Wu’s second OneAsia event of the year after he finished 4th at the Indonesia PGA Championship earlier in the year.
Last month he represented his country at The Open Championship and alongside Liang, he represented China at the 2013 World Cup of Golf.
“We’re pleased to welcome Liang and Wu to the Fiji International field, further adding to the international flair of the tournament,” said Brian Thorburn, Chief Executive Officer of the PGA of Australia.
“Joining the likes of Vijay Singh, Nick Price and Anirban Lahiri, Wu and Liang’s presence will help to ensure the eyes of the golfing world will be firmly on Fiji during the tournament week.”
The Fiji International will be played at Natadola Bay Championship Golf Course from 14–17 August and will be Fiji’s first internationally broadcast golf tournament.
Being played for a US$1 million prize purse the Fiji International will be co-sanctioned by the PGA Tour of Australasia and OneAsia.
Proudly supported by the Fijian Government, the Fiji International is expected to produce a multi-million dollar boost for the Fijian economy, in addition to flow on benefits including the growth of the game in the region.
Designed by Singh, the Natadola Bay Championship Golf Course is renowned for its sparkling backdrop of coral reefs and the Pacific Ocean that line 15 out of the 18 championship holes.