Zhang Lianwei is seen as China’s golf trailblazer as he was the first golfer from the mainland to achieve substantial success on the international professional circuit. The self-taught golfer won the China Amateur Open Championship three times before turning professional in 1994.
Zhang cemented himself in history in January 2003 when he became the first Chinese golfer to win an event on the European Tour, nailing a birdie on the final hole at Laguna National Golf & Country Club to grab the Caltex Masters Singapore from favourite Ernie Els. That victory saw him become the first Chinese golfer to make it into the top 100 on the Official World Golf Rankings
Zhang again made history in 2004 when he earned a rare invitation to play in the US Masters, making him the first Chinese player to tee up at Augusta National. Though he missed the cut at The Masters, he did make it at his second event on the US PGA Tour, the 2004 FedEx St. Jude Classic.
In his 13th year as a professional, Zhang had other significant achievements in 2007. In May, he became the 13th professional to surpass the USD $1 million prize money mark on the Asian Tour and the 2007 Brunei Open was his 100th Asian Tour tournament.
Zhang cemented himself in history in January 2003 when he became the first Chinese golfer to win an event on the European Tour, nailing a birdie on the final hole at Laguna National Golf & Country Club to grab the Caltex Masters Singapore from favourite Ernie Els. That victory saw him become the first Chinese golfer to make it into the top 100 on the Official World Golf Rankings
Zhang again made history in 2004 when he earned a rare invitation to play in the US Masters, making him the first Chinese player to tee up at Augusta National. Though he missed the cut at The Masters, he did make it at his second event on the US PGA Tour, the 2004 FedEx St. Jude Classic.
In his 13th year as a professional, Zhang had other significant achievements in 2007. In May, he became the 13th professional to surpass the USD $1 million prize money mark on the Asian Tour and the 2007 Brunei Open was his 100th Asian Tour tournament.
BMW Golfsport International