Liang shoots for US Open ticket
Liang Wen-chong wants to complete a 'Grand Slam' of major appearances by qualifying for the US Open in Japan next week.
The Chinese star and reigning Asian Tour number one has signed up for the 36-hole qualifier at Ibaraki Country Club's West Course in Osaka on Monday, May 26, with the aim of making it through to Torrey Pines, venue of the US Open in June.
"This is the first time that I'm going to compete in the qualifying for the US Open and I'm hoping to get through," said Liang, the first Chinese to lift the Asian Tour's Order of Merit crown last season.
The 29-year-old made his major debut at the US PGA Championship last season and was invited to play in the US Masters last month. As Asia's number one, Liang is exempted into the British Open in July, leaving the US Open as the only major which is not listed yet on his impressive resume.
The tenacious Chinese has shown in recent times that he is regaining his best form after finishing second in the Japan PGA Championship at the weekend. Liang admitted that his early-season performances had been lacklustre due to his over-anxiety ahead of his Masters appearance.
"When I received the invitation into the Masters, I had all sorts of thoughts in my mind and it affected my game and preparation," said Liang. "But now, I feel like I'm starting to play my best golf again."
Liang will be amongst a selected group of Asian Tour stalwarts who will head to Ibaraki for the US Open qualifying. Thai duo Prayad Marksaeng and Thaworn Wiratchant along with Filipino Artemio Murakami are the other players who have entered.
Prayad, winner of the Volvo Masters of Asia in Bangkok last December, will be hoping a successful qualifying campaign will give him the chance to redeem himself in the United States. The stocky Thai played at the Masters last month but withdrew midway through the second round with injury.
Thaworn's lone major appearance was at the 2006 British Open in Royal Liverpool where he finished a respectable tied 31st after lying in the top-10 at the halfway stage.
Murakami, winner of the Iskandar Johor Open in Malaysia last season, will be hoping to earn his maiden major appearance.
Angel Cabrera of Argentina is the defending champion of the US Open.
"This is the first time that I'm going to compete in the qualifying for the US Open and I'm hoping to get through," said Liang, the first Chinese to lift the Asian Tour's Order of Merit crown last season.
The 29-year-old made his major debut at the US PGA Championship last season and was invited to play in the US Masters last month. As Asia's number one, Liang is exempted into the British Open in July, leaving the US Open as the only major which is not listed yet on his impressive resume.
The tenacious Chinese has shown in recent times that he is regaining his best form after finishing second in the Japan PGA Championship at the weekend. Liang admitted that his early-season performances had been lacklustre due to his over-anxiety ahead of his Masters appearance.
"When I received the invitation into the Masters, I had all sorts of thoughts in my mind and it affected my game and preparation," said Liang. "But now, I feel like I'm starting to play my best golf again."
Liang will be amongst a selected group of Asian Tour stalwarts who will head to Ibaraki for the US Open qualifying. Thai duo Prayad Marksaeng and Thaworn Wiratchant along with Filipino Artemio Murakami are the other players who have entered.
Prayad, winner of the Volvo Masters of Asia in Bangkok last December, will be hoping a successful qualifying campaign will give him the chance to redeem himself in the United States. The stocky Thai played at the Masters last month but withdrew midway through the second round with injury.
Thaworn's lone major appearance was at the 2006 British Open in Royal Liverpool where he finished a respectable tied 31st after lying in the top-10 at the halfway stage.
Murakami, winner of the Iskandar Johor Open in Malaysia last season, will be hoping to earn his maiden major appearance.
Angel Cabrera of Argentina is the defending champion of the US Open.