Monty, Pavin duel in Suzhou
Source: Agencies/Shanghai Daily |
April 2, 2010, Friday
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Print Edition
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COLIN Montgomerie and Corey Pavin, the European and US captains for October's Ryder Cup, will face each other for the only time this year at the Volvo China Open later this month, organizers announced yesterday.
American Pavin, 50, will be making his debut in the event in Suzhou, Jiangsu Province, which runs from April 15-18, and said he wanted to put one over on Scot Montgomerie.
"I am looking forward to mixing it with him ... in what will be our only competitive setting ahead of my US team defending the Ryder Cup in Wales later this year," the 1995 US Open champion said.
"It will be great to showcase the Ryder Cup in China with both Colin and me playing in the China Open and let there be no doubt about it, we will both be going all out to win it and seize the initiative."
The Volvo China Open is co-sanctioned by OneAsia and the European Tour with prize money totaling US$2.5 million - a 14 percent increase over last year. The winner will walk away with a check of US$416,660.
Eight-time European champion Montgomerie, 46, played at the China Open in Beijing last year and has won three titles in greater China over the years.
"I have enjoyed a good record in China, winning the TCL in 2002 and both the Hong Kong Open and the Macau Open, so I would love to add China's national open championship to make it a full house," said Montgomeire, who finished 25th last year.
Both will be non-playing captains when their teams clash at the 38th Ryder Cup at the Celtic Manor Golf Club in Wales in October.
Yang Yong-eun of South Korea, 38, Asia's first major winner, who won the PGA Championship last year, heads the China Open field at the Jinji Lake International Golf Club. World No. 11 Henrik Stenson of Sweden has also confirmed his participation and will arrive after competing at the US Masters, which ends on April 11.
In Chengdu, China's Liang Wenchong shot a course-record 64 in the first round of the Chengdu Open to open the new OneAsia season with a bang.
The 31-year-old fired six birdies to reach the turn in 30 before picking up two more on the way back to lead the field by a stroke on eight under par.
"Sometimes when you make a couple of birdies in a row you then tense up and make some mistakes. Today I just kept making birdie after birdie," said Liang.
"I looked at the leaderboard after nine holes and I saw I was in a share of the lead. "I realized that there was no point in pushing too hard and just focused on playing some steady golf."
Korean Choi Ho-sung was second on seven under following a 65 that featured eight birdies and one bogey, while American David Oh is a shot further back.
"In my hotel room last night I was practising with a new putter," said the 36-year-old Choi.
"It felt very good and so I used it today for the first time and I made a lot of putts. There are three more days to go. I will try and keep working hard."
American Pavin, 50, will be making his debut in the event in Suzhou, Jiangsu Province, which runs from April 15-18, and said he wanted to put one over on Scot Montgomerie.
"I am looking forward to mixing it with him ... in what will be our only competitive setting ahead of my US team defending the Ryder Cup in Wales later this year," the 1995 US Open champion said.
"It will be great to showcase the Ryder Cup in China with both Colin and me playing in the China Open and let there be no doubt about it, we will both be going all out to win it and seize the initiative."
The Volvo China Open is co-sanctioned by OneAsia and the European Tour with prize money totaling US$2.5 million - a 14 percent increase over last year. The winner will walk away with a check of US$416,660.
Eight-time European champion Montgomerie, 46, played at the China Open in Beijing last year and has won three titles in greater China over the years.
"I have enjoyed a good record in China, winning the TCL in 2002 and both the Hong Kong Open and the Macau Open, so I would love to add China's national open championship to make it a full house," said Montgomeire, who finished 25th last year.
Both will be non-playing captains when their teams clash at the 38th Ryder Cup at the Celtic Manor Golf Club in Wales in October.
Yang Yong-eun of South Korea, 38, Asia's first major winner, who won the PGA Championship last year, heads the China Open field at the Jinji Lake International Golf Club. World No. 11 Henrik Stenson of Sweden has also confirmed his participation and will arrive after competing at the US Masters, which ends on April 11.
In Chengdu, China's Liang Wenchong shot a course-record 64 in the first round of the Chengdu Open to open the new OneAsia season with a bang.
The 31-year-old fired six birdies to reach the turn in 30 before picking up two more on the way back to lead the field by a stroke on eight under par.
"Sometimes when you make a couple of birdies in a row you then tense up and make some mistakes. Today I just kept making birdie after birdie," said Liang.
"I looked at the leaderboard after nine holes and I saw I was in a share of the lead. "I realized that there was no point in pushing too hard and just focused on playing some steady golf."
Korean Choi Ho-sung was second on seven under following a 65 that featured eight birdies and one bogey, while American David Oh is a shot further back.
"In my hotel room last night I was practising with a new putter," said the 36-year-old Choi.
"It felt very good and so I used it today for the first time and I made a lot of putts. There are three more days to go. I will try and keep working hard."
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