Boost for Wu and Li to enter pinnacle of the game

Stakes are high as the two Chinese golfers set out to chase PGA Tour cards

When the DP World Tour's Asian Swing kicked off in Singapore last week before making further stops in Thailand and India over the next fortnight, it will serve as a massive boon to the region's aspiring golfers, including China's Wu Ashun and Li Haotong, who harbor dreams of chasing history and legacy.

In the past, Asian greats including, Zhang Lianwei of China, Thailand's Thongchai Jaidee and India's Arjun Atwal had notched historic wins for their respective nations in DP World Tour-sanctioned tournaments across Asia, and reaped immediate rewards by earning playing rights in what was formerly known as the European Tour.

The stakes are now so much higher as a total of 10 PGA Tour cards will be up for grab on the DP World Tour in 2023 for the creme de la creme to gain direct entry to the pinnacle of the men's professional game.

"This year, a lot of players will target for that, including me," said the 37-year-old Wu, who finished tied 12th in Singapore on Sunday. "I have a chance. I have been doing well and I trained well in the off-season. I've played on the DP World Tour for a long time, and I like this Tour. Having 10 spots for the PGA Tour is great, a lot of players will focus on that, so it will be very interesting to compete in any tournament this year. We are from Asia, so travel is pretty hard for us, but it's a good challenge for us and every player too — trying to keep in our best condition for every tournament, play your best and try to get a PGA Tour card," added the four-time DP World Tour winner.

China already has Marty Dou Zecheng and Carl Yuan Yechun plying their trade full-time on the PGA Tour after graduating from the Korn Ferry Tour in the US. In 2018, Li, a three-time winner on the DP World Tour, finished ninth in the Race to Dubai ranking, a feat he needs to replicate if he is to secure one of 10 PGA Tour cards at stake this year.

The strengthening of a Strategic Alliance between the DP World Tour and PGA Tour, which was initially formed in 2020, has now created clear career pathways for Asia's rising stars to emerge onto the biggest stage in golf. After all, it only takes one week in pro golf for a player's life to be transformed.