Els sees great future for nation's golf
(China Daily)
Updated: 2005-04-28 06:06

The sky's the limit for the development of golf in China, according to world No 3 Ernie Els.

The "Big Easy," speaking ahead of today's start of the US$1.5 million BMW Asian Open in Shanghai, said the understanding and appreciation of golf in the Middle Kingdom had come on leaps and bounds over the past decade.

The 35-year-old South African, who finished tied sixth at last week's Johnnie Walker Classic in Beijing, drew comparisons with one of his first tournaments in China back in 1998.

"It was quite funny because golf was very new then. People were just all over the greens, they were walking in the bunkers, walking over the tees. They didn't quite understand the game of golf," Els said on Tuesday.

"But I think it's come quite a long way since. I think we've played six or seven tournaments in China already since then so it's definitely come a long way.

"It's only going to get stronger. A lot more players are coming through on the Asian Tour playing in Europe and the United States so I think the sky can be the limit," the triple major-winner added.

In Beijing last week, Els's fellow countryman Retief Goosen complained of camera-toting spectators snapping pictures while he was swinging.

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