(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-04-06 16:12

SINGAPORE -- Liang Wenchong never quite imagined that his life could change so dramatically the moment a golf club was put in his hands some 14 years ago.

Liang Wenchong answers a question from the press in Hongkong in this September, 2007 file photo. Liang will next week compete in the Masters Tournament at August National Golf Club. [Xinhua]

The 29-year-old will next week become only the second player from the Chinese mainland to compete in the prestigious Masters Tournament at August National Golf Club and will do so as China's first ever Asian Tour number one.

Liang represents an exciting generation of golfers from China who not only has the burning desire to excel on the global stage but also the game and mentality to achieve success.

He believes that an Asian Tour player can one day win the Masters and he is ready to bid his time.

"I am grateful for the chance to play in the US Masters," said Liang, who was invited by Augusta National along with Asian Tour stalwarts Jeev Milkha Singh of India and Prayad Marksaeng of Thailand.

"As representatives of Asia, we want to do a good job there and leave a good impression on them."

Liang's mentor and close friend Zhang Lianwei walked the hallowed grounds in the 2004 Masters but missed the cut by two strokes. Naturally, Liang hopes to achieve what Zhang failed to do.

The tenacious Liang, who won once and posted eight other top-10s to become Asia's new number one last season, will have his confidence boosted following a tied 12th finish at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans on the US PGA Tour last weekend.

Liang's sometime coach, the highly regarded Kel Llewellyn, has every belief that the Chinese ace can leave an indelible imprint on the international scene.

"I think Liang is potentially a Major champion," said the Australian, who has guided Kyi Hla Han and Jyoti Randhawa to the Asian Tour number one crown in the past.

"He has such as wonderful temperament, he is hard working with practice sessions often lasting 12 hours and nothing really bothers him. He has got that ability to detach himself from past and future."

Liang realizes that a good showing at the Masters, the year's opening Major, will fuel the growing interests of golf in China. This season, a total of six Asian Tour events will be played in China but Liang stressed that it wasn't entirely up to him alone to carry the nation's progress in the game.

"I think that the progress of golf does not lie entirely with one player. It is the combined effort of many players who play well in tournaments which will help spread the game," said Liang.

Liang recalls the moment when his life changed forever. "When I was studying in secondary school in 1993, two teachers from Zhongshan Hotspring Golf Club came to teach us golf and it was then that I developed an interest in the game which led me down this path," he said.

"I won the Chinese Amateur Open Award in 1995 and from 1996 to 1998, I was the China Amateur Open champion. I was given the opportunity join the China Tour and I later managed to secure a fourth place in the 1999 Volvo China Open which was when I decided to turn professional," said Liang.

Despite his success, Liang remains humble and has not forgotten his roots. He generously donated all his winnings of 183,000 US dollars from the Singapore Masters towards the development of golf in China where the Zhongshan Club, China's first modern golf course designed by Arnold Palmer in 1984, set up a foundation.

"I have very close ties with Zhongshan Club. It is like a parent to me, bringing me up in golf. Without it, I wouldn't have come so far. We want China to grow and it is clubs like this that provide the foundation and support for players like me to progress.

"Otherwise, there would only be rich people playing golf. It was good that I had the chance, support and the facilities when I was younger so that I can be what I am today. I hope that this support will continue in the future as I want to help others become good golfers and by giving them my winnings, I am just giving back what I can," said Liang.

Liang knows he needs to leave the comforts of his home to test himself abroad. "I really want to thank the Asian Tour for giving me the chance to play. I definitely want to progress and play internationally and I will always remember and appreciate what the Asian Tour has done for me," said Liang, who is also China's first golfer to earn over US$1 million in career earnings.

"The highest goal in golf is to play on the US PGA Tour and I will continue to work hard at my game to achieve this," he said.