China's elder statesman Zhang Lianwei begins second career on European Senior Tour
Chinese pioneering golfer is enjoying a career revival and still loves the competition
Zhang Lianwei is loving life as a rookie - at the age of 50. China's pioneering golfer has just begun his second career and is tackling it in the same way he did when he turned pro some 20 years ago - playing to win.
Zhang finished in a tie for fourth at last week's Scottish Senior Open and has finished in the top 25 in the three other European events he has played. He stands at 26th in the order of merit and leads the rookie of the year standings.
Golf has given the son of a Zhuhai rice farmer a very good living, but the sport is going through massive turmoil on the mainland owing to the corruption crackdown ordered by President Xi Jinping.
"We have a lot of excellent golf courses and their condition is just about as good as those we play in Europe or the USA," Zhang said.
We have a lot of excellent golf courses and their condition is just about as good as those we play in Europe or the USA
"Sadly there are fewer events in China this year because of the government crackdown on illegal land use. The golf business in general is down by 20 to 30 per cent and I will not be surprised to see at least 20 per cent of the courses we now have close down because of the crackdown."
