Opinion | For Hong Kong’s Kho and China’s Ding, the DP World Tour represents the best chance to reach pinnacle of golf
- The tour’s swing through Asia is highlighting the opportunities for likes of Taichi Kho and Ding Wenyi through it’s strategic alliance with others
- This week’s tournament will take place at Amata Spring Country Club in Thailand
The DP World Tour’s swing through Asia moves onto Thailand this week, and again will give the region’s aspiring golfers a chance to chase history and cement their legacy in the game.
In the past, the likes of Zhang Lian-wei of China, Thailand’s Thongchai Jaidee and India’s Arjun Atwal have claimed historic wins 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, with a total of 10 PGA Tour cards up for grabs, giving the best on the DP World Tour the chance 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 China’s Wu Ashun, who finished tied 12th in Singapore on Sunday, the first of three stops on the swing, which culminates in India.
“I’ve played on the DP World Tour for a long time, and I like this tour,” Wu added. “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.”
China can already boast of having Marty Dou and Carl Yuan plying their trade in North America after graduating from the Korn Ferry Tour. In 2018, compatriot Li Haotong, a three-time winner on the DP World Tour, finished ninth in the Race to Dubai ranking, a feat he needs to replicate to secure one of 10 PGA Tour cards at stake this year.
