Chinese star Liang Wenchong, the current Asian Tour's UBS Order
of Merit leader, has received a special exemption to compete in the
89th US PGA Championship from August 9-12.
Liang has never played in a Major previously and was delighted
to receive his invitation from the PGA of America to play at
Southern Hills Country Club for the year's fourth and final
Major.
His mentor and close friend Zhang Lianwei was the first Chinese
player to feature in a Major when he was invited to play in the US
Masters in 2004.?
"I am very surprised. I was in Japan fighting for a place to the
British Open at the Mizuno Open last week when I received the good
news on Saturday evening. I am very happy and I am glad to be given
this opportunity following a lot of hard work," said Liang in a
statement through his management company.
"It will be my first Major and it's an important step for me and
somewhat of a consolation to the weekend's result (where he missed
out on his place at the British Open)."
Liang, 28, has enjoyed a stellar season so far on the Asian
Tour, winning the Clariden Leu Singapore Masters and posting six
other top-10s to lead the UBS Order of Merit where he is bidding to
become the first Chinese to lift the prestigious crown.
Last week, the tenacious Liang missed out on a date with the
British Open following a rain and fog plagued Mizuno Open, a
specially designated event on the Japan Tour in which the top four
players earned automatic entry into the Open.
The event was reduced to 54 holes which halted Liang's charge as
he had climbed to as high as eighth place before play was suspended
on Sunday and eventually cancelled. He ended up tied 13th where he
had finished on Saturday.
Liang, who is currently ranked 83rd in the world, will also
feature in the World Golf Championship-Bridgestone Invitational in
Ohio, the week before the PGA Championship thanks to his victory in
Singapore.
(China Daily July 3, 2007)
