Chinese Taipei: Chinese Taipei’s Lu Wei-chih will make his long-awaited comeback at the Ballantine’s Taiwan Championship which tees off at the Sunrise Golf and Country Club on Thursday.
The 34-year-old has been on medical leave since August last year, recovering from a brain tumour surgery.
After a year’s hiatus from international golf, Lu is eager for action again at the US$110,000 Asian Development Tour (ADT) event.
“I feel like I’m playing the first golf tournament in my life once again. I’m very excited but I’ll try to take it easy and not push myself too hard for now. I just hope to finish playing the first 18 holes and see where I stand,” said Lu.
Lu, a three-time Asian Tour winner, spent much of his time at home as part of his rehabilitation following his surgery.
While he acknowledges that he is not at his best yet, the father of two is sanguine about playing his way back into the winner’s circle again.
“I am feeling better already. I rested for about five months since the surgery and have been taking occasional walks round the neighbourhood and doing some light exercises,” said the 34-year-old.
“I would say my current form is only about 60%. I’m planning to participate in a few tournaments in the second half of the year just to condition myself again but the focus would be next year where I hope I can start off well, ” added Lu, whose last international appearance was at the Queen’s Cup in June last year.
As Lu joins the strong line-up of local hopefuls at the Ballantine’s Taiwan Championship, he is delighted with the opportunity to play on the big stage again.
“I really miss playing on the Tour as well as my friends there. It’s great to be able to do something that you love. Playing on the Asian Tour is what I’ve always wanted to do and I’m happy that I’m playing this week,” said Lu.
Other likely contenders at the Ballantine’s Taiwan Championship include Chinese Taipei’s Lin Wen-tang, a six-time Asian Tour winner and winner of the 2010 Ballantine’s Taiwan Championship, defending champion Hsieh Chi-hsien and Hung Chien-yao, who secured his Asian Tour card at the Qualifying School this year.
A total of 144 players will compete in the Ballantine’s Taiwan Championship this week, with the field being split between the ADT and Taiwan PGA.
Current ADT Order of Merit leader, James Bowen of the United States, China’s Ye Jian-feng, Malaysia’s Nicholas Fung, England’s Grant Jackson and Singapore’s Quincy Quek will spearhead the international charge at the Ballantine’s Taiwan Championship which is the 10th leg of the 2013 ADT season.
All ADT events receive Official World Golf Ranking points, which will be used to determine the field for the World Cup of Golf in Melbourne in November and the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.
Winners on the ADT will receive a minimum of six world ranking points while the top six players and ties will earn points based on a sliding scale.
A total of 14 tournaments have been confirmed this season, which is a record for the ADT since its inauguration in 2010.
