Kuala Lumpur: China’s Wu Ashun is planning to enjoy a memorable debut at the US$8 million ISPS HANDA World Cup of Golf at Royal Melbourne Golf Club later this month.

The 28-year-old Wu has never featured in the storied tournament previously although China has played host to the World Cup on a number of occasions.

Wu and countryman Liang Wen-chong, the first Chinese to win the Asian Tour Order of Merit in 2007, will stand shoulder-to-shoulder with many of the game’s top stars from November 21-24, 2013.

“It is very exciting for me because I have wanted to play in the World Cup for a very long time,” said Wu.

“I’m very happy that I have qualified for this prestigious event. The World Cup was staged in China for many years but I never had the chance to play in it or even watch it at the golf course. I was always competing in another tournament,” added Wu.

Wu and Liang represent the second generation of Chinese golf stars who are slowly making their presence felt on the world stage.

If Liang achieved fame by becoming his country’s first Asian Tour number one, the powerfully built Wu holds the honour of being the first Chinese golfer to win on the Japan Golf Tour when he claimed victory at the Toshin Cup last season.

This year, Wu has yet to replicate his winning form with five top-20s to his name but he acknowledges that a first appearance in the ISPS HANDA World Cup of Golf will serve as an inspiration for him to qualify for the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro in 2016.

The Olympics will use a similar qualifying process as with the World Cup where players become eligible through their Official World Golf Ranking.
“It will be my first time playing in Australia, so I’m really excited to head out there. I think this new format will help prepare everyone for the Olympics in 2016. I’m definitely proud that I’ll be representing China with my brother Liang,” said Wu, who only learned to play golf at the age of 17.

Liang, currently ranked 132nd in the world, has enjoyed eight top-10s around the globe this season and is presently sixth on the Asian Tour’s Order of Merit. He is hoping to enjoy a good week at the ISPS HANDA World Cup of Golf.

The tenacious Chinese is determined to make an impact at Royal Melbourne which will showcase an individual competition with prize money of US$7 million and also a team event (for nations with two players in the field) with US$1 million on offer.

“It is an exciting feeling to have the opportunity to represent China in the World Cup. I hope that I can play well and get a good result for my country. It will be a different format this year and I think it is a good move because it is almost similar to the format for the 2016 Olympics,” said the 35-year-old Liang.

“I was happy the World Cup was held in China for many years before moving to Australia. I think the fans and golfers there had a really good experience watching the top players in action. I’m sure Australia will hold a great event this year,” he added.

He reckons that countryman Wu can surprise a few people at Royal Melbourne, which is regarded as one of the top golf venues in Australia.

“Wu is very hardworking and dedicated. I’m glad that he has qualified for the World Cup and I hope that both of us will do well,” said Liang, who has multiple appearances in the World Cup of Golf.

Other Asian players who have qualified for the ISPS HANDA World Cup of Golf through the Official World Golf Ranking are Thailand’s Prayad Marksaeng and Kiradech Aphibarnrat, India’s Anirban Lahiri and Gaganjeet Bhullar, Korea’s K.J. Choi and Bae Sang-moon, Filipinos Angelo Que and Antonio Lascuna, Japan’s Ryo Ishikawa and Hideto Tanihara and Bangladeshi Siddikur.