20 | Thursday, April 22, 2021 HONG KONG EDITION | CHINA DAILY SPORTS GOLF ven with two career titles on the Korn Ferry Tour under his belt, China’s Marty Dou Zecheng was When I was so close Egiven a stark reminder about the Dou determined to get to winning, I thought importance of that well-worn sport- ing cliche — Stay in the present and too much... I used to take things one shot at a time. be good at handling As the 24-year-old Chinese con- tinues his pursuit of a return to the the pressure but it has PGA Tour at this week’s Veritex back in winning groove been quite some time Bank Championship in Texas, he realizes that a near-miss at the since my last win (in recent Club Car Championship in Chinese putter rues recent near-miss as quest for PGA Tour card continues 2019). Thus, the Georgia has put him in a better frame of mind with the Korn Ferry feeling I had to deal Tour heading into the business end with pressure was of its season. Three weeks ago, Dou was fight- now a strange one.” ing tooth and nail for the Club Car Marty Dou Zecheng, on his late title, and was one shot off the lead lapse at last month’s Club Car with just two holes remaining. Championship in Georgia He was 2-under for those holes over three rounds, but when he “I played in one event in January stood on the 17th tee again, he made and then I didn’t play for three a rookie mistake by letting his mind weeks. Coming back to tournament wander. He started thinking about play, I haven’t quite found my how good it would feel to win for a rhythm yet. I just played three con- third time on the Korn Ferry Tour, secutive weeks and I felt a little which would have virtually sealed tired. It was hard to focus after mak- his PGA Tour card and a place on ing the cut,” he said. China’s team for this summer’s Based in Dallas, Dou also uses Tokyo Olympics. some strong advice from his swing The mistake proved disastrous as coach Cameron McCormick, who Dou sent his tee shot into water on also coaches Jordan Spieth and 17 to run up a costly double bogey. Daniel Berger, as motivation. He eventually finished tied-seventh, In 2019, he won the season-open- three behind winner Adam Svens- ing tournament on the Korn Ferry son, who beat Max McGreevy in a Tour but failed to maintain that ear- playoff. ly momentum. “When I was so close to winning, I “He (McCormick) watched the thought too much,” Dou admitted. “I final three events that year and I was so eager to win and get my PGA didn’t make the cut at the second Tour card, and the Olympics qualifi- one. He had a serious chat with me, cation, and expected too much asking why I had won the first event which distracted me and made me but didn’t finish in the top 25,” said lose my rhythm. Dou. “I said maybe my practice time “I used to be good at handling the was not enough and Cameron said if pressure, but it has been quite some that was my reason, I’d better time since my last win (in 2019). choose an easy life, and not play on Thus, the feeling I had to deal with the Korn Ferry Tour.” pressure was now a strange one. On “He is harsh but it is a good the 17th hole, I was so eager to get a Marty Dou Zecheng hits out of a bunker during the final round of the Emerald Coast Classic at Sandestin Resort in Florida on April 4. The reminder and it helps me to focus birdie and I chose an aggressive 24­year­old Chinese will resume his bid for a PGA Tour card at this week’s Veritex Bank Championship in Texas. GETTY IMAGES better. I am not the type of golfer strategy to try to land my ball closer who can practice eight hours a day to the flag, but the ball found water but I do put in more effort when I instead. If I had more patience, I practice.” would have put the ball safely in the Like many others, he watched middle of the green.” Hideki Matsuyama’s historic Mas- Dou is currently 35th on the ters triumph two weeks ago and Korn Ferry Tour points list, with hopes to one day tee up himself at the top 25 at the end of the regular Augusta National. Dou, however, is season in August earning PGA Tour not in a hurry, and believes it is more cards. Then, another 25 players will important for him to find the con- be awarded cards through the Korn sistency in his game to play at the Ferry Tour Finals, a series of three highest level. tournaments which will also fea- “I think the point is you have to ture PGA Tour players who finish keep your status at the top level, and outside the top 125 of the FedEx- not go up and down, like how I got Cup points list. my PGA Tour card once and then I The young Chinese has not lost it after one season,” he said. missed a cut in five starts in 2021, “Just being there is not enough as with the top 10 at the Club Car we need to make achievements. I Championship being his best result. don’t want to be second rate on the Dou knows though that he needs to Dou Zecheng holds The Bahamas Great Exuma Classic trophy at Dou Zecheng sizes up a drive at the Club Car Championship in PGA Tour as I want to win.” start compiling more of those top Sandals Emerald Bay in January 2019 — the last time the Chinese Savannah, Georgia on March 28. Dou was second with two holes to finishes to get back on the PGA Tour. putter has finished top of the leaderboard. PGA TOUR play at the event but eventually finished tied-seventh. PGA TOUR CHINA DAILY WINTER OLYMPICS FIS candidate Lewis lauds China’s snow sports push International Ski Federation the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics. presidential candidate Sarah Lewis Lewis views the Winter Olympics says China’s efforts to promote win- as the pinnacle for attracting future ter sports are key to the future of athletes into the sport, and for rais- skiing and snowboarding world- By growing its ski ing global participation levels. wide. resort numbers, as “Thanks to the proactive engage- “All eyes are on China as the snow ment of the IOC, the Beijing Games sports market gathers pace in the well as investing in will also be the most gender-bal- run-up to the Beijing 2022 Winter welfare of the population and for dry slopes and anced Winter Games in Olympic Olympic Games,” Lewis, who is bid- tourism. When you consider the history, with the quota of women ding to become the first female pres- global snow sports market has 150 simulators, China increasing from 41 percent in ident of the FIS, told Xinhua. million participants, tripling it will has massively Pyeongchang to over 45 percent,” “Since winning the bid in 2015 to have a major impact on the winter she said. host these Games, China has imple- sports industry — not just in China, opened up access to “This is such a powerful message mented an outstanding plan for but all around the world.” the sport, which is to all our future athletes around the greater participation in winter China now boasts the fastest- world.” sports and has made developing the growing snow sports industry in the vital for participation Beijing 2022 will see new events snow and ice industry a priority,” world, with an ever-increasing num- by everyone of all contested in freestyle skiing, snow- added the Briton. ber of ski resorts catering to the ages.” boarding, ski jumping, bobsleigh “The winter sports development nation’s burgeoning domestic and short-track speed skating, plan has been established by the demand. Sarah Lewis, bringing the total number of medal Chinese government working with “By growing its ski resort num- International Ski Federation disciplines to 109, seven more than the Chinese Sports Ministry, Nation- bers, as well as investing in dry presidential candidate Pyeongchang in 2018. al Olympic Committee and Winter slopes and simulators, China has “These brand new events, along Sports Administrative Center. massively opened up access to the with the already existing ski and “Consequently, the overall plan is sport, which is vital for participation time for global snow sports, for Chi- the Yanqing and Zhangjiakou Snow sports have been a major snowboard disciplines, will give the based on sound sports practices to by everyone of all ages, and to help na and indeed Asia,” said Lewis. (competition) clusters and at the part of Lewis’ life since childhood. broadcasters and wider media introduce and evolve winter sports, produce future generations of “The Beijing 2022 venues look exciting Shougang Olympic Park in Having learned to ski on a dry slope exciting opportunities to demon- with the additional objective of athletes. outstanding, they are state-of-the- Beijing, where the snowboard and at the age of 5, she went on to repre- strate to our Chinese and global fan developing new champions. “Now global sports analysts are art, fully sustainable, have achieved freeski Big Air events will take sent Britain at world champion- bases just how thrilling these sports “And believe me, the world will predicting that China will soon new benchmarks with environmen- place.