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MONDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2013 SPORTS ‘Tiger Dads’ in search of China’s Tiger Woods GUANGZHOU: China is mobilising the the age of 14. The rise of golfers like Ye dren play golf and they are all conscien- affluent province, although the family are world’s largest golf club with 12 sprawl- state behind golf, but 13-year-old Ye and Guan outside China’s sporting infra- tious and hard working. They train hard considering moving to the US to focus on ing courses. Ye won an under-18 tourna- Wocheng, the youngest player to com- structure throws up potential challenges and also the parents are very strict. his golf. His father, a wealthy interior ment there in June, carding a two round pete on the European Tour, says officials for Beijing, which presents individual tal- “Sometimes, if the kids don’t play golf designer, has spent hundreds of thou- two-under-par total of 142 on its World should turn instead to the country’s ents as state-moulded patriotic champi- well, the parents will hurl abuse at them sands of dollars on Ye’s training, and has Cup course, designed by golf legend Jack “tiger” parents to find the next Tiger ons, rather than self-motivated sports or even hit them,” he added, with a seri- recruited British former professional Nicklaus. Woods. stars. China has now introduced golf into ous stare belying his age. David Watson, who coached Lee Its Mission Hills Golf Series Junior Tour Golf was once banned in Communist its Soviet-like sports school system for the Strict parenting is common in China, Westwood and Justin Rose when they is open to children as young as nine, and China as a bourgeois indulgence, but its first time, and its ultra-modern training particularly with regards to education, were amateurs. Ye trains at Lion Lake competitor Chen Geyi, 14, was born return to the Olympics has seen Beijing centre in Shandong province is expected and sometimes sport. The tough Country Club near Guangzhou, a lavish Beijing, 2,000 kilometres to the north, but build a high-tech $80 million training to be a production line for future champi- approach became a media phenomenon dual-course complex containing China’s said he moved to Shenzhen when he was complex and enlist its rigid education sys- ons, with an eye on the Tokyo 2020 in 2011, when Chinese-American profes- largest inland yacht club and a “southern a toddler because “you cannot play golf tem in a search for new stars. Olympics. sor Amy Chua’s book “Battle Hymn of the California-style” clubhouse. Guan also in the winter in Beijing”. While officials are looking to satisfy the But Ye-who still wears teeth braces- Tiger Mother” detailed how she insisted trains there, and his image is everywhere, His father Chen Daxin says the family national urge for medals, a wave of child believes China’s future as a golfing super- on top marks from her kids. with his trophies on show in the restau- relocated to warmer climes for “work rea- prodigies is already emerging, tutored by power will be down to individual hard The best golfer of recent years, Tiger rant. “We have an exclusive putting green sons”, but admits he has spent a fortune foreign coaches and ingrained with an work, along with a dose of firm parenting. Woods, a child prodigy who was on tele- just for Guan,” said club president Zheng on developing his son’s golf. “Parents basi- insatiable desire to succeed by their “There will be lots of great (Chinese) play- vision aged two, has often praised his ex- Jingfen. “And we don’t charge him to use cally don’t bother too much about cost wealthy, highly-disciplined parents. ers in the future,” he told AFP, predicting military father and Thai mother for help- the course, as youngsters need an envi- when it comes to children’s interests,” said Ye made history earlier this year when half the world’s top 100 will come from ing develop his competitive edge, and ronment to develop their skills.” Club offi- the 43-year-old, brushing off suggestions he played at the Volvo China Open aged China in 20 years, a huge improvement said in 2007 he would be a “disciplinarian” cials say several families have moved into he was a strict parent. just 12 years and 242 days. The schoolboy for a country which currently has only six with his own children. the local area purely to develop their chil- Some “give up their career and life to smashed the record set by compatriot in the PGA’s top 1,000, with its top player Ye lives with his parents-who he says dren’s golf. throw everything into their children’s Guan Tianlang, who astonished the world Liang Wenchong at 107. are “not strict”-in the southern city of A few hours away is the enormous future” Chen added, before taking his in April when he made the Masters cut at “This is because in China a lot of chil- Dongguan in Guangdong, China’s most Mission Hills complex in Dongguan, the son’s clubs on his shoulder. —AFP Bruins top Penguins 3-2 with late goal BOSTON: Zdeno Chara scored with Prust each had a goal and an assist gave the Florida Panthers a 2-1 scoring the game-winner just 1:04 13 seconds left in regulation after to lead the Montreal Canadiens to a come-from-behind win over the into overtime as the Winnipeg Jets David Krejci tied it late, lifting the 3-2 win over the Buffalo Sabres. Alex Detroit Red Wings at the Joe Louis defeated the Tampa Bay Lightning 2- Boston Bruins to a 3-2 win over Galchenyuk also scored and Travis Arena. Jimmy Hayes also scored for 1. Scheifele’s third goal of the season Pittsburgh on Saturday in a game Moen had a pair assists for Montreal Florida (9-16-5), who won their sec- came less than 20 seconds after the that was overshadowed by (19-9-3), who have won five straight ond consecutive game after three Lightning’s Alex Killorn appeared to Penguins defenseman Brooks Orpik and nine of their last 10. Tyler Ennis straight losses. Shawn Matthias had beat Jets goaltender Al Montoya on getting taken off the ice on a and Zemgus Girgensons scored for two assists and goaltender Tim a breakaway, but hit the left post stretcher. the Sabres (6-22-2), who have just Thomas stopped 22 shots. Daniel with his shot. With the win, Reilly Smith also scored for the two wins in 10 games under interim Cleary scored for Detroit (15-9-7). Winnipeg climbed above the .500 Bruins, who haven’t lost in regulation coach Ted Nolan. mark to 14-13-4. Tampa Bay, mean- at home since late October (10-0-2). Capitals 5, Predators 2 while, fell to 17-10-2. Midway into the opening period, Devils 4, Rangers 3 (overtime) Captain Alex Ovechkin extended Shawn Thronton was given a match Defenseman Eric Gelinas’ power- his lead in the NHL’s goal-scoring Stars 5, Flyers 1 HONG KONG: Miguel Angel Jimenez of Spain, holding the trophy, poses for Tyler Seguin had not scored since photos after winning the Hong Kong Open golf tournament in Hong Kong, his four goals in a 7-3 win at Calgary yesterday. —AP on Nov. 14 but the Dallas Stars cen- ter ended that six-game drought in Jimenez wins record-equalling dramatic fashion, delivering his third career hat-trick in a 5-1 win over the fourth Hong Kong Open Philadelphia Flyers. All of Seguin’s HONG KONG: Defending champion Miguel Two eagles and two birdies put the Thai goals came in the second period. Angel Jimenez won the $1.3 million Hong golfer in the lead on his own at the co-sanc- Stars backup goaltender Dan Ellis Kong Open in a three-way playoff yester- tioned European Tour and Asian Tour event stopped 27 of 28 shots to earn his day, clinching the title for a record- before a disappointing bogey at the 14th. equalling fourth time and securing his 20th When the Spaniard bogeyed the 15th, third win of the season. European Tour victory. the title looked to be heading Prom’s way The 49-year-old Spaniard birdied the first until Jimenez bounced back with a birdie at Maple Leafs 4, Senators 3 extra hole at the Hong Kong Golf Club to 17 after missing a good opportunity to pull (shootout) defeat Thailand’s Prom Meesawat and level on 16. Shootout goals by Mason Stuart Manley of Wales and collect a win- Jimenez and Prom appeared to be set for Raymond and James van Riemsdyk ner’s cheque of $216,660. a head-to-head in the playoff until Manley proved to be the difference as the Jimenez raised his arm to the air as a fif- dramatically chipped in at the last for birdie Toronto Maple Leafs defeated the teen-foot-plus putt dropped into the hole and the three headed back down the eigh- on the eighteenth green-much to the teenth. Ottawa Senators 4-3. The win ended delight of an adoring crowd in the southern There, Manley hit a wayward iron which a Leafs’ road skid at seven games Chinese city. The victory saw the popular struck the roof of the hospitality tent, while without victory and extended the Jimenez match the Taiwanese Hsieh Yung- Prom came up short of the green. Both Senators’ home losing streak to five yo’s four wins at Fanling in the 1960s and were heading for fours when Jimenez rolled games.