It was a comment made in a light-hearted moment, Liang says, but the sentiments are serious.
"I was joking a little but I did indeed think that way. I wanted the whole world to be aware that there are some pretty good Chinese golfers," Liang tells China Daily.
"Golf is still pretty young in China, with a history of less than 30 years. There is still a long way to go and a lot to learn from the US and Europe."
Unlike most successful golfers, who acquired their first clubs and were inspired by big names at an early age, Liang followed a very different path.
He was a peasant's son in Guangdong province, and spent most of his childhood in the field with his parents, sowing and gathering their peanut crops. For leisure, he was fishing in the ditches and chasing chickens around.
He could have become a farmer like his father or one of the millions of migrant workers in the big cities nearby.
However, the first golf club on the Chinese mainland was built in his hometown, Sanxiang, Zhongshan. The club was talent-spotting in his secondary school when Liang was picked. He was 15 and had never touched a club.
Many of the trainees dropped out of the demanding training, but it was Liang who persevered, training at 5 am for more than two hours without interruption before school, in all weather.
2011年10月29日星期六
China won two silver medals
At last year's HSBC National Junior Championship, Shi Yuting won a place in the Shanghai pro-am, at which she matched American star Phil Mickelson and beat Australia's former top-10 player Adam Scott over a par-three hole.
While many of the first and second generation of the Chinese golfers started as caddies on the greens, most of the youngest newcomers are backed by supporting families.
Shi was born in Japan, and moved back to China with her parents when she was 5. Her father brought her to the golf course two years later and started her lessons.
"I had never played golf before I went to Japan in 1992. Very few people were familiar with that sport in China at the time," Shi Yuedong, 47, tells China Daily.
"After I came back to China, I brought Yuting to the golf course when I was playing and she showed great interest."
Within a year, Shi finished in the top three in her age group at a national competition and was showing great strength, consistency and maturity on the course.
In 2007, Shi was sent to the Huangshan Golf Academy and her mother, Liu Yuejin went with her. One year later, Shi's four-year-younger sister, Shi Yuli, followed her footsteps at 5. But they later returned to Shanghai the next year for their academic studies.
Yuting now plays for three hours after school everyday and competes all over the world while her younger sister still plays for fun during weekends - but she's already in the top three at national level.
"If you go to the course nowadays in China, there are a lot of 4- and 5-year-olds playing. Some are even younger. It is so common," says Shi Yuedong.
Thanks to an expanding pool of players, China enjoys rising competitiveness against neighboring golf powerhouses Japan and South Korea.
At last year's Guangzhou Asiad, China won two silver medals, including one by 14-year-old Yan Jing, who became the first Chinese women golfer to win a medal at the Asian Games.
While many of the first and second generation of the Chinese golfers started as caddies on the greens, most of the youngest newcomers are backed by supporting families.
Shi was born in Japan, and moved back to China with her parents when she was 5. Her father brought her to the golf course two years later and started her lessons.
"I had never played golf before I went to Japan in 1992. Very few people were familiar with that sport in China at the time," Shi Yuedong, 47, tells China Daily.
"After I came back to China, I brought Yuting to the golf course when I was playing and she showed great interest."
Within a year, Shi finished in the top three in her age group at a national competition and was showing great strength, consistency and maturity on the course.
In 2007, Shi was sent to the Huangshan Golf Academy and her mother, Liu Yuejin went with her. One year later, Shi's four-year-younger sister, Shi Yuli, followed her footsteps at 5. But they later returned to Shanghai the next year for their academic studies.
Yuting now plays for three hours after school everyday and competes all over the world while her younger sister still plays for fun during weekends - but she's already in the top three at national level.
"If you go to the course nowadays in China, there are a lot of 4- and 5-year-olds playing. Some are even younger. It is so common," says Shi Yuedong.
Thanks to an expanding pool of players, China enjoys rising competitiveness against neighboring golf powerhouses Japan and South Korea.
At last year's Guangzhou Asiad, China won two silver medals, including one by 14-year-old Yan Jing, who became the first Chinese women golfer to win a medal at the Asian Games.
2011年10月27日星期四
just a couple of weeks
Serie A top scorer Edinson Cavani insists Napoli can win the scudetto after bagging his second hat-trick in his past four league games as Sampdoria was thumped 4-0.
Cavani took his tally to 17 goals in 22 league games this season, just a couple of weeks after notching a treble against Juventus.
The win kept Napoli hot on Serie A leader AC Milan's heels, pegging the gap between the two to four points.
And the Uruguay international insists the southerners are capable of landing a first league title in 21 years.
"As we said at the beginning of the year, we shouldn't put limits on ourselves if we want to win something, we hope to continue like this," he said.
"If we keep working, day after day, we can achieve something important for us and for the city.
"After the defeat in the Cup (they lost on penalties to Inter Milan in midweek) this was very important, the strength for this match came from that (defeat).
"We talk very little about the standings, maybe just when we're among ourselves. We have to work harder as a group, these are things that allow us to look forward."
Cavani, who is on loan from Palermo, insists he is happy where he is, despite recent praise from Real Madrid boss Jose Mourinho
Cavani took his tally to 17 goals in 22 league games this season, just a couple of weeks after notching a treble against Juventus.
The win kept Napoli hot on Serie A leader AC Milan's heels, pegging the gap between the two to four points.
And the Uruguay international insists the southerners are capable of landing a first league title in 21 years.
"As we said at the beginning of the year, we shouldn't put limits on ourselves if we want to win something, we hope to continue like this," he said.
"If we keep working, day after day, we can achieve something important for us and for the city.
"After the defeat in the Cup (they lost on penalties to Inter Milan in midweek) this was very important, the strength for this match came from that (defeat).
"We talk very little about the standings, maybe just when we're among ourselves. We have to work harder as a group, these are things that allow us to look forward."
Cavani, who is on loan from Palermo, insists he is happy where he is, despite recent praise from Real Madrid boss Jose Mourinho
Championship in February before coming
Luke Donald added further accolades to his stellar 2011 campaign when the Briton was named winner of the 2011 PGA of America player of the year award and the Vardon Trophy for lowest scoring average on Monday.
World number one Donald becomes only the second Englishman, after Nick Faldo in 1990, to clinch the points-based PGA of America honours which were first awarded in 1948.
Though Donald has yet to win one of golf's four major titles, his two PGA Tour victories and remarkable consistency were enough to edge out American Webb Simpson.
Donald, who triumphed at the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship in February before coming from five shots behind to win the season-ending Disney Classic on Sunday, totalled 60 points.
Simpson, also a double winner on the 2011 PGA Tour, earned 56 points while fellow American Nick Watney was third with 48 points.
Donald, who recorded an eye-catching 14 top-10 finishes in 19 PGA Tour starts this year, also won the coveted Vardon Trophy for the season's lowest adjusted scoring average.
The 33-year-old Englishman ran away with the award, his average score of 68.86 relegating Simpson (69.25) to second place with American world number four Steve Stricker (69.36) third.
Donald is widely regarded as the front-runner to scoop PGA Tour player of the year honours, which will be announced in early December.
Based on balloting of tour members, this award is perhaps the most cherished by the players as it reflects their standing among their peers.
Vying with Donald for this award are Americans Simpson, Keegan Bradley, Stricker and Nick Watney -- all of them double champions on the 2011 PGA Tour.
While PGA Championship winner Bradley is the only one among them to have landed one of the four majors this season, Donald has been the game's leading player and triumphed four times worldwide during 2011.
World number one Donald becomes only the second Englishman, after Nick Faldo in 1990, to clinch the points-based PGA of America honours which were first awarded in 1948.
Though Donald has yet to win one of golf's four major titles, his two PGA Tour victories and remarkable consistency were enough to edge out American Webb Simpson.
Donald, who triumphed at the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship in February before coming from five shots behind to win the season-ending Disney Classic on Sunday, totalled 60 points.
Simpson, also a double winner on the 2011 PGA Tour, earned 56 points while fellow American Nick Watney was third with 48 points.
Donald, who recorded an eye-catching 14 top-10 finishes in 19 PGA Tour starts this year, also won the coveted Vardon Trophy for the season's lowest adjusted scoring average.
The 33-year-old Englishman ran away with the award, his average score of 68.86 relegating Simpson (69.25) to second place with American world number four Steve Stricker (69.36) third.
Donald is widely regarded as the front-runner to scoop PGA Tour player of the year honours, which will be announced in early December.
Based on balloting of tour members, this award is perhaps the most cherished by the players as it reflects their standing among their peers.
Vying with Donald for this award are Americans Simpson, Keegan Bradley, Stricker and Nick Watney -- all of them double champions on the 2011 PGA Tour.
While PGA Championship winner Bradley is the only one among them to have landed one of the four majors this season, Donald has been the game's leading player and triumphed four times worldwide during 2011.
2011年10月25日星期二
Sunday's US Open final was not a major offense
NEW YORK - Serena Williams escaped with a $2,000 fine on Monday when tennis officials ruled that her verbal abuse of an umpire during Sunday's US Open final was not a major offense.
The American was investigated by the Grand Slam Committee after she unleashed a torrent of abuse against Eva Asderaki, the Greek umpire who oversaw her shock loss to Australia's Sam Stosur.
Williams, who was on the last day of a two-year probation over an ugly incident at the 2009 US Open, could have faced a more severe penalty, including a hefty fine and a possible suspension, but officials took a lenient line.
US Tennis Association (USTA) tournament director Brian Earley fined Williams $2,000 and the Grand Slam Committee Director agreed that was a sufficient penalty.
"This fine is consistent with similar offenses at Grand Slam events," the USTA said in a statement. "After independently reviewing the incident which served as the basis for the code violation, and taking into account the level of fine imposed by the US Open referee, the Grand Slam Committee Director has determined that Ms. Williams' conduct, while verbally abusive, does not rise to the level of a major offense under the Grand Slam Code of Conduct."
Williams was investigated by officials after she was issued with a code violation for arguing with the umpire during her loss to Stosur.
The American lost her composure when she was docked a point for screaming "Come on!" just as Stosur was about to try and return a shot. She was then given a code violation after yelling at the umpire.
"If you ever see me walking down the hall, look the other way because you're out of control," Williams told the umpire. "You're out of control. You are unattractive inside.
"Code violation for this? I expressed myself, we're in America last time I checked. Don't look at me. Don't look my way."
Williams later said her comments were made in the heat of the moment and she had no reason to apologise but officials said they were taking a closer at the incident because Williams remained under probation for her foul-mouthed rant in 2009 during a semi-final loss to eventual champion Kim Clijsters.
She was fined $82,500 and warned that the fine would be doubled and she could be suspended from other grand slams if she committed another "major offense" in the next two years.
http://sportswearus.com/
The American was investigated by the Grand Slam Committee after she unleashed a torrent of abuse against Eva Asderaki, the Greek umpire who oversaw her shock loss to Australia's Sam Stosur.
Williams, who was on the last day of a two-year probation over an ugly incident at the 2009 US Open, could have faced a more severe penalty, including a hefty fine and a possible suspension, but officials took a lenient line.
US Tennis Association (USTA) tournament director Brian Earley fined Williams $2,000 and the Grand Slam Committee Director agreed that was a sufficient penalty.
"This fine is consistent with similar offenses at Grand Slam events," the USTA said in a statement. "After independently reviewing the incident which served as the basis for the code violation, and taking into account the level of fine imposed by the US Open referee, the Grand Slam Committee Director has determined that Ms. Williams' conduct, while verbally abusive, does not rise to the level of a major offense under the Grand Slam Code of Conduct."
Williams was investigated by officials after she was issued with a code violation for arguing with the umpire during her loss to Stosur.
The American lost her composure when she was docked a point for screaming "Come on!" just as Stosur was about to try and return a shot. She was then given a code violation after yelling at the umpire.
"If you ever see me walking down the hall, look the other way because you're out of control," Williams told the umpire. "You're out of control. You are unattractive inside.
"Code violation for this? I expressed myself, we're in America last time I checked. Don't look at me. Don't look my way."
Williams later said her comments were made in the heat of the moment and she had no reason to apologise but officials said they were taking a closer at the incident because Williams remained under probation for her foul-mouthed rant in 2009 during a semi-final loss to eventual champion Kim Clijsters.
She was fined $82,500 and warned that the fine would be doubled and she could be suspended from other grand slams if she committed another "major offense" in the next two years.
http://sportswearus.com/
organisers said on Monday
PARIS - Long-hitting Spaniard Alvaro Quiros has pulled out of this week's Seve Trophy because of a wrist injury, organisers said on Monday.
Quiros will be replaced by Frenchman Raphael Jacquelin in the Continental Europe side to face Britain and Ireland in the biennial event at St Nom La Breteche which starts on Thursday.
Jacquelin, 37, was next in line for a place in the team through the Race to Dubai qualifying list. It will be his fourth appearance in the competition.
"It is desperately disappointing news for Alvaro," Europe captain Jean Van de Velde told the tour's website (http://www.nicehoo.com/). "He wanted to play and to be able to honour the memory of Seve.
"He is a wonderful player and a great character. Having said that, Raphael is an outstanding player as he proved in three previous Seve Trophies when he collected eight-and-a-half points."
Britain and Ireland have won the trophy five times and Europe once since the event was launched by Spanish great Seve Ballesteros, who died earlier this year after a long battle with brain cancer.
http://mycheapshoes.com/
Quiros will be replaced by Frenchman Raphael Jacquelin in the Continental Europe side to face Britain and Ireland in the biennial event at St Nom La Breteche which starts on Thursday.
Jacquelin, 37, was next in line for a place in the team through the Race to Dubai qualifying list. It will be his fourth appearance in the competition.
"It is desperately disappointing news for Alvaro," Europe captain Jean Van de Velde told the tour's website (http://www.nicehoo.com/). "He wanted to play and to be able to honour the memory of Seve.
"He is a wonderful player and a great character. Having said that, Raphael is an outstanding player as he proved in three previous Seve Trophies when he collected eight-and-a-half points."
Britain and Ireland have won the trophy five times and Europe once since the event was launched by Spanish great Seve Ballesteros, who died earlier this year after a long battle with brain cancer.
http://mycheapshoes.com/
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