China's Dou Ascends to PGA Tour

Colorado, United States: Marty Dou Zecheng is heading back to the PGA Tour after notching a well-earned victory at The Ascendant presented by Blue as Carl Yuan ensured a first ever one-two finish by mainland Chinese golfers on the Korn Ferry Tour.

Dou’s third title on the Korn Ferry Tour, courtesy of a final round of five-under 67 at TPC Colorado, saw him become the fourth Asian golfer this season to secure PGA Tour cards for next season, joining Yuan and Korean duo Kim Seong-hyeon and An Byeong-hun.

Yuan consolidated his number one ranking on the Korn Ferry Tour following his seventh top-10 of the season after he launched a back-nine charge which saw him sign off with a 67 to finish one stroke behind Dou.

The 25-year-old Dou was delighted to be PGA Tour-bound, four years after he spent one season competing on the circuit. “I’m definitely more prepared than that year (2018) because I’ve never felt as consistent as I am right now,” said Dou, a two-time former Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship contestant. “I think I can compete with them now.”

Tied for the overnight lead with Ryan McCormick and Dawson Armstrong, who both closed with 73s, Dou was near flawless and made birdies on the fifth, ninth, 10th, 13th, 15th and 16th to take a two-shot lead into the final hole, which he bogeyed for a winning 17-under 271 aggregate.

Dou’s return to the winner’s circle – he won the 2017 Digital Ally Open and 2019 The Bahamas Great Exuma Classic –was timely as he had missed three successive cuts as the nerves of battling it out for a PGA Tour card started to get the better of him.

“The year started off really well and I never doubted myself until a month-and-a-half ago. My swing was falling apart. But last week was a really important week. I had a good rest and went for some lessons ... and here you go,” said Dou, who made just four cuts in his 23 starts on the PGA Tour during the 2017-18 season.

He recalled: “I missed two cuts, and the third event I was six-under and I was still thinking about the cut line, which was four-under. I made three straight bogeys, and missed by one. I got really worried because on this Tour, it’s so tough and cut lines get into your mind so much.”

After tapping home his final putt of the day, Yuan, his wife Cathy, and Dou’s girlfriend, Wu Muyu, ran onto the 18th green and doused Dou with water to celebrate their compatriot’s victory. Dou acknowledged their support has been pivotal and he’s now looking forward to battling with Yuan for the number one ranking on the Korn Ferry Tour, which grants exemptions into The Players Championship and US Open next season.

“It’s great. All my buddies out here keep me motivated. I try to do the same and keep them motivated and play good together,” said Dou, who jumped from 19th to second place in the latest points list.