China’s Zhang Seeks TPC Sawgrass Debut to Remember

Jacksonville, Florida, United States: Zhang Xinjun is so used to watching The Players Championship on television that he can't wait to make his debut at the PGA Tour’s flagship tournament on The Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass starting on Thursday.

The 33-year-old is only the second mainland Chinese golfer after Li Haotong to qualify for the US$15 million showpiece, which annually attracts one of the strongest field of any golf tournament.

“I haven’t thought about winning this event. I’m just hoping for a good result. I think if I can pull off a win, it will be a huge push for China’s golf development,” said Zhang.

Li featured in The Players in 2018 and 2019 when he qualified as one of the top-50 players in the world but missed the half-way cut on both occasions. Zhang, the lone mainland Chinese golfer on the PGA Tour over the past two seasons, hopes to go one better than his countryman.

“I’m excited,” said Zhang. “It is the fifth Major with a strong field. I used to watch The Players live on TV and I also practiced at TPC Sawgrass regularly. I liked the golf course very much and I’ve been longing to have the opportunity to compete in this tournament.”

Zhang’s rise to prominence is inspiring. He grew up in a farming family in Shanxi and was introduced to the game in his late teens after working as a security guard at the local golf course.

His natural talent quickly landed him in the Chinese national amateur team, and after turning professional in 2010, he won twice on the PGA Tour Series China. He earned his PGA Tour card in 2018 through the Korn Ferry Tour, where he is also a two-time winner. Last year, he became the first mainland Chinese to qualify for the FedEx Cup Play-offs.

As he was based near TPC Sawgrass in Jacksonville in 2020, Zhang enjoyed the opportunity to practice and play at the Pete Dye-designed Stadium Course and is now hoping to put to good use his familiarity with the famed venue.

“The course requires a lot of shot-making. For example, you need to hit a draw on the second hole and 10th hole, and play a fade-cut on the fourth. The layout requires driving accuracy and moving the ball both ways. It is very challenging and requires a player to be on top of his game in every aspect. I like to hit fades and draws, so I’m really looking forward to playing on this course,” said the father-of-two.

Without any hesitancy, Zhang picks the island green par-three 17th as the standout hole. “I’ve played the 17th hole many times. The feeling of actually playing the hole was different than what I have seen on TV. The green is much smaller than I thought.

“When there is no wind, it is not hard … but when there is wind, it is challenging to control the accuracy and finding the right spot to land your ball,” said the Chinese, who is aware that only two players have won in their first competitive appearance at the Stadium Course - Hal Sutton in 1983 and Craig Perks in 2002.