The hurt for Rory McIlroy continues with the reigning U.S. Open champion struggling on the opening day of the Shui On Land China Golf Challenge.
A day after finishing second in the Korea Open, the 22-year old McIlroy joined World No. 2 Lee Westwood, fellow Ryder Cup winning hero, Ian Poulter and China’s leading player, Liang Wen-chong in the unique made-for-TV event.
The stars of the 2011 China Golf Challenge - Liang, McIlroy, Poulter and Westwood. (Photo - China Golf Challenge)
It’s a seven day China adventure playing two to three holes on the six different golf courses.
The event started with two holes of the Tomson Shanghai Pudong Golf Club in Shanghai, and former venue for the BMW Asian Open, and with Poulter leading the way to be one clear of the 33-year old Liang.
Westwood was one over par but McIlroy was four over after finding water on both holes and taking triple bogey at the first and a bogey at the second.
“I’m really excited because it’s a completely new format, not a normal tournament,” said Liand.
“In China, many people only watch tournaments, but the Shui On Land China Golf Challenge and the TV programme will show people the lifestyle of golfers and showcase China’s many modern cities.
“It will help the audience get close to the players and increase their interest.
“It’s great also to have these three famous international players, Lee, Ian and Rory, as they will help showcase Chinese culture and promote golf in China to the rest of the world.
“The seven cities this week are spread from north to south, east and west, and the programme will be broadcast worldwide, so I hope it will provide a good image of China.”
Poulter, who captured this year’s Volvo World Match Play Championship in Spain, was the best performer at Tomson, opening with a birdie after hitting his approach at the 461-yard opening hole to within five feet of the flag.
The 35-year-old Englishman then played an excellent up-and-down to save par at the 590-yard, par-five and finish the day top of the leader board.
“That was a perfect beginning. It was nice to get off to a good start with a birdie at the first hole and it’s always nice to be in the lead,” said Poulter.
“Whether there’s four players or 150 players, I’d like to win.
“It’s going to be a long week, especially looking at the number of flights and the mileage we’re going to cover.
“The format of the event will make it difficult to get into a rhythm for each set of holes, but it’s interesting and challenging.”
Liang recorded two pars to stay ahead of Westwood, who bogeyed the first after hitting long with his approach, and an error-strewn McIlroy, who was four-over after a triple-bogey at the first where his second shot from within the trees hit a branch and rolled into the lake in front of the green.
“I’m only five behind,” McIlroy said.
“A lot can happen in 16 holes, especially in six days. If I can get a couple of birdies on Tuesday and get a bit of momentum, then hopefully I can catch up later in the week.”
On Tuesday morning, the players fly on Bombardier jets to Zhengzhou, capital of Henan province, where they will play the third and fourth holes of the tournament at Jinsha Lake Golf Club.
The players will then compete at two golf clubs in Beijing on Wednesday before stops in Dalian, Chongqing, Dongguan and Macau. Shui On Land
China Golf Challenge 2011 schedule.
October 10: Shanghai – Tomson Shanghai Pudong Golf Club
October 11: Zhengzhou – Jinsha Lake Golf Club
October 12: Beijing – Topwin Golf and Country Club & Jade Island International Golf Club
October 13: Dalian – Red Flag Valley.
October 14: Chongqing – Sun Kingdom Golf Club
October 15: Dongguan – Long Island Golf and Country Club
October 16: Macau – Caesars Golf Macau
* Special thanks to John Higginson, Shui On Land China Golf Challenge.
