Chinese starlet Ding continues learning curve at Korea Championship

Young Chinese amateur golf prospect Ding Wenyi intends to keep absorbing knowledge and competitive experience when he rubs shoulders with leading professionals from the DP World Tour in the inaugural Korea Championship this weekend.

The 18-year-old Ding, who was China's first golfer to win the prestigious US Junior Amateur last July, will join compatriots Li Haotong and Wu Ashun at the Jack Nicklaus Golf Club in Incheon for the $2 million tournament.

His appearance in South Korea will be his second start in a DP World Tour event this year following a commendable tied-23rd finish at the Singapore Classic in February. While Ding emerged as the outright second-round leader in Singapore, the young Chinese said his goal whenever he has opportunities to compete in professional tournaments was to simply learn and better himself as an aspiring young player.

"After playing in these professional tournaments, I have a clearer picture for my goals. Finishing well in professional events is not the ultimate goal, but to keep improving myself and finding my shortcomings," said Ding.

The Korea Championship marks the first time in a decade that the DP World Tour is staging a tournament in the Asian nation. The DP World Tour has a strategic alliance with the PGA Tour which among other benefits will reward the leading available 10 players from the final 2023 Race to Dubai rankings with PGA Tour cards for 2024.

The DP World Tour and PGA Tour are also partners with the Korean PGA, which has afforded a DP World Tour card to the KPGA's 2022 Genesis Point Award Winner, Kim Yeung-su.

While there are various career pathways into elite professional golf for Ding, including the PGA Tour University which rewards playing opportunities to top college golfers, the young Chinese is currently focused on his impending freshman year at Arizona State University (ASU) this fall. ASU is renowned for its golf program, with current world No 1 Jon Rahm being one of its more famous graduates.

"I will begin at Arizona State University this fall. I know I also have a lot of room to improve academically because of the number of years of training and competition that I will be required to spend time on. I do hope to qualify for the major tours after my studies in the US," said Ding.

"I am longing for a chance to compete on the PGA Tour … that's my dream."

Ding watched stars from the PGA Tour compete head-to-head in the 2022 Presidents Cup at Quail Hollow Club in North Carolina last September after being part of the Junior Presidents Cup while representing the International Team.

His week in South Korea rekindled some wonderful memories as photos of the 2015 Presidents Cup are on display around the first tee at the Jack Nicklaus Golf Club, which hosted the prestigious team event between the US Team and International team some eight years ago.

"There is a display of 2015 Presidents Cup photos, which reminded me of last year's Junior Presidents Cup. It was a great experience," he said.