China's best chasing glory at Macao Open

China's two most decorated golf stars, Zhang Lianwei and Liang Wenchong, will return to the $1 million Venetian Macao Open from Oct 15-18, and attempt to bring the coveted trophy back to the mainland for the first time in more than a decade.

Zhang, the only player to have won the Macao Open twice in its 16-year history, was the last champion from the mainland when the Zhuhai native triumphed over Zimbabwe's Nick Price in a dramatic five-hole playoff in 2002.

Zhang went on to create history by becoming the first Chinese mainland golfer to win a co-sanctioned Asian Tour and European Tour event and the first to compete in The Masters.

"The Macao Open has a special place in my heart," said Zhang, a five-time Asian Tour winner. "I always play well here and will keep coming back as long as the organizers will have me!"

The 37-year-old Liang is the only player from China to have cracked the top-100 in the Official World Golf Ranking and he recorded his first win in Japan in June. The 2007 Asian Tour Order of Merit winner is playing the Macao Open for the third year in a row. He finished tied for 40th last year and and tied for 11th in 2013.

Zhang and Liang will lead a strong contingent of Chinese players, including teenage prodigy Guan Tianlang, who made worldwide headlines in 2013 when he became the youngest player ever to play - and make the cut - at The Masters in Augusta, Georgia.

China Daily