PGA Tour welcomes first ever Chinese player
Dou Zecheng became the first player from China to earn a PGA Tour card after winning the Digital Ally Open on the Web.Com Tour.
The 20-year-old steamrolled the rest of the field on a marathon final day of the rain-delayed event at Nicklaus Golf Club at LionsGate.
Getting through 36 holes, Dou shot a 10-under 61 in the morning and added a 66 in the afternoon for a three-stroke victory – the first by a Chinese player on the Web.com Tour.
"It's a big honor to represent China and come play in the United States," said Dou, who is also known by the name Marty.
How Marty Dou celebrates his first @WebDotComTour victory @DigitalAllyOpen. Dou is sliding into the @pgatour like…. pic.twitter.com/EQTZ2Lt35T
— Royce Thompson (@WebTourRoyce) July 31, 2017
"Playing and learning from the best, competing and earning my tour card, it feels amazing right now.
"I was talking to my team and I didn't know if I needed to keep practicing or get more experience on the Web.com Tour instead of trying to get to the PGA Tour so fast. I never thought I could win this year."
Dou's victory earned him a $117,000 cheque, which saw him jump to 15th place on the money list and earn his PGA Tour card with four events to spare.
"It's going to be pretty big," said Dou. "We've been talking to the Chinese media this year about a Chinese player potentially getting to the PGA Tour. 'How soon will they get their card?' and I just did it here. It just happened."
Dou's third-round 61 was also the best round of his career.
"The 61 beat my low-record by two shots," he said. "It was amazing. I did everything perfect. I don't know what to say. I feel like my game is in pretty good shape."
Comments
Latest
-
European TourKorhonen leads the way at Shot Clock Masters
A bogey-free 67 handed Finland’s Mikko Korhonen a one-shot lead heading into the weekend at the Shot Clock Masters in Austria.
-
US TourMickelson matches season’s best first round
Phil Mickelson matched his best opening round of the season after finishing the first day of the FedEx St Jude Classic just one shot off the lead.
-
NewsTiger Woods tops golfers on the Forbes list
Former world number one Tiger Woods hasn’t lifted any silverware since 2013, but he is still laughing all the way to the bank.
-
European TourLengden wastes no time to lead Shot Clock Masters
The European Tour’s latest experiment went off without a hitch at Diamond Country Club in Austria on Thursday.
-
NewsNo rest for Phil Mickelson ahead of US Open
Phil Mickelson said that playing the FedEx St Jude Classic is perfect preparation for his career Grand Slam bid at next week’s US Open.
-
The 19th HoleTiger Woods arrives for US Open in his $20M yacht
Tiger Woods has his accommodation sorted for next week’s US Open – and it’s not Airbnb.
-
NewsMercedes-Benz launches After Work Golf Cup on international stage
The R&A has supported the branching out of a new competition for golfers that answer many of the problems the sport faces.
-
NewsBeef qualifies for US Open, Westwood misses out
Andrew ‘Beef’ Johnston came through US Open qualifying at Walton Heath, but Lee Westwood and Padraig Harrington both missed out.
-
NewsMickelson and McIlroy’s ‘major’ USGA concerns
Phil Mickelson and Rory McIlroy have both issued warnings about the possible course set-up at next week’s US Open venue, Shinnecock Hills.
-
NewsFormer World No 1 Scott qualifies for US Open
Former world number one Adam Scott earned a place in next week’s US Open at a qualifying event in Columbus, Ohio, on Monday.