The Press and Journal (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire)
Wood travels east with PGA title hopes on rise
Golf: Englishman at China Open with one eye on Wentworth
England’s Chris Wood hopes to rediscover his scoring touch in this week’s Volvo China Open as he begins preparations to defend the biggest title of his career.
Wood, from Bristol, has not recorded a top10 finish since finishing in a tie for sixth in the Lyoness Open in Austria in June last year, which came two weeks after his third European Tour victory in the BMW PGA championship at Wentworth.
The 29-year-old has not played competitively since missing the cut at the US Masters earlier this month, but believes he can get back on track at Topwin Golf and Country Club, which showcases spectacular views of the Great Wall of China.
Wood, who will defend his title at Wentworth in a month’s time, said: “It’s a good time of year for me to be playing.
“I’ve played the desert swing and a few events in the States, but it’s easy to fall out of the rhythm of playing.
“So to come out here and the GolfSixes next week (where he will partner Ryder Cup team-mate Andy Sullivan) should be good.
“I’ve been playing all right but just not really scoring, hence why I need to keep playing.
“I have had a couple of weeks off since the Masters and practised hard at home, so I am ready for this week.
“When you have been playing well but not scoring you are eager for Thursday to come and test it out to see if you can post some scores, because I’ve been playing the golf but just not getting it in the hole.”
Press and Journal columnist Stephen Gallacher is one of only three Scots in the field for this week’s event.
Aberdeen’s Richie Ramsay and Cockburnspath’s David Drysdale are also teeing it up.
Li Haotong will attempt to defend the title he won in spectacular fashion 12 months ago, when he carded a flawless closing 64 to finish 22-under-par and become the second Chinese player to win a European Tour event on home soil, following in the footsteps of 2015 champion Wu Ashun.
Li, who missed the cut in the Shenzhen International in 2016 and last week, said: “Last year I didn’t play very well in the week before the Volvo China Open.
“A lot of people had big expectations for me and I was disappointed with how I played during the tournament.
“I wasn’t really sure what to do, so the following week I didn’t look at my phone at all and started to read books every night to take my mind off things and concentrate on my game.
“It was very calming and I liked the quiet time to myself, which was something very new to me.
“People were not talking to me all the time and I could just focus on playing golf. Whatever it was, it definitely worked.
“Winning my maiden European Tour title in China was an incredible feeling.
“Now I try to stay as relaxed as possible every week, and hopefully it will work out well again this week.
“I know it’s always tough to play as a defending champion, so I’ll just try to enjoy myself and play my best.”
“Been playing all right but just not scoring, hence why I need to keep playing”