zhanglianwei

BEIJING, Sept 2 (Reuters) – China’s Zhang Lianwei is hoping this week’s European Masters will be a genuine learning experience after signing up the host club’s teaching professional to caddie for him.

The $2.8 million event in the Swiss Alps will be the first in Europe co-sanctioned by the Asian and European Tours and Zhang has enlisted the help of Crans-sur-Sierre Golf Club’s Stephane Barras to put on the best possible showing for his continent.

“I met Stephane last year and he called me last month to offer his services as my caddie this week,” Zhang, 44, said in an Asian Tour release.

“I gladly took up his offer as he will be a big help because he knows the golf course well. I have also asked him to look closely at my golf swing. In recent times, I have tried to tweak my own game but I may have worked on the wrong things.

“Stephane has already given me a list of things to try, so hopefully I will be able to make improvements in my game.”

Zhang, who has not enjoyed the best of form lately, is considered China’s golfing trailblazer after being the first Chinese to win a European Tour event in 2003 and the first to play at the U.S. Masters the following year.

A five-time winner on the Asian Tour, Zhang has been asked to mark the tour’s sanctioning of the tournament by striking the first tee shot in Thursday’s opening round.

“It’s good to see the tours strengthening their partnership as it will only grow the game,” he said. “I am honoured to have the privilege to hit the first shot of what is a new chapter for Asian golf.”

The European Tour co-sanctions more than a dozen events in Asia. (Reporting by Nick Mulvenney; Editing by John O’Brien; To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)

中文

中国名将张连伟将在欧洲名人赛第一轮打出第一杆，记录亚巡赛首次走进欧洲大陆的历史性时刻。他还获得了赛事举办球场的职业教练史蒂芬-巴拉斯(Stephane Barras)的帮助，力争在这个新球童的辅佐下成为本项赛事成绩最好的亚洲球手。

总奖金280万美元的欧洲名人赛是历史上第一场在欧洲进行的欧巡赛与亚巡赛共同认可的比赛，将于本周四在瑞士的克莱恩-蒙塔纳球场开杆。44岁的中国名将张连伟在比赛之前就赢得了克莱恩-蒙塔纳球场的职业教练史蒂芬-巴拉斯的支持

张连伟说：“我去年见过史蒂芬，他上个月给我打电话，主动提出他在本周给我当球童的建议。我很高兴接受他的提议，因为他将带来很大的帮助。他非常熟悉那个球场，我也叫他密切地关注我的挥杆动作。最近，我在试图调整自己的动作，但也许有些地方还不是很顺。史蒂芬已经给我列出了一系列要努力的东西，希望和他的配合能改善我的球技。”

张连伟最近没有处于最好的状态，但他被认为是中国高尔夫的开拓者。他在2003年的新加坡大师赛中成为首位赢得欧巡赛的中国内地球手，并且在2004年成为第一位参加美国名人赛的中国内地球手。

作为五项亚巡赛冠军得主，张连伟受邀在周四早上的第一轮比赛开出第一球，以此记录欧巡赛与亚巡赛合作的历史性时刻。“我很高兴看到巡回赛加强它们的合作，这只会促进高尔夫的发展。对于自己能够得到开出这个掀开亚洲高尔夫新篇章的第一个球的殊荣，我感到很荣幸。”

张连伟表示，他一直以来都喜欢回到瑞士参加欧洲名人赛，因为这个标准杆为71杆的克莱恩-蒙塔纳球场给他留下了非常好的印象。“我打过这项赛事很多年了，我始终都喜欢每年回到这里比赛。这是在一个很棒的球场上进行的一项很好的赛事。球场具有挑战性，你需要打出很多的好球来取得好成绩。我以前在这里取得过前5名的成绩，所以希望我本周能够再度取得一些相似的好成绩。”张连伟在1997年第一次参加欧洲名人赛，去年，他在这里获得并列第44名。

Golf-China’s Zhang gets the inside edge for European Masters | Sports | Golf | Reuters.