In-form Retief Goosen will be one of the top draws at the upcoming US$2.3 million BMW Asian Open from April 24-27 at Tomson Pudong Golf Club, as the South African star comes to Shanghai on a high note after an equal runner-up finish at the recent WGC-CA Championship in Florida.
 
The two-time US Open winner, who is the current world number 26, is one of the game’s elite players and he has always played some of his best golf in China, a country where he won twice previously in 2005 and 2006.
 
Last season, he led the Champions’ event in Shanghai through three rounds only to finish equal third, while he was equal 15th at Tomson Pudong during his BMW Asian Open debut.         
 
“I have played in China many times, the first time probably being the World Cup in 1995. I have been lucky to play in Shanghai, Beijing, Shenzhen and Hainan Island,” said the winner of 32 tournaments worldwide.
 
“I have visited Shanghai quite a few times and the city has been built up considerably since I first visited, which shows that it is definitely one of the leading cities of the world.”
 
Goosen, who captured U.S. Open titles in 2001 and 2004, will be coming to Shanghai after his appearance at the U.S. Masters, a tournament where he has finished equal runner-up and equal third over the last two years. He has high praise for the quality of China’s golf courses and said the growth of golf in the country was a testament to how the game had become a global sport.
 
“The quality of golf courses is fantastic. I thoroughly enjoy playing courses in China and in front of the enthusiastic golf fans there. The people are very hospitable and I personally like to support those countries and companies that are putting an enormous amount of time and energy into promoting golf on the global stage.
“Tomson Pudong is a tough driving course, you need to drive straight. I enjoyed playing it and I hope to do better than my last visit.”
 
Goosen, who grew up playing golf with superstar Ernie Els, said his frequent trips to China gave him the opportunity to see the country’s up-and-coming young talent first hand. He said he liked what he saw and predicted a bright future for the country’s growing ranks of professionals.
 
“China has got some fantastic golfers, including Liang Wen-chong who has the game to become a star global player. In general, golf is growing in China and there will definitely be more and more top golfers coming out of the country in the future.”
 
He was equally complimentary of the many young stars coming out of the European Tour, Germany’s Martin Kaymer, Scotland’s Marc Warren and Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy among them, all of whom will be at the BMW Asian Open. He added, however, that it would take a long time before someone would come along and unseat Tiger Woods as the game’s top player.
 
“There is great depth in European golf and all the young guys have the potential do brilliant. However, with Tiger having won nearly every tournament he has played in this year so far, it is safe to assume he will keep his number-one ranking for a while yet.”
 
For himself, Goosen said he wasn’t worried about the competition and instead concentrated on improving his own game in pursuit of a third Major title and a third European Tour Order of Merit.
 
“Winning, at the end of the day, is the goal. By winning Majors you put yourself in a great position to win the Order of Merit.”