Big break: How long layoffs impact players

The elevator door opened, and in stepped 17-year-old amateur Marty Zecheng Dou. He was on his way to his hotel room. With his caddie in tow, Dou hadn’t even taken of his sunglasses and trademark bucket hat as he came directly from the course. The next morning, he would begin his PGA TOUR China Series career at Mission Hills Golf Club. Staying in the same hotel in Haikou, China was 27-year-old Xinjun Zhang, a 27-year-old professional, who had been playing golf for a mere 10 years and had obviously taken to his newfound sport and picked it up quite quickly. In that inaugural PGA TOUR China Series tournament, the Mission Hills Haikou Open, Dou and Zhang were two of 56 players from China in the field. All 56 were chasing a dream that previously seemed somewhat inaccessible: eventual PGA TOUR membership. The thought of Dou jumping on the PGA TOUR path by qualifying for the Web.com Tour, at least at that time, was something of an afterthought, considering his age and amateur status. Zhang, emboldened by how quickly his game had progressed, wanted to see what he could do. Plenty, it turned out. Although Zhang finished 10 strokes behind another teenager, South Korea’s Jeunghun Wang, he was the runner up in Wang’s tour-de-force triumph. This was just more validation to Zhang’s burgeoning career. In 2011, at the World Golf Champions-HSBC Champions, Zhang qualified for his first PGA TOUR tournament via his China Golf Association ranking and promptly went out and tied for 13th in Shanghai, finishing alongside notables Ian Poulter and Lee Westwood. Zhang tasted big-time tournament golf and liked what he had sampled. Zhang hoped that wouldn’t just be a one-off. Two years later at the same course, then-PGA TOUR Commissioner Tim Finchem announced the formation of the TOUR’s third international developmental circuit, this one named PGA TOUR China Series, a relative of the Mackenzie Tour – PGA TOUR Canada and PGA TOUR Latinoamerica. Zhang’s first thought upon learning the news was he would have a place to play in 2014, a viable option where he could chase his dream. A mere five months after Finchem’s announcement, Dou and Zhang were readying themselves for that first event at Mission Hills, the Web.com Tour just a step below the rarefied air of the PGA TOUR, awaiting if they could put strong seasons together. They did and they would. It just took a while. Dou played the Series as an amateur for most of 2014 and remained an amateur through the summer so he could play amateur events in the U.S., most notably the U.S. Amateur. He then turned pro in September after making four PGA TOUR China cuts (in four tries), including a second-place finish at the Buick Open in Guangzhou and a tie for fifth outside Shanghai, at the Lanhai Open. By the end of the season, both players had to evaluate where they were with their games. While Zhang finished second on the Order of Merit, behind countryman Haotong Li, giving him Web.com Tour membership, Zhang knew only Li was guaranteed starts on the Tour that was at one time home to 75 percent of the PGA TOUR membership. As he evaluated his game, Zhang elected to remain in China in 2015 and play one more year on PGA TOUR China rather than make the leap to America. “I felt my game wasn’t ready for the Web.com Tour, so I decided not to move to America and not play on the Web in 2015,� Zhang said at the time. That second PGA TOUR season paid dividends for both players, as this time they both earned Web.com Tour membership based on their PGA TOUR China play. Zhang was third and Dou fourth. But because of PGA TOUR schedule vagaries caused by the 2016 Summer Olympics and strong fields at the early Web.com Tour events that season as players couldn’t get into PGA TOUR tournaments, Dou and Zhang only earned entry into one tournament early in the season—the Brasil Champions. Not expecting to get into that event, both had to decline the playing opportunity because they didn’t have visas to enter Brazil. Eventually, both players, with zero dollars earned, dropped in the player priority ranking and couldn’t get into any other tournaments. Reluctantly, they returned to PGA TOUR China for what they hoped would be just one more year. In 2016, Zhang did his part, sneaking into the fifth and final spot on the Order of Merit. He failed to win a tournament for the first time in his three seasons on the circuit but the top-five finish again gave him Web.com Tour membership. This time he was ready to leave China. One of the reasons Zhang didn’t record a victory was because Dou was seemingly winning every tournament on the 2016 schedule. Dou didn’t win them all, of course, but he did take home four titles and the No. 1 spot on the Order of Merit. He was on his way, as well. On to the Web.com Tour they went, passports, visas and a hunger to ensure that 2017 would be much different, Dou making his base in Las Vegas and Zhang setting up shop in Jacksonville, practicing at nearby TPC Sawgrass. The two players planned to play the Web.com Tour early and often. Both players teed it up in all 22 of the Regular Season tournaments. Of the top-50 money-list finishers after last week’s WinCo Foods Portland Open, Dou, Zhang and South Korean Kyoung Hoon Lee were the only players to play all 22. In April, it became quite apparent how serious both players were about getting their 2017-18 PGA TOUR cards. Although eligible for the big-money European Tour events in China—the Shenzhen International and the Volvo China Open—Dou and Zhang didn’t return home and instead stayed on the Web.com Tour, both knowing every dollar would count at the end of the year. They played the United Leasing and Finance Championship in Evansville, Ind., and the El Bosque Mexico Championship in Leon. “I felt the best thing for me was to stay and play on the Web. My goal is to play on the PGA TOUR, and this is how I can accomplish that,� Dou said. Zhang clearly felt the same way, maybe more so since he had broken through at the Chitimacha Louisiana Open in March, where he placed second to winner Casey Wittenberg. That high finish put Zhang’s PGA TOUR card within reach. He was runner-up again two months later, at the weather-shortened BMW Charity Pro-Am and was in position when he tied for fourth at the Price Cutter Charity Championship, with closing rounds of 65-64-66, to lock up his PGA TOUR card. Dou didn’t have quite the consistency of Zhang but did explode on the scene in only his second tournament—finishing third at The Bahamas Great Abaco Classic, when his artistry around the greens was on full display. In 53rd place on the money list in late-July, Dou was thinking more about finishing in the top 75 on the money list so he could retain his 2018 Web.com Tour playing privileges than he was about the PGA TOUR. As players have learned on this Tour, though, one week of good play can make all the difference. Dou opened 65-67 at the Digital Ally Open outside Kansas City then finished off a sterling 61 Sunday morning at the weather-delayed tournament, firing a 66 in the final round that afternoon for the three-shot win over three players. He moved to 15th on the money list, giving him enough money to guarantee the PGA TOUR card he’d been gunning for ever since he was a kid. “It’s very exciting. It’s like a dream come true since I was young, wanting to be on the PGA TOUR,� said Dou, who goes by the first name of Marty when he’s in the U.S., Zecheng in China. “It’s been 12 years of practice and a lot of hard work. It takes a great amount of effort, and you have to give up a lot of your own things, your hobbies. You have to spend most of your time at the golf course.� Dou admitted that despite the success, this has been his most difficult year as either an amateur or professional since it has taken him away from his native China. It’s important to note that Dou only left his teenage years behind in January, and when he arrived on the Web.com Tour, he didn’t have a driver’s license. “I just tried to bring that type of confidence I had on PGA TOUR China to this Tour. And it worked out here a couple of weeks ago when I won,� he added. “I think without PGA TOUR China, I wouldn’t have made it this far.� Zhang says the same thing. A decade ago, he had accepted a security guard job at a golf course near his home. He eventually picked up a club and tried the sport. And 10 years later, here he is. For Dou, what he’s accomplished has always been a dream since he was still in grade school. Zhang comes at it a little differently; it’s still hard for him to imagine where golf has taken him. “I never thought this could happen when I first started playing. Then I had a chance to play PGA TOUR China, and I thought that maybe my ability was good enough for me to play at that high level,� said Zhang. Although they are 10 years apart, Zhang married with a child and Dou single, with a girlfriend who plays collegiate golf at the University of Minnesota, the two will begin their PGA TOUR journey together, a part of history as they become the first players from China to make it to the PGA TOUR. Zhang and Dou weren’t in attendance at that Tim Finchem press conference four years ago. But they have proven his words prescient: “The growth of the game is driven first and foremost by the development of elite players who perform at a unique level. Having the opportunity to grow elite players and thus accelerate the development of elite players in China will also translate into the acceleration of the growth of the game in China.�

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NAPA, Calif. – After a lengthy off-season – hey, it was 48 hours for some players! — the 2017-18 PGA TOUR season started Thursday at the Safeway Open. Here’s a roundup of the key developments at Silverado: LEADERS BRENDAN STEELE (7 under) – In 11 of his last 13 rounds at Silverado, Steele has shot scores under par. He’s 42 under in that stretch, with a win last year and two other top-25s. On Thursday, he shot a 65 and did not miss a single green in regulation. He admitted that when he comes to a course he’s comfortable at, such as this week or at TPC Scottsdale or TPC San Antonio – two other courses he generally plays well at — his expectation level is higher. “When you get there, you get a little bounce in your step because you feel like it’s going to be a good week,â€� Steele said after Thursday’s round that included one eagle and five birdies. “… For some reason, I’ve just always had a good understanding of this course.â€� TYLER DUNCAN (7 under) – Duncan’s caddie is veteran Mike Mollet, who knows a thing or two about Silverado. Silverado was once the home course of Mollet’s high school when he played there as a freshman and sophomore many years ago. Duncan, a Web.com Tour grad, had not seen this course before this week, so he leaned on his caddie for some insight. “Yeah, he’s still got a little bit of knowledge,â€� Duncan said. “We did a lot of good work in the practice rounds and he remembered some things. So I think we have a pretty good idea what’s going on up there.â€� TOM HOGE (7 under) – In Monday’s final round of the Web.com Tour Championship, Hoge made seven birdies in his final 12 holes to finish T-12. It was just enough to gain his TOUR card for this season; of the top 50 grads, he ranked 47th. “Probably one swing away from not even being here,â€� Hoge said. On Thursday, he capitalized on the opportunity while riding the momentum of his hot finish. In fact, he made seven birdies on his last 13 holes, eerily similar to Monday. “I knew I was playing well, swinging well,â€� Hoge said. “Nice to get out there today and get off to a good start.â€� OBSERVATIONS PHIL OFF THE TEE. Phil Mickelson hit just 2 of 14 fairways – only one player, Carl Pettersson, had less accuracy off the tee Thursday — yet he managed to shoot a 3-under 69. Mickelson said he got a little jumpy on his tee shots, a little quick from the top, and that impacted his rhythm. “It got my body out in front and so my timing was off and I missed most of them to the left.â€� After his round, he was anxious to get some range work in to correct the problem. If he gets his driver straightened out, he could be a factor on Sunday. “You’re not going to hit a lot of fairways here because the fairways are pinched in so much that the numbers are going to be skewed for the entire field,â€� he said. “But I’ve got to drive it better than I did.â€� ZACH’S FIRST LOOK. Six weeks ago at THE NORTHERN TRUST, Zach Johnson played a course (Glen Oaks) he had never seen before and needed 38 putts in his first round. “I felt clueless,â€� he said. This week, he’s playing Silverado for the first time and shot a 4-under 68 with 30 putts while hitting 16 of 18 greens in regulation. “This one, I feel much more acquainted with,â€� Johnson said. “I feel like if I’m on, I can do some good work here.â€� BIG-HITTING TRIO. One of the most intriguing groups to watch in the first two rounds is this trio of big hitters – former PGA TOUR driving distance leader John Daly, former Long Drive champion Jamie Sadlowski and current Texas A&M senior Cameron Champ, who led the U.S. Open in driving distance halfway through this year’s tournament at Erin Hills. Their driving distance averages on Thursday: Sadlowski, 315.4 yards; Champ 304 yards; Daly 280.2 yards. “Jamie obviously hits it farther than both of us,â€� Champ said, “so I’m not even gonna try (to stay with him).â€� None of the three broke par. GOTTA PLAY NAPA. Emiliano Grillo played in last week’s Presidents Cup for the International Team, and he’s scheduled to play in at least the first two events in Asian in the next two weeks. It’s a heavy schedule, but the 2015 Safeway Open winner wasn’t about to skip Silverado. So he’s here this week and opened with a 5-under 67. “It was a tough decision,â€� Grillo said. “It was either going to play four, five in a row or skip Napa. I was like, ‘You know what, I’m still young, I’m 25, so I’m going to go and do the five in a row and try and do my best here.â€� GLOVER’S GOAL. Making the Ryder Cup team a few years ago wasn’t a realistic aspiration for Lucas Glover, who had fallen to 634th in the world in early January of 2015. But he entered this week ranked 92nd and coming off his best season in six years. It’s now a goal. “Never made one,â€� Glover said after his 5-under 67. “I want to make one. That goal wasn’t in the mirror a couple years back the way I was playing, but the year I had last year, I gained some confidence. So I think if I improve a little bit in certain areas, I can give it a run.â€� NOTABLES SANGMOON BAE – In his first TOUR appearance after his mandatory two-year military service in his native Korea, he shot a 1-over 73 that include a birdie on his opening hole. (Click here for more on Bae) MAVERICK McNEALY – In his first round as a pro golfer, the former world amateur No. 1 from Stanford shot a 4-under 68, finishing with birdies on three of his last four holes. XINJUN ZHANG – The Web.com grad from China was 5 under through 14 holes, but suffered a double bogey and a bogey on consecutive holes. He ended with a birdie to shoot 3 under. SEAMUS POWER – The last player among the Web.com Tour’s 50 graduates who had to sweat out his position on Monday, Power shot a 2-under 70, with three birdies on his final five holes. QUOTABLES “Outside the ropes, everything’s bigger; there’s more people. But inside the ropes, it’s still golf.â€� – Tyler Duncan, making his first PGA TOUR start as a member “I think there’s something to the start of the season with everybody being back to zero, it’s kind of a fresh start – which, whether you played good or bad last year, it’s kind of nice.â€� – Defending champion Brendan Steele “I grew up on greens way worse than this at times. So yeah, nothing like a little afternoon poa to get you going.â€� — California native Jamie Lovemark, discussing the poa annua greens after his 5-under 67 CALL OF THE DAY SUPERLATIVES Low round: 7-under 65s by Brendan Steele, Tom Hoge and Tyler Duncan Longest drive: Martin Laird, 385 yards at hole No. 5 Longest putt: Emiliano Grillo, 46 feet, 6 inches at hole No. 16 Toughest hole: The 203-yard second hole, which played to a stroke average of 3.264. SHOT OF THE DAY

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PALM HARBOR, Fla. — Matthew NeSmith tied the Copperhead course record at Innisbrook with a 10-under 61 and set the tournament record for 36 holes in building a two-shot lead going into the weekend at the Valspar Championship. RELATED: Leaderboard | Justin Thomas determined to return to winner’s circle at Valspar Championship Scoring has been low all week after rain softened the course and the wind has been minimal. Even so, no one had posted better than 64 until NeSmith put together the round that was more than nine shots better than the average. He had eagle putts on three of four par 5s, making an 8-footer on the par-5 14th. He shot 30 on the front nine, and his 18-foot birdie putt on his final hole at No. 9 burned the edge of the cup. The 61 tied the course set by Padraig Harrington in 2012. NeSmith was at 14-under 128, breaking by two shots the 36-hole record at the Valspar Championship that Sam Burns and Keegan Bradley set a year ago. Adam Hadwin of Canada, whose lone PGA TOUR victory was five years ago at Innisbrook, had a 66 and was two shots behind. Burns remained in the hunt in the title defense of his first PGA TOUR victory. He recovered from a rugged start to post a 67 and was three shots behind with Scott Stallings (66). Justin Thomas was four behind. NeSmith only missed one fairway and two greens, and the only stress he was under came on the par-4 second hole, his 11th of the day, when he had to make an 8-foot par putt to avoid a three-putt from 50 feet. His bonus came two holes later by making a 40-footer on the par-3 fourth. Two days around the Copperhead course has created very little stress for Hadwin, with his game and between the ears. He has been patient about when to attack and relied on confidence in his putting stroke to pile up the birdies and one big par. He was out of position on the seventh hole in the right bunker when he made a 15-foot putt to escape with par. On the par-3 eighth, he made a 20-foot birdie and before long was on his way. “The par putt on 7 was a big one to get me going,” Hadwin said. “I hit some good putts previously but didn’t get any out of it. They started to find the center after that.” Thomas was right alongside him most of the morning, running off four birdies in a five-hole stretch along the back nine. He took care of both par 5s on the front nine and was at 12 under when he attempted one shot he would like to have back. Blocked by a tree in the rough, Thomas thought he could get enough spin on his ball to hook it toward the green with a 52-degree wedge. It just didn’t work out that way. He missed well to the right by some 30 yards, put it into a bunker between him and the green and took double bogey. He had to settle for another 66, a good effort over 36 holes, and a reminder to not take on too much, especially in the early rounds. “I should have just tried to hit it in the front bunker and it was a pretty easy up-and-down,” Thomas said. “As soft as the greens are, I was like, ‘If I can get this thing turning and landing around there, I can actually have a putt at this.’ As good as I felt with my putter, I felt like if I got it on the green, I could make a 3. But it wasn’t necessary. It just didn’t really need to happen.”

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