SHANGHAI – Nov. 22, 2004 – Young guns from Asia and Europe will be looking to fire on all cylinders at the US$1 million Volvo China Open, which begins at Shanghai Silport Golf Club on Thursday.
English duo Nick Dougherty and Simon Dyson, the 2000 Volvo China Open champion, Frenchman Philippe Lima and Dutchman Robert Jan Derksen represent the new breed of rising stars on the European Tour. Across in Asia, India's Rahil Gangjee and Angelo Que of the Philippines are the region's future flagbearers after scoring career breakthrough wins on the Asian Tour this season.
These upcoming stars will aim to eclipse the established names headlining the Volvo China Open which include past and present Europe's Ryder Cup stalwarts Paul McGinley, Paul Lawrie and Thomas Bjorn and defending champion Zhang Lian-wei of China. The Volvo China Open, celebrating its 10th anniversary, is jointly sanctioned for the first time by the Asian Tour and European Tour.
At 22, Dougherty is hoping that slowing down on the good life will speed up his progress on the professional scene. A protégé of six-time Major champion Nick Faldo, Dougherty rose through the amateur ranks alongside players such as Luke Donald and Paul Casey, who have gone on to become European Tour winners and Ryder Cup members.
Dougherty enjoyed a strong rookie year in 2002, finishing 36th on the European money ranking but as he admitted recently, fame got to him and his form took a drastic dip. A pep talk from his mentor Faldo got him out from his slump, he hired a hypno-therapist and started working with swing guru David Leadbetter which marked a revival. Two top 10s late in the year saw him keep his card safely for 2005 and a promise of a better future.
"I don't just want to be a good European Tour player. I want to win in America, play in the Ryder Cup and win Majors," said Dougherty. "I slackened off for a couple of years, the game I had just didn't cut it. Neither did my work ethic. I was living the life of Riley and I became so depressed," said Dougherty, who is nicknamed "Little Nick" due to his relationship with Faldo.
Dougherty was a member of the winning Great Britain and Ireland Walker Cup team in 2001 and turned professional soon after. He completed a highly successful first season and was named the European Rookie of the Year for 2002.
Like Dougherty, the 26-year-old Dyson achieved a great rookie year in the paid ranks, winning three titles, the Volvo China Open, Macau Open and Hong Kong Open en route to winning the Order of Merit in Asia in 2000. He capped his season by earning his European Tour card that same year but it has not been rosy ever since. Injuries have curtailed his performances and after breaking a bone in his left elbow while playing tennis this year, Dyson rebounded by finishing second in the joint-sanctioned Asian Open in Shanghai earlier this year.
Not surprisingly, he is looking forward to a return to Shanghai Silport where he won with a 13-under-par 275 winning total. "I feel a lot more at home in Asia. I feel it is more relaxed out here than it is back home in Europe. It’s like dog eat dog in Europe. This is where I started and all my friends are out here. I love coming back. I enjoy the courses and everyone makes you feel so welcomed," said Dyson.
The 29-year-old Jan Derksen claimed international fame when he beat Ernie Els in the Dubai Desert Classic last year for his maiden triumph. This year, Jan Derksen has produced seven top-20s and could well be a threat at the Volvo China Open.
Another rising star is Lima, who will celebrate his 23rd birthday on Friday. He stepped up to the European Tour with victory in the dual ranking Aa St Omer Open in front of his home fans, the week after winning a Challenge Tour event.
Gangjee, 25, played his way to fame with a stunning play-off victory at the inaugural China Masters in Beijing in May against a field which included European Ryder Cup stars Philip Price, Faldo, Chinese ace Zhang and former two-time Asian number one Kang Wook-soon.
The 26-year-old Que broke through recently and did so with some style at the inaugural Carlsberg Masters Vietnam. He went toe-to-toe with current Asian Tour number one Thongchai Jaidee in the final round and beat a field that included Corey Pavin, the former US Open champion. "I'm really happy. My confidence was low coming into the event but I told myself to start believing in myself. I knew I could play the game. This is golf, one day you can be down there and the next you're up here," said Que.
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