The Year of the Ox
The Chinese Calendar
Predictions for the 2009 Volvo China Open
26 January 2009 marked the beginning of the Year of the Ox, it is going to be fascinating to see whether a year dominated by the dour, yet hardworking beast of burden will have a marked effect on the outcome of the 2009 edition of the Volvo China Open golf tournament.
Effort, commitment and duty are keywords that define 2009 and it is sure going to take plenty of effort and commitment on the part of one accomplished golfer to eclipse defending champion, Damien McGrane’s nine shot victory over the rest of the field in last year’s battle in Beijing.
We have selected a trio of young men who, on the day, all stand a chance of lifting the title in China. We survey the year ahead and what it is expected to hold for them on the greens and fairways of the world’s golf courses, according to their Chinese Astrological signs.
Liang Wen-Chong, The Horse
Leading Chinese golfer, Liang Wen-Chong became only the second Chinese golfer in history to claim a coveted European Tour title. In 2007 he emulated his mentor, Zhang Lian-Wei, by claiming the Singapore Masters and this triumph elevated him to full European Tour status. In the same year he broke records again by becoming the first golfer of Chinese origin to win the Asian Tour’s Order of Merit.
Ranked just outside the top 100 on the Official World golf Ranking at 105 but in the top twenty of the European Tour (18th), Liang has to be a firm favourite to win on home soil. He finished in the top ten on two occasions in 2008 – T8 at the Volvo China Open and T7 at the Indonesian open.
The Horse is predicted to make exceptional progress in 2009 in virtually any field they choose and Liang’s financial position is tipped to take a turn for the better with a possible increase in income on the cards. Could this possibly mean that a local boy will claim the kudos in Beijing?
Oliver Wilson, the Monkey
Oliver Wilson is currently the number two player on the European Tour and is considered hot property for English golf.
Wilson completed the 2008 season with a very impressive seven top ten finishes and he made his debut at the Ryder Cup in Valhalla. Together with team mate Henrik Stenson, Wilson beat two of the most feared and respected golfers on the PGA Tour circuit, Anthony Kim and Phil Mickelson.
His uncanny knack of finishing one off the pace was emulated again in 2008 when he claimed four second spots including the HSBC Champions, the BMW PGA Championship, the Italian Open and the Volvo China Open.
2009 should prove to be a successful year for Wilson as long as he concentrates on one task at a time. The month of November will be his most prolific as far as his career goes and there is plenty of recognition ahead for the young man.
Richard Finch, The Snake
Englishman, Richard Finch had a fabulous 2008 season, claiming his first two European Titles at the New Zealand Open and later, the Irish Open.
Currently ranked 50th on the European Tour, Finch finished in the top ten on six occasions in 2008 but his dominance at the Irish Open will arguably be remembered for quite some time.
He can look forward to a fast-paced and demanding 2009 where positive sentiment and flexibility are the watchwords for the Snake.
It is also a year of self discovery and reviewing recreational activities and hobbies, hopefully none of this will impact on his promising golf career. October and November are the months where he is expected to shine on the work front!
If you liked this post you may also enjoy these:
Back to Top
Get our RSS feed
