Tour News
Nike adds two Chinese golfers to its staff
If you have been following professional golf at all this season, there is a good chance you have heard the name Guan Tianlang. In case you haven’t, Guan is the 14-year-old amateur from China who made golf history by becoming the youngest player to ever make the cut at the Masters in April.
The story here, however, may not be Guan’s age or amateur status, but his nationality. And the Chinese spotlight in golf has just gotten a bit bigger. Nike Golf has officially announced the addition of Hao-Tong Li and Xin-Jun Zhang to its growing list of staff players.
“I don’t think there’s another country in the world that is putting as much into golf as China, in terms of the resources, energy and money,” said Michael Dickie, the Scotland-born head coach of China’s women’s Olympic team, in a CNN article in April.
Li, from the Hunan Province of China, turned professional in 2011 at the age of 16. He won nine gold medals and six silver medals in the Asian games as an amateur. He was named the “Best Amateur Player” and finished tied for 21st in the 2011 One Asia Nanshan Masters. Li was a part of the Chinese National Team in 2010 and 2011. This year, he has already finished tied for 39th place at the Australian PGA Championship and tied for fifth at the New Zealand PGA Championship, respectively.
His counterpart, Zhang, is from the Shanxi Province and turned pro in 2010 at the age of 23. Zhang was also a part of the Chinese National Team representing his country in international tournaments in 2007. As a pro, he tied for 13th in the 2011 Shanghai HSBC Championship. He has also won two gold medals and a silver medal in Chinese Professional Tournaments in 2011 and 2012.
With an estimated population of 1.35 billion, golf is a rapidly growing sport in China with vast potential.
Just last year, 14-year-old Andy Zhang became the youngest player in the history of the U.S. Open. Earlier this year, Ye Wocheng became the youngest golfer to qualify for a European Tour event at the age of 12. On the women’s side, Shanshan Feng became the first Chinese player to join the LPGA in 2008 and became the first major winner from China when she won the Wegmans LPGA Championship last year. She is currently ranked seventh in the world.
“In China, they are incredibly passionate and you see how the game is growing,” said Hank Haney, the former swing coach of Tiger Woods. “We’re going to see more and more great golfers coming from Asia. It won’t be long before China is a big part of that.”
Earlier this year, Nike signed two-time major winner Rory McIlroy. The details of the contract were undisclosed but it is believed to be somewhere between $150 and $250 million. According to multiple reports, Tiger Woods is close to a contract extension with Nike that would surpass McIlroy’s deal. He is expected to sign the deal shortly after this weekend’s U.S. Open. Other players on Nike’s roster include Charl Schwartzel and Michelle Wie.
Li’s Nike Golf Arsenal
Driver: Nike VR_S Covert (8.5 degrees, Neutral)
Fairway Wood: Nike VR_S Covert Tour 3-wood (14 degrees)
Hybrid: Nike VR_S Covert 2-hybrid (17 degrees)
Irons: Nike VR Pro Blades (3-PW)
Wedges: Nike VR Forged (50 and 60)
Putter: Nike Method 001 Prototype
Ball: Nike 20XI X
Footwear: Nike Lunar Control
Zhang’s Nike Golf Arsenal
Driver: Nike VR_S Covert (8.5 degrees, Neutral)
Fairway Wood: Nike VR Pro Limited Edition (15 degrees)
Hybrid: Nike VR_S 2-hybrid (17 degrees)
Irons: Nike VR Pro Blades (3-PW)
Wedges: Nike VR Forged (52 and 58)
Putter: Nike Method 006
Ball: Nike 20XI X
Footwear: Nike Lunar Control
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Tour Photo Galleries
Photos from the 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
GolfWRX is on site this week in McKinney, Texas, at the 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson (FKA the AT&T Byron Nelson).
Last year at TPC Craig Ranch, Jason Day ended a five-year winless streak. J-Day is in the field again, as are Jordan Spieth, Tom Kim, and Will Zalatoris.
We have our usual assortment of general galleries, WITBs, and pullout albums for your perusal. As always, we’ll continue to add links to additional albums as they make their way to us from the Lone Star State.
Check out links to all our photos below.
General Albums
- 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson – Monday #1
- 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson – Monday #2
- 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson – Tuesday #1
- 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson – Tuesday #2
- 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson – Tuesday #3
WITB Albums
- Pierceson Coody – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Kris Kim – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- David Nyfjall – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Adrien Dumont de Chassart – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Jarred Jetter – North Texas PGA Section Champ – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Richy Werenski – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Wesley Bryan – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Parker Coody – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Peter Kuest – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Blaine Hale, Jr. – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Kelly Kraft – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Rico Hoey – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
Pullout Albums
- Adam Scott’s 2 new custom L.A.B. Golf putters – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Scotty Cameron putters – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Ben Griffin playing Maxfli golf ball
See what GolfWRXers are saying in the forums.
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Tour Photo Galleries
Photos from the 2024 Zurich Classic of New Orleans
GolfWRX is live on site this week at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans for the PGA Tour’s one-and-only two-man team event.
As usual, general galleries, WITBs, and pullout albums — including some pretty spicy custom putters and headcovers — await your viewing.
Be sure to check back for more photos from the Big Easy, as we’ll continue to update this page with additional galleries throughout the week.
General Albums
- 2024 Zurich Classic – Monday #1
- 2024 Zurich Classic – Monday #2
- 2024 Zurich Classic – Tuesday #1
- 2024 Zurich Classic – Tuesday #2
WITB Albums
- Alex Fitzpatrick – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Austin Cook – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Alejandro Tosti – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Davis Riley – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- MJ Daffue – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Nate Lashley – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- James Nicholas – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Kevin Streelman – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Rasmus Hojgaard – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Tom Whitney – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- SangMoon Bae – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Daniel Berger – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Rory McIlroy – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Russ Cochrane – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Aldrich Potgieter – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Steve Stricker WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Drew Brees WITB (Legendary New Orleans Saints QB) – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Derek Carr (New Orleans Saints QB) – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Thriston Lawrence WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
Pullout Albums
- MJ Daffue’s custom Cameron putter – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Cameron putters – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Swag covers ( a few custom for Nick Hardy) – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Custom Bettinardi covers for Matt and Alex Fitzpatrick – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Doug Ghim’s custom Cameron putter – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Patrick Cantlay spotted testing a Scotty Cameron blade putter – 2024 Zurich Classic
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Tour Photo Galleries
Photos from the 2024 RBC Heritage
GolfWRX is on site this week at Harbour Town Golf Links on Hilton Head Island for the RBC Heritage. Plenty of golfers who competed in the Masters last week will be making the quick turnaround in the Lowcountry of South Carolina as the Heritage is again one of the Tour’s Signature Events.
We have general albums for you to check out, as well as plenty of WITBs — including Justin Thomas and Justin Rose.
We’ll continue to update as more photos flow in from SC.
Check out links to all our photos, below.
General Albums
- 2024 RBC Heritage – Monday #1
- 2024 RBC Heritage – Monday #2
- 2024 RBC Heritage – Tuesday #1
- 2024 RBC Heritage – Tuesday #2
WITB Albums
- Justin Thomas – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Justin Rose – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Chandler Phillips – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Nick Dunlap – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Thomas Detry – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Austin Eckroat – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Xander Schauffele – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Jason Day – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Will Zalatoris – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Patrick Cantlay – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Ludvig Aberg – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Collin Morikawa – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Sam Burns – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Stephen Jaeger – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
Pullout Albums
- Wyndham Clark’s Odyssey putter – 2024 RBC Heritage
- JT’s new Cameron putter – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Justin Thomas testing new Titleist 2 wood – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Cameron putters – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Odyssey putter with triple track alignment aid – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Scotty Cameron The Blk Box putting alignment aid/training aid – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Cameron putter – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Odyssey Ai One Eleven T putters – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Christian Bezuidenhout – testing new Callaway Ti 340 mini driver – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Rory McIlroy testing the new TaylorMade BRNR Mini Driver Copper – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Xander Schauffele testing the Callaway Ti 340 mini driver & the DUW – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Byeong Hun An, two new L.A.B. Golf putter builds with “T” alignment – 2024 RBC Heritage
See what GolfWRXers are saying and join the discussion in the forums.
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