Tianjin China Open

If you pass by Beijing make sure you visit Tianjin city only 30 mn away, thanks to the 300 km/per hour bullet Train. The Tianjin train station is quite impressive and more over looking 19th century Gustave Eiffel JieFang Bridge with more ancient bulding nearby. Unfortunatly the China Open course is about 45mn away so not too many players got to see this historical places. The Pete Dye course is by the sea a links type where the wind can be devestating and more the hole 12, a tricky par 5 with the a narrow green on a mount where I have witnesses back an forth wedges and chips.

I was staying with active participant of my research from France tour Player Christian Cevaer who is trying to find his game back after a elbow injury. Christian and I shared some great golf moments.  I was also happy to meet my old Coco Beach Florida buddy Danny Sharp (note: in the 80's Danny and I were winter practicing in Royal Oak FL, Home of the Canadian PGA and legendary Player Moe Norman). Today, Danny is a world class Caddie for LPGA Lorie Kane and European Tour Thomas Aiken. Danny is the first tour caddie using my putting research, as one of my goal this year is also that her player Lorie Kane will reach her 100 top 10, hopefully before the Evian Masters so we can celebrate there.

I was also in close contact with some of the 30 Chinese Players (only 3 made the cut) among them Zhang and Li where I used my findings stats to analyze their performances my biggest surprise of the week was to be invited to seat next to Caddie legend Fanny Sunesson who was there as a Volvo Speaker. Fanny shared my same believe on performances and more on course management, she then send me a nice email later surely we will meet again.

After a last range practice session on saturday with Christian Cevaer, the Volvo Limousine drove us to the airport where we said “Goodby and Courage" I stayed a few more days in Beijing to meet more people toward my Olympic Quest.

Stephane Barras