DAVID Tonroe will sacrifice length for accuracy this week in an attempt to help Hong Kong to their first Putra Cup victory in more than three decades.
The Hong Kong-born 20-year-old concedes that his ability to propel the ball immense distances off the tee has, as often as not, conspired to work against him.
''There was a stage where I got ridiculously long . . . and ridiculously wild,'' said Tonroe, who has been based in California for the past 16 months attending a Professional Golfers' Career College.
''My game has turned around a lot since I've been in America. My grip is now more orthodox and I have a better posture. I might have lost a little distance, but I am certainly hit the ball straighter,'' he said.
Since adopting the changes, Tonroe's results have been impressive. After 10 events on this year's Golden State Tour in California, his consistency has been such that he boasts the lowest scoring average of 71.60.
And he hopes his new style will reap dividends this week as Hong Kong bid to win the Carlsberg-sponsored Southeast Asian amateur team championship for the first time since 1961, the tournament's inaugural year.
Tonroe returned to the territory on Saturday night in preparation for the nine-nation event which tees-off tomorrow. He joined up with teammates Michael Grant, Ian Hindhaugh and Tang Shu-wah for the first of two practice rounds over the Royal Hong Kong Golf Club's New Course, yesterday.