Zhang Lianwei and Liang Wenchong are China's two most recognised golfers, but if there is a Yao Ming of golf it will most likely be a woman first, a leading sports official said yesterday. Zhang Xiaoning, the chief secretary of the China Golf Association, made the comment as he signed a milestone partnership deal with equipment makers TaylorMade. The golf brand pledged financial support for the development of the game in China by supplying the Chinese national team with apparel and equipment for the next three years, along with technological support. China are pinning their future hopes on number one player Zhang Na, who is hoping to make a breakthrough on the Ladies Asian Golf Tour this year, and Huang Ping, the number one-ranked amateur who has just turned professional. 'This deal is very good news as it will make people pay more attention to golf in China,' said Huang. 'China needs more people to support golf.' TaylorMade's Asia-Pacific region representative, Dennis Allen, estimated that the percentage of the population that played golf in China was only about 0.001 per cent. However, he said, in the United States 25 to 30 per cent of the population had some involvement in the game.
