Banned Zhang Xinjun can still earn Web.com Tour card
Zhang missed both the lucrative BMW Masters and WGC-HSBC Champions in Shanghai in the past two weeks after being suspended for "serious violations", the China Golf Association (CGA) said.
He is banned from competition until March 14.
Any player, wherever they finish on the money list, is separate from a disciplinary process
One week after the 27-year-old Zhang was disqualified for signing an incorrect scorecard at the Lanhai Open in Shanghai, he became the first Chinese player to win on the PGA Tour China when he captured the Beijing Open in June.
Zhang again was caught signing an incorrect card two months ago at the Cadillac Championship in Beijing. The tour said he made a bogey four on the par-3 14th hole in the first round and signed for a three.
Only three tournaments remain on the schedule this year.
"Any player, wherever they finish on the money list, is separate from a disciplinary process," said Paul Johnson, the PGA Tour's senior vice-president of international business affairs.
"If they finish fourth, they earn access for being fourth on the money list. It's independent of discipline."
Johnson said the CGA suspension prevented Zhang from competing on any tour. Along with the PGA Tour China, Zhang has played on the European Tour (once), OneAsia (twice) and Japan Golf Tour (three times) this year. "He's a member of our tour," Johnson said. "But as a Chinese player, he answers to the CGA across all tours."
Johnson would not say whether Zhang faced additional sanctions from the PGA Tour, which does not publicly disclose its disciplinary actions.
But it is a sticky subject among Chinese golfers in what otherwise has been a successful start for the fledgling tour in China.
Li Haotong, who won the most recent PGA Tour China event, waved his hands in the air when Zhang's name was mentioned. "I don't know. I don't say anything," said Li, who is ranked 238 in the world.
