PGA Tour: China’s Carl Yuan earns first start on US soil after superb qualifying round
- Chinese Olympian and National Games gold medallist will compete at RSM Classic this week
- The 24-year-old has enlisted help of former University of Washington teammate Julianne Alvarez as his caddie
Chinese golfer Carl Yuan has earned himself a first PGA Tour start on US soil this week, and he is now counting on an unlikely partnership to propel him to a strong showing at the RSM Classic.
The 24-year-old, who finished 38th at the Tokyo Olympics and won gold at the National Games in September, carded a superb eight-under 62 in Monday qualifying.
It will be Yuan’s fourth tour start after two appearances at the WGC-HSBC Champions in China and 2020 Puerto Rico Open.
“I’m really excited to play the RSM, which will be my first tour event on the US mainland,” Yuan said. “I just had a simple mindset, and did not have much expectation. Played it shot by shot and the putter was working nicely.”
Yuan roped in former University of Washington teammate, and female professional golfer, Julianne Alvarez as caddie on Monday, and will maintain the partnership as he chases a strong showing.