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Alexander Yang (right) poses with fellow Hong Kong team members ahead of the Hong Kong Open. Photo: Ike Images

Hong Kong Open: tournament’s youngest player Alexander Yang still has high-school homework due at the end of the week

  • The 17-year-old Yang says he often squeezes assignments in between rounds of golf
  • Hong Kong-born star looks to emulate mentality of golf hero Tiger Woods

Despite debuting in the Hong Kong Open against some of the world's top golfers, 17-year-old Alexander Yang still has a high-school assignment due at the end of the week.

“I do have some homework this week that I have to do. I usually squeeze it in before and after rounds, depending on my tee-time,” said Hong Kong-born golfer Yang, the tournament’s youngest competitor and a fresh Hong Kong Golf Association (HKGA) recruit.

“It’s definitely another thing to think about during a tournament that I would prefer not to think about. But you get used to it – I missed school for all my junior and amateur events during the school year.”

Open amateur Yang has the world at his feet. Having spent four years in the city before moving to the United States with family, the high-school junior now finds himself brushing shoulders with professional golfers all whilst counting down the two years until entering prestigious Stanford University.

Hong Kong-born Alexander Yang talks alongside teammate Ben Wong ahead of the Hong Kong Open. Photo: Ike Images

“I’m really excited because all the players here are very high level and I get to learn from them. At the same time, I’ve been preparing for a long time to compete among the best,” Yang said, adding that the notorious Fanling composite course will be an “extremely difficult” challenge.

Alexander Yang discusses his approach to the 12th hole with his caddie. Photo: SCMP

Sitting excitedly alongside fellow HKGA youngsters – though veterans compared to himself – it did not take long to identify Yang’s overwhelming hunger for success. Such a trait is synonymous with Stanford alumni and one of the greatest to grace the sport, Tiger Woods.

“Going into every tournament you have to have the desire and mindset to win – that’s what we all came here to do,” he said, gesturing to his Hong Kong peers. “You can’t ever set the bar too high, you’ve got to shoot as high as you want. Trying to make the cut, to me, seems too low.

Tiger Woods poses with the Presidents Cup trophy after the US team sealed a 16-14 win in Melbourne in December. Photo: AP

“If you look at Tiger [Woods], who was one of my role models because he was so dominant, I don’t think there was ever a time that he didn’t think about winning – no matter the age. He won prolifically from five, 10, 15 ... now he’s in his 40s and he’s still doing the same thing. I wouldn’t say there’s anything Tiger Woods-esque about me but his dominance is something I want to strive for one day,” Yang said.

Whether that day comes any time soon, Yang is adamant that his youthfulness and lack of professional tournament experience is not going to affect his weekend. Trust the process, in other words.

“For me, I don’t feel like there’s any extra pressure being 17 – it’s almost a little more motivation because I can compete against professionals here. I look forward to it.

“We all have to start when we’re young, we’re all shooting in the hundreds and then we slowly progress. We all lay the building blocks to eventually get on tour, so watching [the older players’] path to the PGA Tour ... that’s something I strive to play on one day.”

This article appeared in the South China Morning Post print edition as: Yang juggles high-school homework with top events
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