Hong Kong Open: Chinese-American star Brandon Wu on message from Tiger Woods, winning the NCAA with Stanford, and studying in China
- Brandon Wu compares ‘unique’ path to pro golf with greatest-of-all-time and fellow Stanford alumni Tiger Woods
- The 22-year-old maps route to PGA Tour after making waves on Korn Ferry
Hong Kong Open debutant Brandon Wu had the most prolific season in his life in 2019. The Chinese-American golfer graduated from Stanford University; steered its golf team to its first national championship (NCAA) in 13 years; and turned professional by the year-end.
Such a historic collegiate win earned a congratulatory message from one of the greatest to ever do it: Tiger Woods. It is hard not to draw similarities between Woods, a fellow Stanford alumni-turned-professional, and Wu's own encouraging golf journey.
“Yeah, Tiger sent a video to the team congratulating us, I forget what PGA tournament he was at,” said the 22-year-old California native, who narrowly missed the cut despite a late comeback in round two in Fanling.
Wu, who qualified for the PGA Tour's US Open and Open Championship last year, is likely to brush shoulders with the 44-year-old Woods at the star-studded Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines, California later this month.
Woods had already made his PGA debut at the Masters aged 19 and remarkably went on to win the tournament two years later. Perhaps a chance to observe and soak in any wisdom from the winner of 15 majors.