About
Lian-wei was the first Chinese golfer invited to the Masters Tournament in 2004, opening the door for future generations of Chinese and Asian golfers on the global stage.
Zhang is a trailblazing Chinese professional golfer and a significant figure in the development of golf in China. Born in Zhuhai, he initially pursued a career as a javelin thrower but soon found his passion for golf shortly after the first golf course in the People's Republic of China opened in 1984. Zhang worked his way up from caddie-master to champion, winning the China Amateur Open Championship three times before turning professional in 1994.
Zhang achieved global prominence by becoming the first Chinese golfer to win on the European Tour at the 2003 Caltex Masters in Singapore. In 2004, he made history again as the first player from mainland China to compete in the prestigious Masters Tournament at Augusta National. He topped the Order of Merit on the Omega China Tour in 2006 and has six wins on the China Tour alongside five Asian Tour victories.
In addition to his playing career, Zhang has contributed to golf architecture, notably designing the Zhang Lian Wei Course at Mission Hills Golf Club in Shenzhen, China. This course was the country’s first executive par-3 layout, incorporating design elements inspired by iconic golf courses worldwide. He has also established a golf training center to nurture young Chinese talent.
