Hu Mu, tipped to be China’s next big hope in golf, is prepared to build on his soaring confidence when he vies for honours at the inaugural Solaire Open next week.
Hu finished fourth at the Chiangmai Golf Classic on Sunday for his best ever result on the Asian Tour and hopes to better his performance at the US$300,000 full field Asian Tour event staged at the Wack Wack Golf & Country Club from April 11 to 14.
After missing his Asian Tour card from QualifyingSchool, Hu is determined to make full use of his limited playing opportunities on the Asian Tour. His strong showing in Chiangmai has moved him up to 25th place on the Asian Tour Order of Merit with earnings of US$39,187 from two starts.
He also made strides on the Official World Golf Rankings when he jumped 200 spots to 475th position in the world courtesy of his Chiangmai performance where he finished higher than Major champions Ernie Els, Y.E. Yang and current Order of Merit leader Kiradech Aphibarnrat.
“My goal at the start of the year was to try to finish inside the top-500 in the world and I’ve done that in only a few events. Now I want to aim to go even higher,” said Hu.
“It’s a huge thing for me. I’m trying to get into the top-60 (to earn full playing rights for 2014). I failed to get my status at the Q-school and I got a few sponsors’ invites and have managed to make a splash which is great.
“I think I can play with the best players, Kiradech, Yang, Ernie and Prayad (Marksaeng). If I can play my best, I can compete with them,” smiled Hu.
He is excited to return to Wack Wack where he finished tied 33rd at the ICTSI Philippine Open last year.
“The course is very tough but I played well the last time I was there. I like the course very much. The eighth and eighteen holes are really difficult holes but I’m looking forward to the challenge,” he said.
Hu is among an elite cast next week which includes 2011 Order of Merit winner Juvic Pagunsan of the Philippines, multiple Asian Tour winners Rikard Karlberg of Sweden, Japanese star Tetsuji Hiratsuka and Thailand’s Chawalit Plaphol, who won the season-opening Zaykabar Myanmar Open.
