Shanghai: American David Lipsky believes his recent victory in Europe is timely as he seeks to make an impact at the US$8.5 million WGC-HSBC Champions which starts on Thursday.<\/p>\n
The Korean-American became the first Asian Tour player to win the Omega European Masters which is the only tournament on European soil to be co-sanctioned with the European Tour in Switzerland.<\/p>\n
That victory in September propelled the 26-year-old to the top of the Asian Tour Order of Merit which helped him qualify for this week\u2019s blockbuster as the leading four players on the Order of Merit qualify for the richest tournament in Asia.<\/p>\n
\u201cWinning in Switzerland definitely gave me a huge confidence boost because it shows that you can play against the best players.<\/p>\n
But I\u2019m over that win and I\u2019m not in the process of trying to get better in my game. I\u2019m settled down now and I\u2019m looking forward to the rest of the year,\u201d said Lipsky.<\/p>\n
Lipsky announced his arrival on the Asian Tour by emerging top of the class at Qualifying School in 2012.<\/p>\n
Then in only his third event on the region\u2019s premier Tour, Lipsky burst into life with a play-off triumph in Cambodia before going on to end his rookie season in 11th position on the Order of Merit.<\/p>\n
Apart from his Swiss triumph, Lipsky has also notched three other top-10s in Singapore and Malaysia this season.<\/p>\n
Lipsky will return to the WGC-HSBC Champions as a much improved player as compared from two years ago where he finished in 72nd place..<\/p>\n
\u2018I didn\u2019t play that well then as it was my first year as a professional and I was a little star struck! But I\u2019m more mature now and can handle things better,\u201d said Lipsky.<\/p>\n
To take the pressure off the demands of the high octane contest in Shanghai, Lipsky plans to take time off to meet up with old friends before his battle at the Sheshan International Golf Club.<\/p>\n
\u201cI know some people in Shanghai and it\u2019ll be good to catch up with all of them again. It\u2019s going to be an exciting week as I\u2019ll try to go up against some of the best players in the world which is awesome!\u201d said Lipsky.<\/p>\n
While he is focused on his WGC-HSBC Champions challenge, the American, whose mother is Korean, is confident he can also emerge as Asia\u2019s new number one by the end of the season.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m still in a good position on the Order of Merit and if I can play like I know I can play, I can take care of business,\u201d said Lipsky.<\/p>\n
The final World Golf Championships event of the year will feature some of the world\u2019s best players including Adam Scott, Bubba Watson, Justin Rose, Martin Kaymer and Sergio Garcia.<\/p>\n
The Chinese showpiece is also one of four World Golf Championships sanctioned and organised by the operational committee of the International Federation of PGA Tours, which includes the Asian Tour, European Tour, Japan Golf Tour, PGA TOUR, PGA Tour of Australasia and Sunshine Tour.<\/p>\n
The other World Golf Championships include the WGC- Match Play, WGC-Cadillac Championship and the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Shanghai: American David Lipsky believes his recent victory in Europe is timely as he seeks to make an impact at the US$8.5 million WGC-HSBC Champions which starts on Thursday.<\/p>\n
The Korean-American became the first Asian Tour player to win the Omega European Masters which is the only tournament on European soil to be co-sanctioned with the European Tour in Switzerland.<\/p>\n
That victory in September propelled the 26-year-old to the top of the Asian Tour Order of Merit which helped him qualify for this week\u2019s blockbuster as the leading four players on the Order of Merit qualify for the richest tournament in Asia.<\/p>\n
\u201cWinning in Switzerland definitely gave me a huge confidence boost because it shows that you can play against the best players.<\/p>\n
But I\u2019m over that win and I\u2019m not in the process of trying to get better in my game. I\u2019m settled down now and I\u2019m looking forward to the rest of the year,\u201d said Lipsky.<\/p>\n
Lipsky announced his arrival on the Asian Tour by emerging top of the class at Qualifying School in 2012.<\/p>\n
Then in only his third event on the region\u2019s premier Tour, Lipsky burst into life with a play-off triumph in Cambodia before going on to end his rookie season in 11th position on the Order of Merit.<\/p>\n
Apart from his Swiss triumph, Lipsky has also notched three other top-10s in Singapore and Malaysia this season.<\/p>\n
Lipsky will return to the WGC-HSBC Champions as a much improved player as compared from two years ago where he finished in 72nd place..<\/p>\n
\u2018I didn\u2019t play that well then as it was my first year as a professional and I was a little star struck! But I\u2019m more mature now and can handle things better,\u201d said Lipsky.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"tdm_status":"","tdm_grid_status":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[38],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-20479","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","category-world-golf-news"],"yoast_head":"\n