Golf in China

(Posted by Matt)

Last Sunday I went with my childhood friend Paul, who is visiting, and two expat friends to watch the final round of the Shanghai Masters.  Golf is a funny game here, as it didn’t really exist just a few years ago and now the upwardly mobile are latching on to their clubs as status symbols.  New, ridiculously nice courses are popping up everywhere, despite the absence of serious players.

While the golf was excellent – Rory McIllroy beat Anthony Kim in a sudden death playoff for the $2 million 1st place prize – other aspects of the day were probably even more interesting.

Highlights included:

·       John Daly’s pants, which reminded the Chinese that they are not the only ones who can obnoxiously fly their flags

The old guy has slimmed down a bit, and still crushes the ball.

·       Unruly Chinese spectators, many of whom have ZERO understanding of golf, which led to them answering phones (“WEI?”), screaming at their out-of-control kids, and snapping pictures during players’ backswings

·       Colin Montgomerie’s wife, who provided further entertainment by going ballistic at said ignorant Chinese spectators on the 7^th tee box

·       The course groundskeepers, who somehow managed to turn a course with no sod on it just four weeks ago into a PGA-level gem  (ALERT: Crazy Chinese Chemicals?)

It's scary how quickly they finished the course

·       Senior government officials, who put Rory McIllroy through the most awkward 45 minute ceremony after he won, complete with rambling speeches in Mandarin, half naked girls playing drums a la the Blue Man Group, and repeated (unsuccessful) requests for Rory to do the Irish Jig in front of the cameras

He might've preferred 2nd place to avoid the whole awards show

During golf?  You're kidding, right?

And, last but not least…

·       The Chinese Air Force, who decided that Championship Sunday was an opportunity to trot out their new fighter jets in front of the ESPN cameras, as they performed deafening exercises directly above the course for a solid six hours

I can see how someone in the government thought this was a brilliant way to show off their military might in front of a Western audience, but having a bit of a clue about the nature of golf might’ve led to a different decision.  Or, perhaps it was John Daly’s pants that were causing the big fuss, and the Communist Party had to assert itself.