Tamsui: Six-time Asian Tour champion Lin Wen-tang, nursing an injury, competes in this week's Taiwan Masters, which he won in 2009 and finished runner-up in 2018 and 2005, short on playing time on the Asian Tour.
However, the Taiwanese is happy that he was able to spend more time with his family. "Everybody knows that Covid-19 is very dangerous," Lin said yesterday ahead of today's tee-off.
"And if you went out of Taiwan to another country you needed to stay at your house for about two weeks. Now it's just one week. So, my family told me, okay no problem, you don't go to play outside Taiwan, just play local events. So, it was family time."
The 48-year-old played in the Yeangder TPC in Taiwan last week where he finished tied 39th, a solid performance considering it was his first tournament in 10 months following a shoulder injury he got while working out in the gym.
The iconic Taiwan Golf and Country Club is well known for its demanding layout on the Asian Tour, but the Taiwanese knows how to tackle it.
"Everybody knows the wind is very tricky at the Tamsui golf course. The fairways are small and the greens are sometimes a bit difficult," he said.
Turning 50 in June of 2024, Lin still has his sights set on the Senior circuit in the US, although the shoulder injury means it is not a certainty.
Even if the plan to play in the US doesn't materialise, Lin still has had a career full of moments to be very proud of, such as winning the 2008 Hong Kong Open against future major winners Rory McIlroy and Francesco Molinari in a play-off.
Several Thais are in the field this week including 2019 winner Suradit Yongcharoenchai, amateur sensation Ratchanon Chantananuwat, Nitithorn Thippong and Chapchai Nirat.