Zhou Yanhan and his father, former professional player Zhou Xunshu
A week before winning the championship, 13-year-old Zhou Yanhan was also "cleaned up" by his father.
"When I saw that he was not clear-headed, I would punish him, and the only way to do that was to prevent him from playing golf." Zhou Yanhan's father, Zhou Xunshu, a former professional player on the Central Tour, said, "He would be very unhappy and begged me to discuss: 'You still let me fight.'" ’”
A few days later, on October 20, in the men's final of the Volvo National Junior Challenge in Shangbang, Chongqing, Zhou Yanhan relied on two plus holes to counterattack the three-year-old Shanghai player Wang Yuxuan to win the championship at his "home".
Seeing his son's counterattack to win, Zhou Xunshu "changed" his father from his father: excitedly punched Zhou Yanhan and hugged his son in public. A father and son, looking like two buddies.
"Usually, our relationship is very relaxed, and sometimes it is like a good brother." Talking about dad, Zhou Yanhan smiled.
If you have been following Bird Sports for a long time, you must have an impression of Zhou Yanhan's name - two years ago, also in Chongqing, at the age of 11, he became the youngest player in the history of the men's tour.
Zhou Yanhan at the age of 11
When it comes to his father Zhou Xunshu, senior domestic high-level fans, and even overseas fans will not be strangers. In 2014, american writer Dan Washburn wrote a book about "Golf and the Chinese Dream", relying on a follow-up interview with Zhou Xunshu, telling his journey from a farmer's son to a professional golfer, becoming the most influential and best-selling book on Chinese golf in the English-speaking world.
After two years of separation, 13-year-old Zhou Yanhan has grown from a cute boy to a "half-sized son" with a height of 1 meter 78 and a solid body. Today, the No. 1 wood flies nearly 270 yards and swings at a speed of 105mph. In the fairway twists, sand pits and undulating greens of the Shangbang Club, Zhou Yanhan caught a total of 8 birds in two rounds, tied for the most in the whole game, and finally won his second men's A national championship since he was promoted to the group this year.
Zhou Yanhan, now 13 years old (Photo/ Wang Liming)
"I also feel like I've grown a lot. If you can't play the ball you want before, you will be very annoyed. If you don't play well now, you will adjust your acceptance well. Talking about the comparison with his 11-year-old self, Zhou Yanhan said.
In the eyes of Tang Wei, a local professional veteran of Chongqing who has known the Zhou family for many years and the dean of Qinglong Nanshan Golf Academy, Zhou Yanhan's spurt of growth is obvious to all, and he has been recognized as the "best" among the new generation of young players in Chongqing in the past five years.
"From the original national competition can not be registered, slowly tempered in the local competition in Chongqing, to later from Group B to Group A, began to emerge among the national youth players, this child's growth is particularly rapid." Tang Wei said, "And Zhou Yanhan inherited excellent sports genes, not only his father, but also their uncle Zhou Xunhua and cousin Zhou Shiyuan, who are very strong." This is the gene and ability to engage in sports, and we call this 'heavenly reward for food'. ”
However, Zhou Xunshu believes that he has only laid the foundation for his son's body. Like the growth and development of Chinese golf teenagers today, he did not dare to imagine at that time, and it was absolutely incomparable.
"When I was his age, I was still herding cattle and mowing grass at home!" He patted his son's head and smiled.
Zhou Xunshu is Chinese mainland first generation of professional players, once stood on the stage of the Asian Tour, in his view, the biggest difference between today's children and his generation is that the starting point is much higher: "We basically do not have the concept of 'youth', almost all of them are in their twenties to start learning the ball systematically." It may take you a month or two to learn about the dynamics of golf abroad. Today's children may be able to clearly understand what is happening in the golf world through self-media in a few seconds, and then through professional training and guidance, they can solve the problem anytime and anywhere. There are so many more opportunities and abilities than we did then! ”
Zhou Xunshu is the protagonist of an interview with the most famous English bestseller of Chinese golf
However, in Zhou Yanhan's view, his father was the first golf hero in his memory. And the memory comes from Shangbang, the same stadium where he has won the championship today.
"He used to play professional games here and I came to see him. But I was probably only 4 years old at the time, and I can't remember too much. But I saw a picture of him at home, it was supposed to be him pushing a ball far away, and then like this, shaking his fist, yes. Zhou Yanhan made a "tiger-style punch" action, "Particularly handsome! ”
Today' Zhou Yanhan, like his father, has become a "signed player" in Shangbang, Chongqing. Where he signed the championship scorecard, there was a promotional poster with a picture of himself. Almost every staff member of the club from top to bottom will also send a familiar and kind smile to this fast-growing "Chongqing cub".
In Zhou Yanhan's card, there is a poster of his introduction on the background wall
"I am an 'old employee' of Shangbang, not only did I work here, but when I first played professionally, I was also a contracted player of Shangbang." Talking about the relationship between father and son and the club, Zhou Xunshu said, "Later, Zhou Yanhan learned to play, and Liu Zong (Liu Qinghuai, general manager of Chongqing Shangbang Sports Club) also attached great importance to it, and we hit it off. With such a good seedling, Shangbang fully supported him. Our whole family was delighted. ”
Zhou Yan, who fought at home, was very happy: "The quality of this course is relatively good, it is difficult, and the greens are a little better than other stadiums in Chongqing." Of course, the happiest thing is that when playing in Chongqing, he can go home and "sleep in his own bed", and the food that his mother cooks every morning and evening can also be fully satisfied by this thriving "Chongqing stomach".
"Egg fried rice, steak, radish soup... It's great to be able to eat at home these days. But my dad now controls me and doesn't let me eat too spicy, for fear of affecting my long body..." The 13-year-old boy spat out his tongue.
Zhou Yanhan performed well at the "home field" of Shangbang
Zhou Yanhan's dream is to one day go to the United States to study at a university and enter the varsity team to play NCAA. The idol in his heart is Bryson DeChambeau: "His comprehensive ability is relatively strong." Playing far, hardcore, short shots are great. I'm the hardcore I'm at best now, and the kick-off is ok, but the cut is not very good, so I missed a lot of opportunities. In this regard, there is still a lot to learn and improve. ”
After winning the Volvo Junior Challenge, Zhou Yanhan will be the No. 7 seed to usher in the Volvo National Junior Hole Match Championship, which will open this Friday, and the champion of the latter will be able to qualify for the "National Open" of Chinese golf - Volvo China Open 2021 and 2022 for two consecutive years!
Zhou Yanhan is a leading figure in Chongqing's new generation of youth players
In Zhou Xunshu's view, Shangbang's home victory is not so much a victory as it is a good "lesson" for his son: "He looks stable and mature, but as a father, I know that he is still very ignorant sometimes." For example, when you are behind, the playing style is different from usual, and the glue time of the overtime game does not calculate how to play a certain shot. I hope he can play well in the next hole game, there are more masters there, no matter what the result is, I hope he can learn from everyone. ”
The golf youth of the mountain city is like a father and a son. Holding the championship certificate and talking about how his father "cleaned up" himself on the court, Zhou Yan smiled shyly, revealing almost the same cuteness as when he was 11 years old.
Unconcealed father-son relationship
"On the contrary, when he 'fixes' me, I will do a lot of good work." He said.
Zhou Xunshu believes that his requirements for his son are "not high enough": "Because he is still young, I want to leave him some space." Let him grow up slowly as he gets older. I can't rush to put a lot of pressure on him like a professional player. ”
"In my opinion, he is still a 13-year-old after all." ◈
The Bird Sports fan group is full
Want to talk to Uncle Bird? Please add 2 groups of fans
The friends who are "watching" have caught birds