Yates looks to put it all together at Midea China Classic
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Simon Yates hopes to turn consistency into victory this week as he seeks his first OneAsia title at the US$1 million Midea China Classic in Shunde, where the Scot lost to Korean Noh Seung-yul in a playoff two years ago.
Yates has had a solid season on OneAsia and shared 11th place at last week's Kolon Korea Open following four successive top-10 finishes at the season-opening Luxehills Chengdu Open, SK Telecom Open, Indonesia Open and Thailand Open.
However, the Thailand-based pro hopes that a return to the Nick Faldo-designed layout at Royal Orchid International Golf Club could help him break a victory drought stretching back six years.
"In my first OneAsia events, I had three ninth places and an eighth. I was playing really well from tee to green, but I wasn't putting well. However, I had a new putter last week and that worked, then I started to hit the ball better as the week went on," said the 40-year-old, whose last big win was in the 2004 SK Telecom Masters.
"I'd like to combine the two this week, as these days you have to string everything together at the same time to win. I'm happy with my game, so I'm hoping for another top 10 or even a victory as I haven't won in a while."
Yates, who lost in a playoff at last December's Kings Cup on the Asian Tour, will play the first two rounds with defending champion Liang Wenchong, seeking his fourth OneAsia title, and Australian Scott Laycock.
"I've played with Liang before, but not for a while, so I'm looking forward to that," Yates said. "I did well in my last Midea China Classic, getting into a playoff, and it's a very good course, although the rough is deeper this time."
Kurt Barnes is hoping his previous success in China will inspire a return to form after an up-and-down first season on the Japan Tour, where his highlights include a fourth-place finish in The Crowns in May.
The big-hitting Australian is a popular player in China, where he finished fifth at Luxehills in March after winning last year's Sofitel Zhongshan IGC Open in Nanjing on the China Tour.
"I'm happy to come back to a country where I've won and played pretty consistently the last two years. It has been okay in Japan and I started well there, but my form hasn't been as good recently. Hopefully being back in China will help me find my game again," said the 29-year-old, who competed in the Open Championship at St Andrews in July.
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