HANG Lianwei never dreamed of being a golfer in his childhood.

Zhang, born on International Children's Day, began to play golf only because he could walk on the mown grass when he played the game.

The top Chinese golf star was training as a javelin thrower before he first picked up a club as a caddy for a Japanese player in 1985.

Since turning pro in 1994, Zhang has proved to be a talented and tough player, beating some of the best golfers in the world. He became the first Chinese player to win an European Tour event when he birdied his last hole to defeat Ernie Els at the Caltex Masters in 2003.

In 2004, he was invited to play at the US Masters in Augusta in the US,

becoming only the fourth player to receive such an invitation, and the first from China to play in the prestigious event.

His trip to the US excited the whole country but dampened Zhang's spirits a little bit.

"I was so excited to be invited, but it cost me so much money for the trip and my wife was not happy," said Zhang.

Zhang spent more than US$1,000 to rent a house and car at Augusta.

"Unlike other professional athletes in China, golfers barely receive enough support because it is not an Olympic event. Golfers must depend on themselves," said Zhang.

As one of China's earliest professional golfers, Zhang witnessed the unpolished way golf was played in China during the past 20 years. He said he was always travelling in search of competitions to sharpen his skills and earn more money to support his wife and two children.

"In my 20s, I knew nothing but the attempt to earn money to fill my stomach. In my 30s, I gained fame but no money. In my 40s, I had everything. I am happy now to have a family, an apartment and a car," he said.

Zhang was born in 1965 in the Guangzhou countryside. He was trained as a javelin thrower and then a bowling player in a local sports school.

He never hesitates to admit he was from a poor family and used to be poor.

In 1985, the 20-year-old picked up golf when he had to choose a career to feed himself.

"I like the feeling of standing on the soft grass and hitting the ball far away," said Zhang.

He learned how to play and master the sport after years of hard training, often without a coach.

He rose to fame when he beat Colin Montgomerie of the United States in the Dunhill Cup national event in 1998.

His greatest victory, though, came in 2003 when he humbled Ernie Els at the Caltex Masters to win a European Tour title. The unassuming star has four Asian Tour titles under his belt.

"He is very consistent," said former US Masters winner Fred Couples. "He hits the ball solidly, with very few misses. That's very important in golf."

But Zhang is critical of his swing.

"My swing hasn't been good enough," he said. "I must improve."

Zhang said he likes competing against the best because he can better judge his form.

"You know, to see if I can drive as far as they can or be as accurate. It's invaluable experience," he said.

Zhang was not overwhelmed as fame and fortune rushed at him. He worried about the future of Chinese golf and its players.

"China only has 195 officially registered golf courses, which is far from enough in a 1.3 billion-people country," said Zhang. "The high cost of playing golf makes it a privileged sports only for rich people and government officials, which keeps good potential players out."

Zhang started a Chinese tournament in 1999 for young players who could not afford to participate in ordinary golf tournaments.

"Young players in China will improve and one day reach a higher level. There are a lot of kids starting to play in China and when they see this on television it will help golf in China," said Zhang.

Zhang named his son Tiger, no doubt thinking of him as the first Tiger Woods in China.