Richard Kaufman celebrates a breakthrough win for Li Hao Tong which he believes will go a long way towards helping Chinese golfers make their mark on the world stage. Custom Colorado Avalanche Jerseys . China is a bit of a paradox when it comes to golf, but the last two weeks suggest the future is bright. A country that has come late to the game because of political ideology, there has been a hesitancy to really embrace golf because of its perceived image as a sport for the rich. Li showed plenty of bravado in his national open Until recently, the Communist Party had banned its members from joining golf clubs and playing the game, while courses that were built over the last decade were reclaimed. Thankfully, it seems there has been a U-turn and the ban has been lifted. I say thankfully because, whether you like it or not, the worlds largest population is an important region for the growth of the game and, while the number of participants may yet reach large proportions of society and Chinese players have not yet made a mark on the game en masse, that will change in time. Lis win can inspire a new generation of Chinese golfers There have been Chinese winners that have come to the fore previously, of course. Zhang Lian Wei was the first to make an international awareness, and Shanshan Feng is a major champion in the womens game. But until Sunday afternoon, there hadnt been a young male star in the making, and Li Hao Tong will not be the last.His victory showed, not for the first time in his young career, a player who is exciting and bold. We had seen it already in the events in China last year when he lost out in a play-off in the Shenzhen International and became the first Chinese player to finish in the top 10 of a WGC event at the HSBC Champions. Highlights of day four from the Volvo China Open in Beijing His play at the weekend was a fine example of attacking expertise. He dared to drive the par-four seventh, and he had a pop at the other short par-fours on the course too. He birdied the hardest hole on the course, the 71st hole of the championship, with a stunning approach. And all of this under the pressure of playing in his national open.Li is just 20-years-old and he is determined to make it on to the PGA Tour, but I hope this win entices him to step on the fairways at Wentworth and elsewhere around Europe. It would be huge for the European Tour and good for his game. Why carry on playing on the Web.com Tour when he can play higher-quality events with top-class fields? Shanshan Feng is a major champion in the womens game Ultimately, this is his prerogative. His win will be an inspiration to the generation that are coming through just behind, and there are plenty of emerging talents. Darren Clarke played with a 17-year-old at the Thailand Golf Championships at the end of 2015, and the Ryder Cup captain said Jin Cheng was the best player he has seen at that age since Rory McIlroy.This week, Im off to the continent of Africa. Morocco is not only the next destination for the European Tour but also for the Ladies European Tour, and youll be able to watch both the Trophee Hasson II and the Lalla Meryem Cup this weekend on Sky Sports. Gwladys Nocera and Richie Ramsay were the victors in Morocco last year Ill be with the ladies with both events coming from different courses at the same venue. In an Olympic year, with the same happening in Rio, I think its a great idea. As I mentioned last week, Id love to see an Olympic format that mixes the teams with the best males playing with the best females in competition. But having events running concurrently is a positive way of embracing the ladies games. It happens in tennis, so why not in golf? We saw the male and female US Opens being played at Pinehurst in successive weeks in 2014, and there is a new collaboration between the LPGA and PGA Tours. So this week in Morocco may not be a one-off. Also See: Li storms to China title Shin wins in Texas Golf live on Sky Sports 4 European Tour Schedule A.J. Greer Jersey . The news was first reported on Gonzalezs Twitter account and confirmed by the Rockies. Gonzalez has a six-week window before position players have their first workout at spring training in Arizona. Jonathan Bernier Jersey . Ferrer, trying to win his fourth title on Mexican soil, will next play South Africas Kevin Anderson, who eliminated American Sam Querrey,7-6 (2), 6-4. Also Wednesday, Gilles Simon (6) of France beat Donald Young of the United States 6-4, 6-3, Ukraines Alexandr Dolgopolov downed Frenchman Jeremy Chardy 6-3, 6-4 and Croatias Ivo Karlovic defeated Dudi Sela of Israel 7-6 (4), 6-2. http://www.avalancheauthority.com/authen...alanche-jersey/ . In the lead up - which seemed to begin the moment Mike Geiger blew the whistle in Houston last Thursday night - the Impact rumour mill went into overdrive. The speculation went into meltdown mode, of the golden nugget variety. RIO DE JANEIRO -- Dance parties. Dark chocolate. Calls to mom.All are helping Missy Franklin cope with an Olympics gone wrong.A huge star at the London Games four years ago, Franklin was one of the biggest U.S. disappointments in Rio de Janeiro -- an inexplicable fall shes at a loss to explain.I really wish I could tell you, Franklin said Thursday, not long before her final race. In my mind, I made the hardest sacrifices Ive ever had to make this year. Ive poured myself into this every single day for the whole year and the three years leading up to that. For whatever reason, its just not happening at this meet.Franklins last event epitomized her struggles.In the 200-meter backstroke, an event she won at London, Franklin finished next-to-last in her semifinal heat with the 14th-ranked time overall, 2 minutes, 9.74 seconds. That was nearly 3 seconds slower than her semifinal time at the 2012 Games -- and more than 5 1/2 seconds off her gold medal-winning performance.This has been by far the hardest week of my entire life, Franklin said, her voice breaking and tears in her eyes. Theres definitely a bit of relief that it is over.As a high school senior-to-be, Franklin competed in a staggering seven events in 2012, winning four gold medals and a bronze. She became only the second American woman, after Amy Van Dyken, to capture four golds at a single Olympics.But, following two years swimming collegiately at California and then turning pro last summer, Franklin hasnt been able to recapture the form that made her one of the most-hyped -- and heavily sponsored -- U.S. athletes heading into the Rio Olympics.She struggled at the U.S. trials, qualifying for the team in only two individual events, both with runner-up finishes.In Rio, she didnt make the final of either event, also getting knocked out in the semifinals of the 200 freestyle. Given her form, the coaches only picked her to swim the preliminary of the 4x200 free relay, a decision that would have seemed unfathomable just a few months ago but didnt meet with any protest from Franklin.I was absolutely fine with it, Franklin said. They 100 percent made the right decision.The 21-year-old still earned a gold medal -- the fifth of her career -- when a Katie Ledecky-led squad swept to victory in the relay final.That did little to ease the sting for Franklin.Shes ready to go home to Colorado.Right now, my future is not warming down and eating a Popsicle tonight, she said, recapturing her omnipresent smile. Thats just about all Im thinking about. Its been a really hard year for me. Its going to take some time for me to recover from it and thats what I pplan on doing. Lanny McDonald Jersey. Spending some quality time with family and just getting back on my feet and making sure that I keep a smile on my face the whole time.To her credit, Franklin showed that her bubbly, accommodating personality was no facade.She never skipped out on a session with reporters in the mixed zone, even when she knew what the questions would be. Instead of avoiding the media, she was always gracious and forthcoming.Franklin has coped with her struggles by leaning heavily on her religious faith.My faith in God is really getting me through, she said. I know that hes going to make something beautiful out of this, hes going to transform me and my life into doing something from all of this. I have no clue what that is. I wish I could ask him what hes going to do.Her teammates did all they could to help.I just throw a couple of random dance parties. I take some really, really horrendous Snapchats of her, Cierra Runge said. Whatever I can do to make her laugh.Those Dove chocolate candies with the inspirational messages on the wrapper help, too.One of the verses really stuck with Franklin.Every day is an opportunity to change things for the better, she recounted. That was a good reminder that regardless of how things have been going, how Ive been feeling, every day is a new opportunity.And, of course, she can always turn to her family.Youre never too old to call your mom and cry and ask her for advice, Franklin said. Its going to be OK. Im loved. Im supported. When you put things in perspective, if a disappointing meet is the worst thing that happens in my life, then I have a pretty damn good life.Franklin will return to Cal in the fall to resume her studies, but she made clear that her swimming career isnt over.It doesnt mean Im anywhere close to being done with this sport, she said. Ive got so much left to give to this sport, to my fans, to the people whove been supporting me.If theres a bright side, Franklin has learned just how much shes really loved.Yeah, its a disappointment. But the support Ive received has shown me so much more than I ever couldve expected, she said. Youre so much more than the number of medals you have, youre so much more than the time you spend in the pool, your value goes so beyond all of that. I dont think I ever wouldve come to that realization without going through something like this.---Follow Paul Newberry on Twitter at www.twitter.com/pnewberry1963 . His work can be found at http://bigstory.ap.org/content/paul-newberry . Cheap Soccer Jerseys Authentic Wholesale Hockey Jerseys Nike NFL Jerseys China Cheap Nike MLB Jerseys China Wholesale Baseball Jerseys China Wholesale College Jerseys Cheap Jerseys From China Wholesale Jerseys Near Me Cheap Jerseys Online Cheap NFL Jerseys Authentic Cheap Nike NFL Jerseys Authentic Cheap Soccer Jerseys China Cheap NCAA Jerseys Authentic Cheap Nike NBA Jerseys Cheap NHL Jerseys Authentic MLB Jerseys China Cheap Jerseys From China Cheap NFL Throwback Jerseys Cheap Nike NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys China ' ' '