Player Profiles
Xinjun ZHANG (China)
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Born: 10 June 1987
Birthplace: Shanxi, China College: N/A Resides: Guangdong, China Major Wins: 0 Euro or PGA Tour Wins : 0 Other wins: 5 Grass Preference: Unknown Significant Life Events: No GBC Wind Performance Rating: ⭐⭐⭐ GBC Pressure Rating: ⭐⭐⭐ |
Profile
Xinjun won twice on the Korn Ferry Tour in 2019 to secure his PGA Tour card for 2020. However, it didn't go to plan with only one top 10 finish.
It's been a far from straightforward route to the riches on offer in America. Growing up on a farm, Xinjun didn't start playing golf until leaving the family home at 17 and even then he only began playing whilst working as a security guard at a golf course. It was a further 3 years until Xinjun was able to buy his own set of golf clubs, making ends meet by caddying. In interviews he describes traveling 30+ hours by train and bus to play in amateur tournaments
The rags to riches tale isn't all it seems though. Following his first win on the PGA Tour China, Xinjun was suspended by the China Golf Association for 6 months for signing a pair of scorecards incorrectly. Despite this, Xinjun won again in 2015 on the PGA Tour China and graduated to the web.com Tour (as it was then) in 2017. A further promotion beckoned in 2018 to the PGA Tour but he struggled badly and returned back to the Korn Ferry Tour in 2019.
Significant Info To Be Aware Of
Nothing at this time.
Stats Analysis
Long Game - Xinjun's stats don't show any particular strength to his game, he is reasonably solid across the board. With that in mind he's probably a player who is best backing in-play (once he's demonstrated he's hot with the putter) rather than from the outset.
Short Game - A career best putting year in 2019 was the basis for his rise up the Official World Golf Rankings and the jury remains out on whether Xinjun can sustain this going forward.
Trends
Avoid when rusty - Xinjun tends to start the calendar year slowly, needing a few events to find his feet.
Major & WGC Analysis
Major's -MC at PGA Championship for his major debut.
WGC's - He is still some way off this level.
Pressure Performance Rating
June 2019 - Won his second Korn Ferry Tour title of the year in a playoff, defeating Dylan Wu with a birdie on the third hole after both players made pars on the first two holes.
April 2019 - Earned his first career Korn Ferry Tour victory at the inaugural Dormie Network Classic at Briggs Ranch. Led or co-led after each round of the tournament on route to a five-stroke victory finishing the event at 26-under 262.
Summary - Xinjun has passed up opportunities to win every time he reaches a higher level before breaking through. He struggled to win his very first tournament on the PGA Tour Series-China at the United Investment Real Estate Wuhan Open where he needed only a par at the last to take the tile and three putted to make bogey and drop into a playoff which he subsequently lost. Similarly, he played in the final group at the 2019 Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail Championship and shot a disappointing final round 73 when he was only 1 off the pace after 54 holes.
Xinjun learns from his mistakes and goes on to convert winning chances (both his wins on the Korn Ferry Tour in 2019 came whilst holding he third round lead). However, it's likely he'll feel nerves until he makes his breakthrough on the PGA Tour. Once he makes his breakthrough on the PGA Tour winning again shouldn't be a problem. His Golf Betting Club Pressure Performance Rating is set to 3 stars.
Playoff Record
1-2. Xinjun lost his first two playoffs on the PGA Tour Series-China but his second win on the Korn Ferry Tour in 2019 came via a playoff. After parring the first two playoff holes, Xinjun made birdie on the third extra hole to seal the win. Much like winning tournaments, it seems Xinjun needs to learn how to deal with a situation before he is successful.
Xinjun won twice on the Korn Ferry Tour in 2019 to secure his PGA Tour card for 2020. However, it didn't go to plan with only one top 10 finish.
It's been a far from straightforward route to the riches on offer in America. Growing up on a farm, Xinjun didn't start playing golf until leaving the family home at 17 and even then he only began playing whilst working as a security guard at a golf course. It was a further 3 years until Xinjun was able to buy his own set of golf clubs, making ends meet by caddying. In interviews he describes traveling 30+ hours by train and bus to play in amateur tournaments
The rags to riches tale isn't all it seems though. Following his first win on the PGA Tour China, Xinjun was suspended by the China Golf Association for 6 months for signing a pair of scorecards incorrectly. Despite this, Xinjun won again in 2015 on the PGA Tour China and graduated to the web.com Tour (as it was then) in 2017. A further promotion beckoned in 2018 to the PGA Tour but he struggled badly and returned back to the Korn Ferry Tour in 2019.
Significant Info To Be Aware Of
Nothing at this time.
Stats Analysis
Long Game - Xinjun's stats don't show any particular strength to his game, he is reasonably solid across the board. With that in mind he's probably a player who is best backing in-play (once he's demonstrated he's hot with the putter) rather than from the outset.
Short Game - A career best putting year in 2019 was the basis for his rise up the Official World Golf Rankings and the jury remains out on whether Xinjun can sustain this going forward.
Trends
Avoid when rusty - Xinjun tends to start the calendar year slowly, needing a few events to find his feet.
Major & WGC Analysis
Major's -MC at PGA Championship for his major debut.
WGC's - He is still some way off this level.
Pressure Performance Rating
June 2019 - Won his second Korn Ferry Tour title of the year in a playoff, defeating Dylan Wu with a birdie on the third hole after both players made pars on the first two holes.
April 2019 - Earned his first career Korn Ferry Tour victory at the inaugural Dormie Network Classic at Briggs Ranch. Led or co-led after each round of the tournament on route to a five-stroke victory finishing the event at 26-under 262.
Summary - Xinjun has passed up opportunities to win every time he reaches a higher level before breaking through. He struggled to win his very first tournament on the PGA Tour Series-China at the United Investment Real Estate Wuhan Open where he needed only a par at the last to take the tile and three putted to make bogey and drop into a playoff which he subsequently lost. Similarly, he played in the final group at the 2019 Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail Championship and shot a disappointing final round 73 when he was only 1 off the pace after 54 holes.
Xinjun learns from his mistakes and goes on to convert winning chances (both his wins on the Korn Ferry Tour in 2019 came whilst holding he third round lead). However, it's likely he'll feel nerves until he makes his breakthrough on the PGA Tour. Once he makes his breakthrough on the PGA Tour winning again shouldn't be a problem. His Golf Betting Club Pressure Performance Rating is set to 3 stars.
Playoff Record
1-2. Xinjun lost his first two playoffs on the PGA Tour Series-China but his second win on the Korn Ferry Tour in 2019 came via a playoff. After parring the first two playoff holes, Xinjun made birdie on the third extra hole to seal the win. Much like winning tournaments, it seems Xinjun needs to learn how to deal with a situation before he is successful.
