Sampson Zheng was one of four amateurs taking part last week in the 2023 LIV Golf Promotions event, but his resume was the deepest yet.
He won the U.S. Amateur quad championship at Kiawah Island last summer and was a co-medalist at the U.S. Amateur quad championship at Cherry Hills. A Cal senior, Zheng is also in the 2024 PGA Tour rankings, giving top college seniors a shot at PGA Tour membership as well as eligibility and starts on the Korn Ferry Tour and PGA Tour Americas.
However, last week Cheng traveled to Abu Dhabi and played in a LIV Golf Promotions event. He was exempt from the second round and was one of 20 players – and the only amateur – to reach the 36-hole final. He finished T-11, one shot short of his Asian Tour standings.
Cheng spoke with Golf week On his decision to play in the LIV Golf Promotions event, his experience last week, and more.
Golfweek: How did you find out about the LIV Golf Promotions event?
Sampson Cheng: “I think they initially sent an email to a few guys who were playing well in college. I actually found out about it from (Cal men’s golf coach) Walter (Chun). Walter got an email, and then he sent it to me. I read what they said “I checked with the PGA Tour University team, and they said playing in the tournament shouldn’t affect my ranking and future playing opportunities. That’s all I needed to hear to get out there and give it a try.”
GWK: What was your thought process going into this event?
Sz: “It’s kind of like, I know guys don’t do it that much but girls do, and they go to Q school before they graduate and try for it. That’s pretty much the same mentality. I knew the field wasn’t going to be bad. I knew it was going to be “There are some good players. Another thing, they were going to cover the cost of the hotel and the airfare, so I thought the worst-case scenario was that I would get good training somewhere warmer in the winter. But, like all the other events, I’m doing my best to win as long as I’m in the field.” “I ended up being the top amateur. It was a good experience playing with some of these guys who came out of college a few years ago or some of the guys who won on the DP World Tour and the PGA Tour.”
GWK: What were your conversations like with some of the industry professionals?
JZ: “I had the opportunity to talk to a few guys, and the impression I got was completely different from what I had imagined. Before I went, I asked a lot of questions to the people who invited me about the terms and conditions and what not. Like, if I do this, should I To play or were there any penalties if I decided I didn’t want to play, to see if there were any loopholes if I didn’t want to get involved.
“From the media to the way they set up the golf course and how they communicated, everything was nice and professional. When talking to the guys who have an association with LIV, no one really had anything bad to say about them because they were making their lives better. They obviously play Golf to get a job and they have the responsibility of taking care of their family.When you think of golf, you don’t think of guaranteed money but in a way, this is also great when your career has some doubts.
GWK: How often do current college players talk about LIV Golf?
JZ: “Everyone I’ve talked to, some of them are more hesitant to be honest and say that LIV did something good just because of the way the media portrays them. In terms of giving players a chance, they’ve done a really great job. I think the general public looks more at what he’s doing.” The top guys and the amount of money they get. And then I feel like LIV gets a bad rap because of that. I think if you really look at the details of what they did for the young guys, for example, this week, the entry fee was $25 to play. And if you finish in the top three or Top 10, you’ll get some sort of status in some rounds, whereas if you play the Korn Ferry qualifier and play all four stages, you’re burning $20,000.
“It’s just another opportunity for guys coming out of college. The partnership they have with the Asian Tour, especially for someone like me, is not a bad place to start my career. It’s not a bad destination compared to what it was three or four years ago.”
GWK: What did you learn about yourself at this event?
JZ: “I can do well against some of the pros out there. It proves to me that I can play well and beat those top players as long as I play my game. And it showed me some things I have to work on. Just in terms of similar experience running a course “There’s definitely a lot to learn, but in terms of skill differences, there’s not really a lot. As if there’s a lot of confidence to move forward and work on further steps and be the best in the world.”
The story originally appeared on GolfWeek
The decision for a USGA champion and top college golfer to participate in a LIV Golf Promotions event has sparked significant interest and discussion within the golfing community. This unexpected move has raised questions about the potential impact on their amateur status, as well as the motivations behind their participation. As we delve into the reasons behind their decision, it becomes clear that their participation in this event signifies a shifting landscape within the golf industry, and a desire to explore new opportunities and challenges.