Matthew Cheung on the long putter that rebuilt his confidence — and a historic Hong Kong Open finish

On October 23, 2026, Hong Kong golfer Matthew Cheung offered a revealing explanation for his form at the Link Hong Kong Open. Speaking to the tournament organisers after round two, he did not credit an extra-long drive or a sweeping swing overhaul. His emphasis was on switching to a long putter and, crucially, on the confidence the change had given him over the ball. The organiser's report records his remarks directly, making this a contemporaneous public statement rather than a reconstructed conversation.

His scorecard made the timing noteworthy. Cheung had just posted a bogey-free 62, featuring an eagle and six birdies, to reach 14 under after two rounds at Hong Kong Golf Club in Fanling. That left him three shots ahead of Caleb Surratt at halfway. Cheung was not simply describing a good putting day. He said he had previously regarded putting as an area of difficulty despite generally striking the ball well, whereas he now felt the new setup was becoming one of his strengths.

There are two distinct claims here, and they should not be confused. First, the golfer says the equipment switch helped his confidence. That is a first-hand account of his experience. Second, a reader might assume the longer shaft mechanically caused every improvement in his scoring. The available interview does not establish that. A 62 is the product of an entire game — tee shots, approach play, reads, pace and decisions as well as the putting stroke. Without comparable performance data over many rounds, it would be misleading to present a specific putter length as a universal solution.

The psychological thread is equally important. Cheung mentioned feeling mentally ready to play well, a distinction that matters in a home event where friends, family and even unfamiliar spectators were loudly supporting him. He openly appreciated that backing while also reminding himself that the championship was only halfway complete. His tone in the official statement was hopeful, not celebratory. A three-shot halfway lead in a strong international field creates both opportunity and expectation.

The tournament outcome makes the interview more interesting in retrospect. On October 25, John Catlin claimed the title at 20 under. Cheung finished tied second with Kalle Samooja at 15 under. Reuters and the South China Morning Post identified it as the best finish by a Hong Kong golfer at the event in Fanling. The early lead did not become a win, but the week still became a benchmark for local golf. It also illustrates why confidence should be evaluated across an entire tournament rather than a single exceptional Friday.

For recreational players, the practical takeaway is to test fit, feel and repeatability instead of copying the equipment choice of a professional. Monitor start lines, pace control and short-putt misses over a meaningful sample. A change that makes a golfer commit more decisively may help, but comfort and scoring improvement are not automatically the same thing. Cheung's interview provides a valuable case study in how technical adjustments and belief interact under pressure — without pretending that one golf club explains an entire result.

Original public comments: Link Hong Kong Open organisers, October 23, 2026. Final results: Reuters and South China Morning Post, October 25, 2026. This is original analysis and paraphrase, not a reproduction of the interview. Illustration: archive photograph of hole 2 at Eden Course, Hong Kong Golf Club (2014), by Soybeans / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0; it does not show Cheung or the 2026 competition.