After a runner-up finish last week, Taylor
Cooper begins his quest for a top-5 Order of Merit finish on the PGA TOUR China
at the Phoenix Tree Open starting Thursday.

Cooper moved to 22^nd on the
money list with his best career result and said after the tournament his goal
is to play well enough in the last two events of the season to earn Web.com
Tour status.

Having assured his playing rights in China
for next year Cooper said he has adjusted his goals for the final two
tournaments.

"For me, securing my card for 2017 was my
goal," he said. "Now we’ll see what happens the rest of the way. There are
still two tournaments left. Two high finishes, with maybe a win, and I can
think about getting into the top-5."

With many of Australia’s regulars opting to
return to Sydney for this week’s Australian Open it’s a smaller than usual Down
Under representation in Guangdong Province.

Cooper is one of eight Australians in the
field, joined by David Lutterus, Mitch Davis, Alex Hawley, James Gibellini,
Jack Munro, Jake Stirling and Peter Martin.

The three highest ranked Australians on the
money list have all elected to skip this week’s tournament to play the
Australian Open.

Max McCardle, Rohan Blizard and Daniel
Nisbet are 9^th, 10^th and 11^th on the money
list respectively but will be at Royal Sydney this week battling for the
Stonehaven Cup.