The tour returned last week following a four-week break for the penultimate event on the swing as the ISPS Handa Championship took place in Japan. It was won by Yuto Katsuragawa, who shot a stunning round of 63 on Sunday to claim the title by three shots over Sebastian Soderberg. This meant that back-to-back events were won by Japanese golfers following Keita Nakajima’s Hero Indian Open victory in March.
Of course, the Masters has disrupted the DPWT schedule of late as the Volvo China Open is just the fourth event since the end of February. It is a much-welcome return to the tour for the Volvo China Open following a five-year hiatus, with this year marking the 29th time the tournament has been held.
As the final event on the Asian Swing approaches, there are plenty of incentives on offer. This season on the DP World Tour an additional $1 million is up for grabs – $200,000 for the winner of each swing. So far, Min Woo Lee won the bonus during the Opening Swing, while Rory McIlroy was triumphant across the International Swing.
Soderberg has a slim lead at the top of the standings for the Asian Swing, but for those golfers who miss out on the top spot, there is an opportunity to feature in a Major next month. The top three players in the final Asian Swing standings will be exempt for the second major of the year, the 2024 PGA Championship held at Valhalla Golf Club.
Who is playing in the Volvo China Open?
Sebastian Soderberg is playing and is certainly someone in a rich vain of form having finished as runner-up in his two previous DP World Tour starts in India and Japan, hoping to make it third time lucky this week. He is joined by fellow Swede, Jesper Svensson, who won the Porsche Singapore Classic in March as he looks for his second victory of the season, which will secure him a space in the PGA Championship.
Jordan Smith is the highest-ranked player in the field, ranking 93rd in the Official World Golf Rankings. The Englishman last won on tour at the Portugal Masters in 2022. Other winners this season who will be teeing it up in China are Matteo Manassero, Dylan Frittelli, and Darius van Driel.
With the tour returning to China, there are a plethora of local players who will be aiming to make an impression in front of a home crowd. Haotong LI – who won this event in 2016 for his maiden tour title – is arguably the most notable Chinese golfer taking part, although four-time winner on tour Ashun Wu is also in the field.
You can take a look at the full list of players teeing it up in the ISPS Handa Championship and how they qualified here.
What is the format of the Volvo China Open?
It is a standard strokeplay event played over 72 holes with a cut after 36 holes (two rounds) that sees the leading 70 players and ties make the final two rounds. The player who achieves the lowest score over four rounds will win the tournament.
Where is the Volvo China Open being played?
The 29th staging of the Volvo China Open will be held at Hidden Grace Golf Course. The 7,147-yard, par 72 course ranks as one of Asia’s top 100 courses and will prove to be a stern challenge for the field.
Hidden Grace Golf Club is home to two championship layouts, both designed by Neil Haworth, with course A hosting the tournament this week. The course is shaped around the 700-acre Dragon Lake and is situated neatly among dense forests and hills.
Who will win the Volvo China Open?
Recent form indicates that Soderberg could finally break through and secure his second win on tour, emerging from his bridesmaid status from the previous two events.
Elsewhere, Pablo Larrazabal has three top-30 finishes in his past five starts, winning nine DPWT events in total, enjoying a resurgence last season, claiming two victories in three starts.
Others to look out for who have plenty of quality to win the event are Yannik Paul, Guido Migliozzi, and Antoine Rozner.
Selected Bet365 odds (correct as of Apr 29, 11:30am):
Sebastian Soderberg 16/1
Jordan Smith 18/1
Yannick Paul 22/1
Haotong 25/1
Antoine Rozner 28/1
Pablo Larrazabal 50/1
Guido Migliozzi 60/1
How much does the winner of the Volvo China Open receive?
The winner of the Volvo China Open will win $380,000 from a total purse of $2,250,000. The rest of the field will battle for the rest of the purse.
How to watch the Volvo China Open
UK viewers can catch all the action on Sky Sports Golf.
All times GMT
Thursday, May 2: Sky Sports Golf, 06:00 am
Friday, May 3: Sky Sports Golf, 06:00 am
Saturday, May 4: Sky Sports Golf, 06:30 am
Sunday, May 5: Sky Sports Golf, 06:00 am
US viewers can catch all the action on Golf Channel.
All times ET
Thursday, May 2: The Golf Channel, 7 pm
Friday, May 3: The Golf Channel, 7 pm
Saturday, May 4: The Golf Channel, 7.30 pm
Sunday, May 5: The Golf Channel, 7 pm
Tee time information for the Volvo China Open can be viewed here.
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Will Shreeve-Peacock – Golf Equipment Writer
Will is an expert in golf shoes, GPS watches, rangefinders, and training aids.
He has a degree in journalism from Sheffield Hallam University and four years’ experience working in golf retail with American Golf where he was trained by a host of the big-name manufacturers.
A six-handicapper, Will has played golf for more than a decade and is a member at Burghley Park Golf Club in Stamford, Lincolnshire.
