The Volvo China Open 2024 Preview, Picks & Analysis

After a gap of five years, the Volvo China Open returns to the DP World Tour schedule this week at Hidden Grace Golf Club in Shenzhen. It brings the curtain down on the Asian Swing and is the last tournament before a three-week break.

Co-sanctioned by the DP World Tour and the China Tour, the China Open will feature a field of established and rising stars. 

Among those heading to Shenzhen are Jordan Smith, Yannik Paul, and Zander Lombard, alongside defending champion Sarit Suwannarut. Past champions in the field include Nicolas Colsaerts (2011), Alexander Levy (2014, 2017), Ashun Wu (2015), Haotong Li (2016), Huilin Zhang (2020), and Zhang Jin (2021).

Smith has seven professional victories to his credit including two wins on the DP World Tour. His last campaign at Hidden Grace Golf Club in 2019 saw him finish tied for fifth.

He said: "I haven’t played in Shenzhen since 2019 and I like the course and I think it suits my game. I’ve had good results there in the past and so it’s been on my schedule for a while. Golf is a massive sport in China and I am looking forward to seeing thousands of passionate fans, who have a great knowledge and respect for the game."

(Image Credit: Kevin Diss Photography)

Also returning to Hidden Grace Golf Club is 2023 champion, Sarit Suwannarut. The 26-year-old Thai golfer secured victory last year with impressive scores of 65 and 64 in the third and fourth rounds, marking his second win on the Asian Tour following his first-place finish at the Indonesian Masters in 2022.

He said: "I felt like I knew what to do in tough situations, which combined with both consistent hitting and putting. I’ll be focusing on the process and what I can control and hopefully it pays off. I’m looking forward to winning and playing alongside the top players in the world."

Yannik Paul of Germany is set to make his debut appearance at the China Volvo Open. In 2022 he claimed his first European Tour victory and has made a good start to 2024, including a fourth place at the Ras Al Khaimah Championship in January.

He said: "I haven’t been to China before, but my caddy Oliver has previously caddied at the course in Shenzhen. He spoke highly of the event and emphasized how impressed he was with the course conditions during the last edition. I hope a lot of local fans will come out to support us and hopefully watch some great golf. I’ll do my best to be in the mix come Sunday afternoon," said Paul.

Zander Lombard, a DP World Tour favourite from South Africa, is eager to make his mark on the course. The 29-year-old has enjoyed a strong start to the season, clinching a second-place finish at the Bahrain Championship in February.

Though still in pursuit of his first DP World Tour victory, Lombard believes he could break his duck this week. He said: "I'm super excited to see the golf course and the challenges that it has in store for us. It fits great into my season, as I have had a few weeks off and we'll be in Asia for a couple of weeks - it is a really nice way to start off the spring stretch."

He acknowledges the significance of the tournament's return to the European Tour, stating, "The DP World Tour is really looking forward to getting back to China to compete in the Volvo China Open, and it is a great opportunity for locals, of all ages, to get out and support some of the world's best golfers and witness some fantastic golf shots!"

Haotong Li will be hoping to put on a show for home fans. He won this event in 2016. With three DP World Tour victories, he is one of he is one of the leading names in Chinese golf. As he returns to compete again, spectators will be eagerly following his performance to see if he can return to the top of the leaderboard.

Hong Kong native Taichi Kho was the first Hong Kong golfer to win an Asian Tour title at the rain-shortened 2023 World City Championship. Kho's win came after he made the cut in two Asian Tour events - the DGC Open and the $2 million International Series Thailand, where he finished in a tie for 34th on 12 under par.

Kho laid the foundation for the stellar start to his professional career with six wins as an amateur. In August 2021, he lost on the second hole of a playoff to Japan's Keita Nakajima at the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship in Dubai, which denied him the chance to compete at the US Masters at Augusta National Golf Club.

Kho turned professional in January last year, and claimed his maiden victory in just his fourth professional start. He held off a spirited challenge from New Zealand's Michael Hendry to win the World City Championship by two strokes at Hong Kong Golf Club, Kho’s home club.

Apart from the $180,000 first prize, Kho also secured a place in the Open Championship at Royal Liverpool. Although he failed to make the halfway cut, he gained valuable experience of the game at the very highest level.

Kho was born and raised in Hong Kong, and after graduating high school he attended the University of Notre Dame on a golf scholarship from 2018 to 2022, where he read a course in business.

Kho’s second professional victory came at the 2023 Asian Games in China where he claimed the gold medal. Although ranked 369th in the world, Kho believes he can win. "Hidden Grace Golf Club is a familiar track and there will be lots of support which I am super grateful for," said Kho, who eagled the final hole in last year’s event to finish second.

The Course:

Hidden Grace is a par 72 measuring 7.145 yards. It is a parkland course with generous tree-lined fairways and plenty of water.

Tournament Winners:

It was won in 2015 by Ashun Wu, in 2016 by Haotong Li, in 2017 by Alexander Levy, in 2018 by Alexander Bjork, in 2019 by Mikko Korhonen, in 2020 by Hulin Zhang, in 2021 by Jin Zhang and last year by Sarit Suwannarut. There was no tournament in 2022.

Form Guide:

Haotong Li has struggled horribly for consistency but this season has been different. He finished tied seventh at the Dubai Desert Classic and also enjoyed top-20 finishes at the Qatar Masters and Dubai Invitational. And he will want to put on a show. Dylan Frittelli is a massively impressive golfer who has won three times on the DP World Tour, hits the ball miles and has a fabulous short game. 

To Win:

Dylan Frittelli. Big-hitting South African

Each Way:

Haotong Li. Showing some rare consistency this year

Each Way:

Jordan Smith. Great ball striker

Five to Follow:

Dylan Frittelli. Class act

Haotong Li. Which Li will turn up?

Jordan Smith.  Should be winning more

Zander Lombard. First win long overdue

Taichi Kho. Will be fun to watch