China Open, preview, picks & analysis

Post by Golf Writer, Derek Clements

This week the European Tour  moves to Shanghai for the Volvo China Open, won 12months ago by Alexander Levy, who is back to defend his title.

Levy is one of a group of French golfers riding high in the world rankings at present. Everybody knows all about Ryder Cup star Victor Dubuisson, of course, and there are establish Tour players such as Raphael Jacquelin and Gregory Bourdy, and the latest young gun, Romain Wattel, already a winner in 2015.

Levy has made a slow start to the year but coming back to Shanghai is bound to rekindle some fond memories from a man who was under serious consideration for a Ryder Cup wild card when Paul McGinley finalised his team for Gleneagles. He missed out, but said he was determined that he would not do so again, and immediately declared his intention to make the 2016 team by right. Darren Clarke, the captain, will be keeping an eye on Levy's progress, and he will also hope that Wattel continues his remarkable progress.

Alexander Levy will be looking forward to defending his title 

Speaking of Ryder Cup hopefuls, Tommy Fleetwood performed well in this tournament 12 months ago, and was third last week, when he said that he had seldom, if ever, hit the ball better. He was bitterly disappointed by his play around the greens, however, and vowed to work hard to put it right before teeing off in Shanghai.

I have closely followed Fleetwood's career and genuinely believe that he is destined to become a top 20 player. He does everything really well, although he has a tendency to be too hard on himself when putts don't drop. I believe that he will be a serious contender this week.

The tournament has attracted a top-class field, and includes a raft of promising young Chinese golfers, none more so than Hao-Tong Li, the 19-year-old who lost to Aphinbarnrat in a playoff in Shenzen. He is a prodigiously talented young man but the fact that he carries the weight of such a vast nation on his shoulders may well do him more harm than good. He needs to play in Europe and America on a regular basis if he is to fulfil his potential.

I expect a European to come out on top in Shanghai. Apart from those I have already mentioned, it is worth keeping an eye on Nicolas Colsaerts, the big-hitting Belgian. He endured a torrid time on the PGA Tour, not because he found the courses difficult but because he couldn't get his head around the fact that the players don't mix with one another. He hated the fact that most of them eat in their rooms - and was astonished to see so many empty food plates left outside hotel doors. He is feeling far more comfortable now that he has returned to Europe, and it is surely only a matter of time before he rediscovers his best form.

The American, Peter Uihlein, came close in Shenzen. This is the man whose father is the head honcho at Titleist, but who decided not to take advantage of the family connections and instead headed to the European Tour with Brooks Koepka. Uihlein was the first of the two to triumph, but Koepka has not only caught him up but has now overtaken his friend, having won on the PGA Tour earlier this year. Uihlein, having shown signs of life once more, will surely kick on.

People have been talking about the thrilling possibility of a long rivalry between Rory McIlroy and Jordan Spieth - it is my belief that Koepka, Uihlein and Wattel have what it takes to give these two young superstars a run for their money. But they have to believe it themselves.

China Open Betting Picks

To win: Tommy Fleetwood 18/1 The man from Southport is due a big week

Each-way: Peter Uihlein 33/1 Likes this part of the world

Each-way: Hao-Tong Li 28/1 Thrives on pressure of home crowd

China Open Fantasy Picks

Tommy Fleetwod 18/1 Rock on Tommy

Peter Uihlein 33/1 Back to his best

Alex Noren 30/1 Always knocking on the door

Romain Wattel 30/1 Looking for second win

Alexander Levy 14/1 Looking for a big week

Chris Wood 40/1 Wood needs a good performance

Nicolas Colsaerts 40/1 You won't get better odds - take them while you can

Rafa Cabrera-Bello 36/1 Inscrutable, just like the Chinese

David Horsey 50/1 Englishman with the bulldog spirit

Oliver Wilson 50/1 Wilson must prove St Andrews wasn't a one-off

Wade Ormsby 50/1

Image Credit - Twitter @EuropeanTour