European Tour returns to Asia for China Open
BY Bruce Young | Asian Tour | 2007 Volvo China Open | Preview | 11 Apr 2007
The European Tour once again joins forces with the Asian Tour this week for the first of two further events there, this week at the Volvo China Open at the Silport Golf Club in Shanghai and next week at the BMW Asian Open also in Shanghai.
The defending champion this week is Jeev Milkha Singh who, in winning by one shot over Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano in 2006, became the second Indian golfer after Arjun Atwal to win on the European Tour.
Last year the tournament was held at the Honghua International Golf Club in Beijing but this year it moves south to Shanghai and to the Bobby Martin designed Silport Golf Club about an hour’s drive from Shanghai. Martin was once an employee of Jack Nicklaus and has been instrumental in the design of 27 holes at this particular development.
The Volvo China Open was last played at this venue in 2004 when Welshman Stephen Dodd beat Thomas Bjorn by three. Both Bjorn and Dodd are in the field again this week and are expected to be amongst the contenders once again.
The Asian specialist, Simon Dyson, is likely to be the favourite following several good performances in recent weeks. He finished third at the Singapore Masters a month ago and two weeks ago was 21st in Portugal. A winner of three events in China or its territories, Dyson appeals as a strong prospect this week.
The Asian Tour is expected to offer strong challengers for the title in the form of local, Liang Wen Chong, and Tongchai Jaidee with Liang looking to further build on his massive local fanbase following his recent win at the Singapore Masters where he became just the second the Chinese golfer to win on the European Tour schedule.
Thomas Bjorn missed the cut at Augusta last week but just the fact that he was in that field makes him one of the leading players this week. He was playing reasonably well prior to that.
Australia has strong representation given that the event is combined with the Asian Tour where so many play nowadays. Peter O’Malley has played well on occasions in the few events he has played this year and might be ready to go even better. Scott Strange, Terry Pilkadaris, Brett Rumford, Brad Kennedy, David Bransdon, Marcus Fraser, Kane Webber, Scott Barr, the improving Adam Blyth, Matthew Millar, Tony Carolan, Unho Park, Marcus Both, David Gleeson, Gary Simpson, Gavin Flint, Adam Groom, Richard Lee and Mahal Pearce make up a large contingent of Australasians all capable of playing well on their week.
