Volvic China Open

Hidden Grace Golf Club, Shenzhen, China. The former Genzon Golf Course has been renamed in recently but it's a venue we were reasonably familiar with a number of years ago.

It has held the last four editions of the China Open, but they have largely been China Tour and Asian Tour events, with the last time the DPWT being host back in 2019.

That was won by Mikko Korhonen and prior to that we saw this course hold the Shenzhen Interantional Open for a number of years, with Bernd Wiesberger being the most recent winner of that event.

Below I have included a table of stats from the most recent renewals on this tour and there aren't many firm conclusions we can come to. A par 72 at just over 7100 yards this will provide plenty of opportunities for scoring, especially on the par 5s and it's a perfect yardage for the big hitters to take advantage.

Hitting greens in regulation looks the most important of stats with four of the top nine in 2019 inside the top 10 in that statistic. In 2017 it was three of the top seven, and in 2016 three of the top six.

Those who hit plenty of greens and can capitalise on the scoring holes will have the best chance to get into contention here over the weekend. The weather looks wet at the start of the week with a constant breeze throughout the four days that will keep the players honest. 

Volvic China Open Tips

 

China Open Winners & Stats

 

A.Rozner @ 28/1 (Seven Places)

Tom McKibbin holds every chance of landing another DPWT title this week but as of yet I'm unconvinced his price is big enough, and although he could reach another level and I'll be proven wrong, I'm content enough to let him slide at these prices.

At bigger prices I much prefer to get on board with Antoine Rozner whose final round of 66 last week in Japan to finish inside the top 25 was only beaten by four others on the day.

After six weeks off it may just be a sign that he is returning to the form that saw him finish 6th in Qatar in February. That Qatar form should translate well to this layout and with wind in the forecast he has proven himself to be well equipped in those conditions.

Two wins by the coast in Mauritius and Education City in Qatar mean is one of the leading contenders this week and the ability he possesses with his irons could put him into that crucial top ten category for greens across the week. 

Volvic China Open

Haotong Li at 25/1 (Seven Places)

Haotong Li is now putting together his most consistent run of results for a long time and is extremely dangerous now back in his home country.

He was one who managed to squeeze a game in during the DPWT break when finishing 17th in the Saudi Open and 18th last week in Japan was another fair effort.

He has never been the most accurate of drivers so he will be suited by the extra room granted off the tee here and a runner up at this track back in 2021 on the China Tour suggests he is more than capable this week.

He is yet to miss a cut on tour this year which will come as a huge relief as he only made two of 22 in 2023. 2023 has been much more like the player of old and having won this event on a different venue back in 2016 must be considered amongst the most likely to get over the line once again in his back yard

Haotong Li - 3pts @ 25/1

Volvic China Open

Sam Bairstow at 40/1 (Eight Places)

Since graduating from the Challenge Tour Sam Bairstow has performed extremely well and I expect conditions will suit this week more than ever. The Englishman was leading at the halfway stage last week in Japan before a lacklustre weekend saw him tumble to 36th.

He was 7th in India through 3 rounds, 2nd in Singapore through 3 rounds, 7th in Qatar through 3 rounds and 4th in Bahrain after 54. So far at those events what has been missing is a telling final round. However, he is learning a lot in the early throws of his DPWT career and could get even better from here.

He has shown a penchant for windy conditions winning the Scottish Challenge and then finishing 4th in the Challenge Tour Grand Final in sometimes chaotic conditions in Mallorca.

This looks like a fair chance for someone who hits the ball long off the tee and is one of the better performers in hitting greens in regulation in the field. I had hoped for a slightly bigger price, but he has a lively chance.

Sam Bairstow - 1.5pts e/w @ 40/1

Volvic China Open

Nacho Elvira at 70/1 (Six Places)

Nacho Elvira has proven himself over time to be well versed in playing in difficult conditions and I'm happy to get on board the Spaniard at anything around 50/1 or bigger. Nacho is now alongside his brother in the betting which says a lot for the Graduate who is very highly thought of.

Nacho's last two trips to Qatar have yielded 13th and 3rd placed finishes so I'm hopeful that's a solid line of form that translates to Shenzhen here. With runner ups in Kenya and Denmark since last July he can consider himself a little unlucky not have added to his sole DPWT victory in Wales back in 2021.

That win came out of the blue when not playing good golf in the lead in but this time he is playing much better stuff and statistically is having one of the best years of his career.

He's not the longest off the tee which could hinder him a little around this venue but his game gets a lot better from there on and he has enough experience banked to score well in the wind.

Nacho Elvira  - 1pt e/w @ 70/1

Volvic China Open

Jeong Weon Ko at 90/1 (Six Places)

I'm surprised at early triple figure quotes for Jeong Weon Ko and anything at 66/1 or above looks worth backing. Hailing from France, Ko took down numerous amateur events there before graduating from the Challenge Tour at the second time of asking.

He hits the ball a long way which is perfect for this track and the rain arriving early in the week should play even more into his hands. He has picked things up lately with 9th in Kenya, 5th in India then 11th last week in Japan.

This course looks a fair bit more suitable and if he can manage to cope with the wind that's expected he can continue this form and land a place or even better. More than anything I'm surprised at the available odds and it's an easy decision to include him in the staking plan.

Jeong Weon Ko - 1pt e/w @ 90/1