Beijing course braces for China Open

The April 26-29 Volvo China Open at Beijing Topwin Golf and Country Club will be tri-sanctioned by the China Golf Association, the European Tour and the Asian Tour, with a total purse of 20 million yuan ($3.15 million) up for grabs.

By hosting the tournament for the third time, Beijing Topwin Golf and Country Club, which opened in 2011 as an exclusive private members' club, ties the record set by Beijing International Golf Club.

Zhang Xiaoning, president of the China Golf Association said he was very pleased to see Topwin chosen.

"The previous two editions of the Volvo China Open ended in dramatic fashion so the Topwin course is clearly a challenge for all of the players, and only the best player on the day will win," said Zhang.

"Li Haotong realized a dream by winning his first European Tour title at Topwin and he has gone on to prove that he is capable of winning more events."

Shi Lin, president of Beijing Topwin Group said the staff and members of the prestigious club are excited to know their course will once again host the national Open.

"It is indeed an honor for us to be in the position of hosting China's most prestigious golf tournament for the third straight year," said Shi.

"We all know how challenging our golf course really is and it's good for TV viewers around the world to be able to see for themselves that courses in China are just good as courses in other countries that have a much longer history of the game."

Li's triumph earned him a two-year exemption for the European Tour, and last month he won his second tour title by overcoming former world No 1 and four-time major winner Rory McIlroy in the final round of the Dubai Desert Classic.

"This year's event precedes the May 1 public holiday and is expected to see large numbers of spectators attracted to witness the stars of the European and Asian Tours, and also the rising local talent," said Shi. The 24th staging of the Volvo China Open will be the Swedish automobile brand's 137th title sponsorship in men's professional golf and the company's 87th on the European Tour.

"We are very proud of our relationships with the Asian Tour and the China Golf Association, and we are delighted to extend the tri-sanctioning of the Volvo China Open," said Keith Pelley, chief executive of the European Tour.

"This tournament is a really important one for our tour and we are determined to continue building our profile throughout China, especially in the wake of Li Haotong's success."

Josh Burack, CEO of the Asian Tour, echoed that view, adding: "The Asian Tour is delighted to join the Volvo China Open as a sanctioning partner alongside the CGA, with whom we formed a strategic partnership with in 2017, and the European Tour, with whom we've had a strategic alliance since 2016.