The Hainan Classic, the DP World Tour's debut event in Hainan province, tees off on April 24 in Haikou. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
A 156-player field featuring DP World Tour and China Tour competitors began play Thursday at the Hainan Classic, a $2.55 million event at Mission Hills Resort Haikou, Hainan province.
The Hainan Classic, the DP World Tour's debut event in Hainan province, tees off on April 24 in Haikou. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
The 72-hole tournament is the first DP World Tour stop in Hainan. The champion will be crowned Sunday and claim a signature volcanic rock trophy.
The DP World Tour is Europe's premier men's golf circuit. It reinforced its commitment to promoting the sport in China. "China is a key market," said Ben Cowen, the tour's chief tournament and operations officer, at a Wednesday press conference. He highlighted the nation's rising talent, from trailblazer Zhang Lianwei - China's first DP World Tour winner in 2003 - to current stars Wu Ashun and Li Haotong.
The Hainan Classic, the DP World Tour's debut event in Hainan province, tees off on April 24 in Haikou. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
Li won his fourth DP World Tour title earlier this season in Qatar.
The Hainan Classic, the DP World Tour's debut event in Hainan province, tees off on April 24 in Haikou. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
Wu captured his fifth tour title last week at the 30th Volvo China Open in Shanghai. He came to compete in Haikou despite an elbow injury. "I'll stay relaxed and focus on my own game," he said.
The Hainan Classic, the DP World Tour's debut event in Hainan province, tees off on April 24 in Haikou. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
The event also showcases 20-year-old Ding Wenyi, the first player granted full 2025 tour rights via the Global Amateur Pathway. Ding comes off a top-10 finish in Shanghai. He praised the Blackstone Golf Course in Mission Hills Haikou as "well-designed and quite challenging".
The Hainan Classic, the DP World Tour's debut event in Hainan province, tees off on April 24 in Haikou. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
"Our collaboration with the DP World Tour began nearly three decades ago with shared goals: to grow the game in Asia, to bring world-class experiences to Chinese fans and to provide a platform for Asian talent to shine on the global stage," said Tenniel Chu, vice-chairman of Mission Hills Group and vice-chairman of the China Golf Association.
The Hainan Classic, the DP World Tour's debut event in Hainan province, tees off on April 24 in Haikou. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
Chu described the Hainan Classic as extending beyond competition, calling it "a lifestyle and leisure ecosystem that empowers youth, celebrates nature and connects communities".
The Hainan Classic, the DP World Tour's debut event in Hainan province, tees off on April 24 in Haikou. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
He framed the tournament as part of the Hainan Free Trade Port's broader international ambitions. "It's about positioning China as a strategic player in global sport," Chu said, noting the event aligns with the island province's push for economic openness.
The Hainan Classic, the DP World Tour's debut event in Hainan province, tees off on April 24 in Haikou. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
Denmark's Hamish Brown, the 2024 Hainan Open winner, welcomed the layout's risk-reward potential: "The Mission Hills Resort Haikou course plays long with soft fairways, offering plenty of scoring opportunities."
The Hainan Classic, the DP World Tour's debut event in Hainan province, tees off on April 24 in Haikou. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
