As the 31st edition of the Volvo China Open gets set to tee off next month in Shanghai, tournament chairperson Michel Zhao believes Chinese golf is at a "critical juncture" as it transitions from a "follower" to a potential "leader".
Michel Zhao (L), Chairperson of Volvo China Open, and Ozzie Ling, Managing Director of Enhance Anting Golf Club, attending the media roundtable. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
With Chinese mainland players, both professional and amateur, making up more than a third of 156-man field at the $2.75 million event on April 23-26 at Enhance Anting Golf Club, Zhao said the rise of Chinese men's golf had the potential to "reshape the Asian landscape".
"Over the past two decades, Japan and South Korea have produced PGA Tour winners and even Major champions. Now, Chinese players are rapidly catching up. Former Volvo China Open champion Li Haotong has contended in Majors many times. The new generation, represented by Ding Wenyi and Zhou Yanhan, is accelerating its growth through the rigors of the DP World Tour," she said. "In the next five to 10 years, the long-standing Japan-South Korea dominance in Asian men's golf could be rewritten due to the emergence of Chinese strength."
Defending champion Wu Ashun. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
"Chinese strength" was indeed on display at last year's national championship as Wu Ashun carded five birdies over the Enhance Anting back nine in the final round for a one-stroke victory to claim his second Volvo China Open title. All eyes will undoubtedly be on the Xiamen native again this year as he defends his title against a top field made up of players from the China Tour and DP World Tour at the co-sanctioned tournament.
Among those confirmed for the tournament are 2024 Volvo China Open winner Adrian Otaegui and more than 20 DP Tour tournament winners over the past two years. Notables include Casey Jarvis, a back-to-back winner in Kenya and South Africa this year, Bahrain Championship winner Freddie Schott, and Spaniard Nacho Elvira, winner of the Dubai Invitational.
Others in the field include 12 players from the Volvo China Open Qualifying Tournament on March 31-April 1 at Enhance Anting, the Volvo China Junior Championship champion, the China amateur champion and sponsor's invites made up of outstanding domestic and international players.
"Supporting emerging local players isn't a choice, it's a necessity," Zhao said. "We build this stage so Chinese players can compete against the world's best on home soil, identify their gaps, and ultimately achieve breakthroughs."
Enhance Anting Golf Club. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
As Enhance Anting Golf Club prepares to host the Volvo China Open for a second consecutive year, managing director Ozzie Ling says the focus has been on elevating every aspect of the championship experience — from course preparation to the atmosphere surrounding the event.
Over the past year, extensive work has continued at the spectacular Robert Trent Jones Jr.-designed course to ensure it provides a true championship test worthy of China's national open.
Ling described last year's staging of the tournament as an "Building Confidence" for the club — a year of learning, adapting and proving that Enhance Anting could deliver a world-class stage for one of Asia's most important professional events.
"This year we arrive with a different level of confidence," he said.
Club staff members have spent the past 10 months refining course conditioning to ensure consistent championship standards across a range of weather conditions, while also enhancing player services, spectator flow and hospitality experiences for both fans and partners attending the event.
But for Ling, hosting the Volvo China Open carries significance beyond operational preparation.
"Great championships deserve great stages," he said. "Enhance Anting was built with championship golf in mind, and we see ourselves not simply as the venue provider, but as a partner in the long-term development of Chinese golf."
"This course was designed to challenge the best players in the world, and our goal is to ensure the conditions, the atmosphere and the experience around the tournament all match that ambition."
Reflecting on the club's first year hosting the event, Ling said the experience had strengthened both the team and the club's belief in its role within the sport.
"Last year was about proving ourselves. This year is about building on that foundation," he said.
"The experience we gained was invaluable. Our team has grown, our preparation has become more refined, and we feel a real sense of pride in presenting a championship environment that players, fans and partners will remember."
In the public village of the 2025 Volvo China Open, spectators participated in fun golf games. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
As last year's tournament attracted 54,656 spectators over the four rounds at Enhance Anting, Zhao said the goal for this year was to build on those record numbers by becoming a "bridge connecting sportsmanship and urban culture".
"The future Volvo China Open is envisioned as far more than a four-day competition. We are committed to building it into an integrated 'Sports+' platform – deeply combining golf with the cultural, tourism, and commercial aspects of the host city," she said.
"This year, we will continue to develop the 'Tournament+' model, deepening the integration of sports, culture, commerce, tourism, and exhibitions to create a 'Golf Carnival'. Our goal is to transform the tournament's temporary influx of visitors into a lasting engagement for the city."
With a recent China Golf Association report listing the country's golfing population at approximately 5.4 million participants, Zhao said it was the tournament's duty to ensure a high level of competition and entertainment, in addition to providing a valuable platform for Chinese players to improve their world ranking and prepare for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
"The world of golf is undergoing tremendous change, leadership transitions, a changing of the guard among star players, and the emergence of Chinese talent. Li Haotong has made it to the PGA Tour. Wu Ashun, Ding Wenyi, and Zhou Yanhan are establishing themselves on the DP World Tour. They are raising the ceiling for Chinese golf," she said.
"We believe that in this era of transition, new champions and new legends are being forged. In 2026, we look forward to witnessing the opening of this new chapter together with everyone."
