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HAOTONG Li will play in his homeland for the first time since teeing it up alongside Tiger Woods at the Masters Tournament at the 25th Volvo China Open, starting tonight (UK time).
The World No. 39 leads the field for the anniversary event having won his national open back in 2016.
Li was drawn alongside Woods for the opening two rounds at Augusta National, before the American famously went on to claim his 15th Major Championship title.
Although the Chinese golfer was not in contention in the first Major of the year, a strong start to the season has yielded a runner-up at the Saudi International, and a top 10 at the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play, in Texas.
The 23-year-old rising star, who shares the same management company as Hampshire’s Justin Rose and Tiger Woods, said: “My game is feeling quite good at the moment, especially after two weeks off here in China, so I’m looking forward to this week.
“Of course I feel comfortable here this week, especially in Shenzhen – I will have a lot of friends come here to watch me play this week and hopefully I can play some decent golf for them and maybe hold the trophy again.
“I played 2018 here and the conditions are perfect. The course is a little bit soft from the recent rain but I think they will be good conditions for the tournament.
“I think for Chinese golf, this tournament has been huge for us, especially as you can see other Chinese players are doing well on the bigger tours now so I think our game is going to grow and grow.”
Alexander Björk, meanwhile, claimed his maiden European Tour victory in last year’s event – albeit at a different venue in Beijing – en route to his best season on the Race to Dubai
Following a first top 10 of the 2019 campaign last week in Morocco, the Swede will be in confident mood for his title defence.
Björk said: “It’s different coming to an event as defending champion and it’s also different his year because it’s a different location here at Genzon.
“But it’s fun to see your face on posters and stuff and it’s a good feeling, I’m looking forward to the week.
“I played the Shenzhen International here two years ago and I thought the course was really good.
“I had a decent week in Morocco last week with a top 10 – didn’t play my best but putted well so if I can get the long game going this week I think I can have a good chance.”
Frenchman Alexander Levy is targeting a hat-trick of Volvo China Open titles having lifted the trophy for the first time at this week’s host venue Genzon Golf Club back in 2014,
Levy said: “I’m really pleased to be back here on this golf course, it’s a lovely place. And this course is where I won my first event on the European Tour. So I’m happy to be back.
“I think it’s a golf course that suits my game pretty well, you have to hit some draws and that’s the trajectory I like most.
“It’s nice to come to a golf course you like and when I saw that the tournament was coming back to Genzon I was really happy.”
Austrian Bernd Wiesberger’s most recent European Tour title came at this golf course two years ago in the Shenzhen International.
Wiesberger, who has fought back from a wrist injury after last year’s event which ended any hope of his dream of a Ryder Cup debut, said: “I had a couple of weeks off – decided not to play Morocco last week so I could get here nice and fresh.
“I had some time at home, practiced well with my coaches so hopefully I can make some good progress and take the good vibes from the last time here in Shenzhen and have a good week.
“I just remember lifting the trophy, being on the green as the last man standing. It was a great week, it was the first time I had played the golf course and obviously it works well for me,
“I’ve enjoyed my time here and hopefully I can take all of those positives from two years ago.
“I’m just really looking forward to getting back, maybe it was a bit too long of a break for me! I just want to get back out on the golf course and compete again.
“Not much has changed on the course from the last time. It’s the same 18 holes with no major things changed and it’s in good nick.”
Wu Ashun is Li Haotong’s current challenger to the Chinese crown and obviously wants to perform well in his home Open having won it in 2015.
He said: “My game is quite good right now. I played last week in Morocco and it wasn’t great. But I’ve found something in my game and I’m feeling good for this week.
“I’m happy to come back to the Volvo China Open. I have very good memories of this tournament, it was my first win on the European Tour.
“I also played in Genzon when this tournament was here last in 2014 so it’s always good to come back and play here.
“It’s always nice to come back to China, with good food and good fans here so you’re always going to enjoy this week.”
