China Open moved to December, but off European Tour calendar
- Zhang Huilin returns to his ‘happy place’ at Shenzhen Genzon Golf Club to defend 2020 title and stake claim of US$312,000 prize pot
- Event not co-sanctioned by the European Tour for second year, after it was removed from calendars in September
The Chinese golf season will climax with the 2021 Volvo China Open on December 16-19 after the showpiece event was moved from November 4-7.
Organisers confirmed that event, which takes place at Shenzhen Genzon Golf Club, will be solely sanctioned by the PGA China Tour for a second year.
From 2004 until last year’s Covid-19 pandemic the event had been co-sanctioned by the European Tour. It was removed from this season’s schedule in September.
China Golf Association chairman Zhang Xiaoning explained the decision for the China Tour to exclusively sanction the event, which has also been part of the Asia Tour, for a second successive year.
“This year, under the situation of regular epidemic prevention and control, the Volvo China Open will continue to be exclusively sanctioned by the China Tour,” Zhang said in a statement.
“The staging of the tournament plays a major role in improving the competitive level of Chinese golfers, strengthening preparations for the Hangzhou Asian Games, developing the reserve of golf talent in China, promoting the sport to the public, and underlining the development of the golf industry in China.”
The 2022 Asian Games take place in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, next September. Not being part of the European Tour is not the only change this year, the 27th consecutive year of the China Tour event.
“After careful study and discussion by all parties, it has also been decided that the 2021 Volvo China Open domestic and international qualifiers will be cancelled,” organisers said in a statement.
There is a 2 million yuan (US$312,226) total prize fund at stake at the end of season finale, which will conclude with the No 1 player on the China Tour money list crowned. The winner gets their card for the 2021-22 European Tour.
Despite the difficulties of the pandemic, the China Open went ahead last year, when it was won by China‘s Zhang Huilin.
That was only the fifth time that a local golfer had lifted the title and Zhang will be back to defend his crown on the same course.
“The Genzon Golf Club is my blessed place, and the championship I won last year means so much to me,” he said. “This year I will do my very best to prepare for the event and strive to defend my title on my home course.”
