Volvo China Open Preview: TV times, Betting Tips
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Volvo China Open: Find out how to watch this week’s European Tour event in the UK, and who to back.
It’s a change of venue for the European Tour’s best golfers this week as they head to Genzon GC for the 25th edition of the Volvo China Open. It’s the first time the event has been staged here since Alex Levy’s win in 2014, having for the last three years been hosted at Topwin Golf and Country Club.
Last year, Alexander Bjork broke through for his maiden European Tour title, but said he has played Genzon before – and remembers it to be a tough test.
“I’ve played Genzon before and it’s quite a tough course with a good layout,” said the defending champion. “I remember it being a tropical-style course with hot and humid weather. I enjoyed it when I was there in 2017 so I look forward to going back there and I know it will be a great event.”
Like last year, the 25th anniversary of the Volvo China Open will be tri-sanctioned by the China Golf Association and the European and Asian Tours meaning yet another strong field of international players will come together to compete alongside the best of Chinese golf.
Course: Genzon GC, Shenzhen
Defending Champion: Alexander Bjork
Prize Fund: CNY 20,000,000
Race to Dubai points: 3,500
Volvo China Open: How to watch
Thursday & Friday
Sky Sports Golf (07:30), Sky Sports Main Event (07:30)
Saturday
Sky Sports Golf (05:30), Sky Sports Main Event (06:00)
Sunday
Sky Sports Golf (05:30), Sky Sports Main Event (06:00), Sky Sports Main Event (08:45)
Volvo China Open: Betting Tips
Haotong Li: 14/1
After finishing T9 in the WGC Dell Match Play, Haotong Li ended up T52 at the Valero Texas Open and T43 at the Masters. In four starts at the old venue has a victory, another top 10, a T11 and a worse finish of T32 last year. Ranks 3rd scoring average and SG: Off the tee, 5th for birdie average and 21st for both SG: Around the green and SG: Tee to green on the European Tour this season.
Julian Suri: 14/1
Suri has only teed up three times in 2019 and has finished T20-T4-T2, the latter coming at last week’s Trophee Hassan II. He’s a player that is undoubtedly in form, but interesting odds given that he’s only teed up once at this event (in 2018) and finished T53. Ranks 5th SG: Off the tee, 11th SG: Off the tee and 25th for birdie average.
Jorge Campillo: 16/1
Arugably the most in-form player on the European Tour right now after a string of three top 10s and a T20 before his victory last week. He admittedly didn’t have his A game on Sunday last week, but still persevered to win for the first time – 10 years after turning pro. Given how long his first victory took and the likelihood of winning back-to-back you could understandably be cautious, but then again he finished T3 last year and T9 in 2017 (although admittedly it was a different golf course).
Erik Van Rooyen: 18/1
He led the way for part of Sunday but Van Rooyen ultimately finished T2 – his second runner up finish and third top 10 in his last five starts on the European Tour. MC on debut last year, but he’s still on a promising run of form. Ranks inside the top 30 on tour for SG: Putting and birdie average.
Jordan Smith: 18/1
It was a third top-15 in four starts for Jordan Smith in Morocco, and given that he was T3 here last year, he’ll be confident heading to China. Ranks 22nd GIR, 23rd for par-four scoring and 53rd for scoring average.
Alexander Bjork: 25/1
Bjork claimed the Volvo China Open on just his second attempt last year, and the defending champion finished T9 last week after missing the cut at the Maybank Championship. It was his first top 10 of the year, having had a previous best of T20 in Dubai. Ranks 3rd par-3 scoring, 41st SG: Approach and 46th SG: Around the green.
David Lipsky: 25/1
Lipsky recorded his second top 10 of 2019 with a fifth place finish at last week’s Trophee Hassan II, following a T22 in the U.S and a T13 at the Maybank. His other top 10 was a T10 at the WGC Mexico. Has gone T45-T24-T9 at the Volvo China Open the last three years. Ranks inside the top 50 on Tour for scoring average and birdie average.
Fabrizio Zanotti: 30/1
Fabrizio Zanotti experienced a slight dip in form with a T63 last week, but went T7-T11-T2 before that and had two other top 30s in 2019. He missed the cut last year but was T31 in 2017 and T9 the year prior. Ranks inside the top 25 on Tour for both SG: Approach and SG: Tee to green, as well as 36th for scoring average.
Victor Dubuisson: 30/1
Dubuisson has been on an exceptional run of form since returning from an extended period of injury, having gone T30-T10-WD-T12-T18-T38 in his last six starts. He may not have played in this tournament since 2013, but finished 3rd that year, and was T4 in 2012. Ranks 13th driving accuracy, 15th SG: Off the tee, 31st SG: Tee to green and 33rd for GIR.
Christiaan Bezuidenhout: 33/1
He may be making his debut here, but Bezuidenhout has three top 10s and a top-15 in his last five starts on Tour and is clearly playing well as he searches for his maiden tour title. Ranks 14th SG: Around the green and inside the top 30 for both par-3 and par-5 scoring average.
Sean Crocker: 33/1
The runner-up from last week is another player who hasn’t teed up in China before, but with three top 20s in his last four starts, we reckon he’s likely to be in contention again. Ranks 33rd SG: Tee to green and 42nd for SG: Off the tee.
Paul Dunne: 40/1
After finishing T7 on his debut last year, it’s no surprise Dunne is returning to China – even if it is to a different venue. He was T38 last week but T12 at the Corales Puntacana Resort & Club Championship in the U.S. and came close to triumph earlier in the year with a third-place finish at the World Super 6 Perth. Ranks 16th SG: Putting on the European Tour.
Matthias Schwab: 40/1
T31-T30-T18-T9 in his last four starts on Tour, ending with a top 10 last week in Morocco. Ranks inside the top 50 for SG: Around the green, SG: Tee to green and SG: Approach. Making his debut.
