Colsaerts Comes Back from Brink

Nicolas Colsaerts is living proof of what you can achieve when you set your mind to it. 

Ever since he exploded onto the golfing scene in 2000 as a fresh-faced 18 year old, becoming the second youngest player to successfully negotiate all three stages of the European Tour Qualifying School, Colsaerts’ talent has not been in doubt. 

But talent is nothing without the temperament and application to back it up – a fact which was perhaps lost on a teenager with both talent and money to burn.

For much of his early career, Colsaerts determinedly set about trying to disprove American inventor Thomas Eddison’s theory that “success is ten per cent inspiration and 90 per cent perspiration”, as the house music lover and part-time DJ spent as much time socialising as he did practising. 

Having finished 77th on the Money List in 2003, the success perhaps went to Colsaerts’ head and over the ensuing years, the big-hitting Belgian appeared in danger of committing the cardinal sin of frittering away a potentially brilliant career. 

The nadir came in 2008, when Colsaerts endured a wretched season on the Challenge Tour, making the cut in only four events and earning just over €6,000 in prize money in the process.

He had hit rock bottom, and the only way was up. Colsaerts knew something had to change, and fast. Instead of wallowing in self-pity, on the advice of his friend’s father he flew thousands of miles to the A-Game International Golf Academy at Brookwater Golf Course in Brisbane, Australia, where he hooked up with swing coach Ken Berndt. 

For several weeks, Colsaerts did little else except eat, sleep and hit golf balls. Finally, the penny had dropped, and the results were nothing short of spectacular.

Colsaerts won twice and finished in the top ten on a further eight occasions en route to finishing in third place in the 2009 Challenge Tour Rankings. 

After spending too long in the golfing wilderness – he had fallen outside the top 1,000 on the Official World Golf Ranking, but was up to 127th by the end of 2009 – Colsaerts was back where he belonged, in the big time. 

In days of yore, Colsaerts might have rested on his laurels and spent the winter months toasting his success with friends back home in his native Brussels.

But the new and improved model was determined to make the most of his second chance, so Colsaerts returned to Brisbane for some more intensive training in preparation for his first European Tour campaign since 2006.

Despite a sluggish start, the practice and dedication paid off as he ended the season in a career-high of 67th in The Race to Dubai, thanks largely to a third place finish at the BMW Italian Open and a further four top ten finishes. 

But still Colsaerts was not satisfied, and so after identifying his chipping as a weak link he turned to short game specialist and Sky Sports analyst Mark Roe for what he hoped would be the final piece in the puzzle. 

With a vastly improved short game to complement his prodigious length off the tee, a maiden win seemed inevitable and the door duly opened last week at the Volvo China Open, where victory moved him to the heady heights of tenth in The Race to Dubai and 105th on the World Ranking. 

Speaking afterwards, an ecstatic Colsaerts – who received a message of congratulations from his compatriot and fellow European Tour champion Philippe Toussaint – put his success down to a new-found maturity, and paid tribute the people who had helped him rediscover his appetite for the game. 

He said: “I’ve waited for this moment for such a long time but even through all the hard times, I never lost faith in myself. My career’s been a real rollercoaster, and until recently I’ve probably experienced more downs than ups. 

“I’ve made mistakes on and off the course in the past, but now I feel much calmer, happier and more in control of things. My wins on the Challenge Tour definitely helped me, because I knew I could do it so I didn’t get too nervous. It’s just amazing how much my life has turned around over the last two years. 

“I have a lot of people to thank for that: Ken Berndt, Mark Roe, my coach Michel Vanmeerbeek, my caddie Brian Nilsson, who turned 41 today, and my parents, who have been so supportive of me. I’m sure they’ll be having a party back home, and I can’t wait to get back there and join them.” 

Still only 28 and with his best years ahead of him, it is unlikely to be the last party thrown by the Colsaerts clan.

Caddie of The Day - Brian Nilsson

Nicolas Colsaerts of Belgium celebrates with caddie Brian Nilsson from Australia after winning the Volvo China Open at Luxehills Country Club on April 24, 2011 in Chengdu, China.

Harrington Addresses Championship Dinner

Triple ‘Major’ champion Pádraig Harrington was the keynote speaker at the traditional Volvo China Open Championship Dinner, this year in celebration of the 17th staging of China’s national open golf championship, the 39-year-old Irishman giving a captivating address to 24 VIP guests in the Intercontinental Hotel.

“The Volvo China Open is a great national open,” said Harrington, adding, “There is something very special about a country’s open championship, because it will be around for many, many years to come and once your name is on the trophy, it is there for ever.”

He continued, “Volvo has been a great supporter of golf and its vision of making the Volvo China Open a really big event has to be applauded, and it is well on the way to achieving that goal.”

Said Per Ericsson, President, Volvo Event Management – Golf, “Pádraig spoke incredibly well, very passionate about his sport, highly complimentary about the Volvo China Open and was the perfect speaker to deliver the 2011 Volvo China Open address.”

Colsaerts Graduates to China Challenge

Nicolas Colsaerts

Peter Lawrie finished a good week at the Volvo China Open on Sunday with a final round of 68 to take a fourway share of second place on 20 under with Nicolas Colsaerts of Belgium, winning the RMB3.3million (Approx. US$500,000) first prize with a four-shot victory.

Colsaerts finished ahead of the chasing quartet which also included Pablo Martin from Spain, New Zealander Danny Lee and Dane Søren Kjeldsen.

The 28-year-old from Brussels started the fourth and final round just one shot ahead, but was never in danger of losing his lead, indeed extending it to four courtesy of an outward 33, back in 33 for a fine six-under-par 66.

More than ten years after turning professional on his 18th birthday, having become the second youngest European Tour Qualifying School graduate, the big-hitting Belgian finally realised his potential with a closing six under par round of 66.

Much of the last decade has been a struggle at the top level for Colsaerts, but he established himself last season by finishing 67th on The Race to Dubai and topping the driving distances. The victory at Luxehills International Country Club makes him only the second Belgian to win on The European Tour – the other was Phillipe Touissant in 1974.

“I am so proud to have won the Volvo China Open and China will always hold a special place in my heart,” said the Belgian, adding, “I spoke to my family briefly and it’s a pity they could not be here with me, but I will go home and have a nice celebration.”

Consistency was the key to Colsaerts victory, rounds of 65, 67, 66 and 66 by far the most unfailing form of the week and a huge bonus for the Belgian is a place in the all-star line-up for the Volvo World Match Play Championship in Spain next month.

“I’m really looking forward to that,” he said, the man who will become the first-ever Belgian to play in the 45-year history of the event explaining, “I used to watch it on TV when I was a kid, and although I don’t have much match play experience, it is a fantastic event to get in to.”

And within minutes of being crowned Volvo China Open winner and resplendent in his gold champions jacket, he confirmed he would be back next year to defend his crown, saying, “Of course, I will be back in China to defend and I must learn some more Chinese before I return.”

Meanwhile, Martin, Lee, Kjeldsen and Lawrie each banked RMB1.33million (Approx. US$204,000), whilst veteran Zhang Lian Wei was the best placed Chinese player, the 45-year-old 2003 Volvo China Open champion rolling back the years to finish in a tie for 31st place.

Gareth Maybin took a share of 10th place after a 67 on the final day tokk him to 17 under.

Damien McGrane was four shorts further adrift after a round of 68 on Sunday.

Shane Lowry fired a 68 on Sunday to secure 61st place outright for a payday of €5,685 showing  signs that he is on his way back to from.

Final results

Peter Lawrie Still in Chase at China Open

Peter Lawrie at Volvo China Open

Peter Lawrie remains the leading Irish player at the Volvo China Open following a third round 68 which saw him secure a share of 3rd place on 16 under par notching up six birdies, but dropping two shots on the way to the turn.

Gareth Maybin carded  a level par round to remain on 12 under and in a group of ten players sharing 13th place 

Damien McGrabe signed for a 68 on Saturday and is back in 31st place.

Shane Lowry ended the day with a 74 for a three over par total.

Nicolas Colsaerts of Berlgium takes a one shot lead into the final round as he seeks a first European Tour title at Luxehills International Country Club in Chengdu.

The big-hitting 28 year old produced a third round 66 to reach 18 under par in Chengdu, one stroke clear of Han Cheng-won.

Colsaerts was the second youngest player ever to come through The European Tour Qualifying School when he graduated on his 18th birthday in 2000, but he struggled to establish himself at the top level until last year – when he managed five top-ten finishes and finished 67th on The Race to Dubai.

He was also the longest hitter on Tour in 2010, out-driving the likes of Alvaro Quiros, and his power was on display in Chengdu as he played the four par fives in five under par courtesy of an eagle at the first and three birdies.

“An eagle on the first was the best start I could have hoped for,” said the World Number 175. “I’m not sure if I’m the only one but I hit driver over the river and tried to give myself the shortest line in.

“I holed from 25 feet and it was the best start. On 18 I probably hit the best drive of the day - it was a bit down and went off to the left.

“I hit it good and my caddy said it went 380 yards. That was a bonus because it is a bit of a daunting second shot to go over the water, it is difficult, especially when you get towards the end of the day.

“I hit a seven iron onto the green and two putted so I’m quite happy to finish like that and make four.

“The wind changed the course dramatically today. You had to think more about certain tee shots.

“The other days you could pretty much go at every pin and the ball would stop where it landed. With these greens you always want to be on the right side but it was harder with it being dry.

“I’ve been looking for a win for a couple of years but I’ve put myself in contention a few times and I know if I don’t win here it will come one day. I was a bit itchy today and managed alright. I hope tomorrow I’ll manage the same.”

Han led after day one when he opened with a 64 but a second round 70 had dropped him out of the top ten.

The former Asian Amateur Champion was in top form once again though as he birdied five of his first seven holes en route to a best-of-the-day 65.

The 19 year old, playing only his second event as a professional, was delighted with his efforts.

“I played perfectly today – some good shots and good putts,” he said.

“I took confidence from my putting today. When I missed shots I made the putts, that helped my round.

“This is the best I have played as a professional. I have some experience of big tournaments from when I was an amateur and that experience is helping me now. I’m not nervous - I believe in myself.”

Lawrie and France’s Grégory Havret, who unlike the leading pair have both won on The European Tour, are tied for third after both carded 68s to advance to 16 under.

Overnight leader Jamie Donaldson failed to capitalise on his sparkling 61 as the Welshman slipped to fifth with a 70, but 22 players are within six shots of lead on what promises to be an exciting final day

Round 3 Leader board

Donaldson Holds Slender Lead in China

Jamie Donaldson holds a one shot lead of the halfway stage of the Volvo China Open – but no fewer than 12 players are within two shots and poised to challenge over the weekend.

After a decade on The European Tour and 23 top-ten finishes, Welshman Donaldson is still looking for a maiden title, but put himself in pole position with a blistering 11 under par 61.

That took him to 13 under, with Jeppe Huldahl, Grégory Havret, Nicolas Colsaerts, Keith Horne, Peter Lawrie, Jeev Milkha Singh and Gareth Maybin all one further back.

“I think my best ever round before this was eight under par last year or the year before, so this was a lot better,” said Donaldson, who fired five birdies in six holes around the turn and 11 in total.

“I played great pretty much all the way. I hit a lot of fairways and a lot of greens and gave myself a lot of chances which you have to do here. It’s set for low scoring. Today everything went my way.

“It’s a course that’s open for low scoring. It’s a good golf course and the greens are fantastic – the conditions are great and it is set up for scoring but you’ve still got to play the shots and wait for the putts to drop. I kept patient and waited for it to happen today. “

The 35 year old insists his lack of silverware on The European Tour will not be a factor over the weekend.

“I’ve been at the top of the leaderboard a few times,” he added. “It’s a matter of same again tomorrow and you never know I might shoot the same again tomorrow.

“The same again would be marvellous. I’ll just have to add them up at the end and see what it comes to. What everybody else does is out of your control. It’s a case of giving yourself the best options possible.”

South African Horne still had four holes of his opening round to complete when he returned to the course, and two birdies saw him snatch the first round lead off Han Chang-won.

The 39 year old began following up his opening 63 with back-to-back birdies, and having dropped his first shot of the week at the 14th - his fifth - responded with a birdie three holes later en route to a 69.

"Yesterday I got off to a great start with birdies on the first four holes and kept going from there," he said.

"It's the sort of course you can get going on. There's not much to scare you out there. If you get the irons and putter going you can get a good score."

US Open Championship runner-up Havret completed a second consecutive round of 66.

"I had a good round," he said. "I birdied 16, 17, 18 then one and three so five under for six holes was the key.”

Big-hitting Belgian Colsaerts started his round with successive birdies, and not surprisingly picked up shots on both par fives on the back nine in his 67.

"I closed well this morning - an eight foot putt with one hole to go and made birdie and then made birdie on the last," he said. "That set the tone for the rest of the day and I birdied the first two on the round that followed. I just kept hitting greens and was very close to the flag."

Former Wales Open champion Huldahl signed for a 65 that included no fewer than eight birdies, which he put down to some good work on the greens.

"I holed a lot of good putts this week - that's the key," he revealed. "You still have to make the birdies on the course it's not really easy.”

Singh carded a second consecutive 66, and the man often credited with leading the growth of golf in India believes China could also be turning out European Tour winners on a regular basis in the near future.

“China is developing fast in golf,” he said. “There are so great players and I am so impressed with the course.

“They are international standard and in excellent condition. Golf is catching up fast in this country. It is going to be big in the future. The people are learning about the game and I think they are going to produce some top players.”

The home challenge is currently being led by Chinese Number One Liang Wen-chong and Wei Wei on ten under, while Spain’s Sergio Garcia continued his improvement to advance to 11 under and a share of ninth place.

Irish News from Volvo China Open

Padraig Harrington

Peter Lawrie posted a second round 64 after a total of eight birdies without loss at the Volvo China Open to take finish Friday one stroke off the lead, going into the weekend on 12 under par.

Gareth Maybin is also 12 under after carding four birdies as of the10th and dropping no shots on the way home  to finish the day on 67..

Damien McGrane is 6 under par after a second round 68 with a lot of work to do if he is to repeat his victory of 2008.

Shane Lowry battled through the turn in level par and then carded two birdies on the homeward leg to finish the day with a 70 and inside the cut to stay the weekend.

Paul McGinley signed for a 76 and missed the cut on a level par total.

Padraig Harrington joins him after carding a second round 73, following a double bogey on the 15th, and will head home to Dublin as he is not entered for the Ballantine's Championship next week.

Maybin Fires Opening 65 at China Open

Gareth Maybin

Gareth Maybin holds second place in the clubhouse on Thursday at the Volvo China Open in Chengdu after reaching the turn in three under par, the Ballyclare golfer carded an eagle three on the 10th hole, adding two more birdies on his way to the 18th.

Han Chang-won established the first round pace at the Luxehills course with an eight under par 64.

The Korean former Asian Amateur Champion led by one in the clubhouse from Maybin with New Zealand’s Steve Alker, Korean Choi Jin-ho, Jeev Milkha Singh and Dutchman Joost Luiten were all tied third on six under.

Starting at the tenth, 19 year old Han had two birdies on the way out, before adding further gains on the first and fourth.

But it was a run of four straight birdies over the closing stretch that brought him home in 30 and propelled him to the top of the leaderboard.

“It’s very good weather and I got a bit lucky today,” said Han, for whom this is a first campaign in the professional ranks. “I missed a few easy shots but most to the time I was perfect and hit the fairways and got close to the pins.

“I felt comfortable going into those last four holes which I birdied. I didn’t really feel any pressure and it was a good finish.

“Luxehills is a good course and I really like it. The greens and fairways are in good condition and we have good weather. When I played in Masters in America the conditions were like this.

“I’ve been playing golf for nine years. I’ve only been professional from this year. I play for the national team. I’ve not made much money yet as a professional so it would be nice to get some this week!

“I look up to both K J Choi and Y E Yang. I always think about them and would like to win like them.”

Maybin has been a runner-up on The European Tour three times but is still seeking a first victory.

Like Han he was bogey free at Luxehills International Country Club, mixing five birdies with an eagle at the par five first.

“I putted really nicely today but didn’t actually play that great,” he said. “You can get away with quite a bit out here. I was a little fortunate to say the least.

“I drove it poorly but luckily my wedges and putting were very good so I got away with it a little bit. The short game saved me a bit today - I putted great.

“Anytime you shoot 65 you’ve got to be happy. I’ll take a lot from that. I need to knuckle down and play well again tomorrow. I’ve been playing pretty poorly so to shoot 65 is pretty good. I’m not thinking about winning, or top ten or making the cut.”

New Zealander Michael Campbell also continued his recent improvement with a five under par 67.

The former US Open Champion made only four cuts in two years after a string of injury woes.

Luxehills Country Club Will be Tough Test

This week Luxehills Country Club becomes only the eighth golf course in China to play host to the Volvo China Open and promises to set the toughest of tests for whoever has designs on the RMB3.3million (Approx. US$500,000) first prize.

When the Volvo China Open joined the European Tour back in 2004, the golf course hosting this year’s event was midway through a four-year construction project, transforming neglected semi-rural land into Chengdu’s showpiece golf and residential development. 

And it was to a man, Mark E Hollinger, and a practice, JMP Golf Design that the Luxehills developers turned, the California-based design house having over three-score years experience creating some of the finest – and most demanding – golf courses, not only in their native North America but also is Asia in general and China in particular. 

A dozen courses and counting in the PRC since the pioneering Beijing Golf Club was opened in 1987 when golf was barely in its infancy, the inaugural Volvo China Open still seven-years-hence. 

“Due to our previous involvement on another highly-successful integrated golf project in Southern China involving a golf and residential development, we were recommended to the owners of Luxehills,” explains Mark E Hollinger, one of three partners at JMP Golf Design Group, adding, “The owners has a strong vision of doing something quite different – bold – but needed guidance of golf and whether Chengdu might have a potential golf market.” 

Construction commenced back in 2003, with the course opening in 2007and, as Hollinger explains, there were some challenges along the way. 

“I had a totally blank canvas on which to work, the existing conditions offering little as to my overall vision,” he explains, adding, “So it presented something of a daunting task.” 

He continued, “The owners team is a very clever group of outward thinking people, having learned from extensive travel and research around the world, visiting similar projects, and, as it turned out, they made very good decisions along the way and continually tried to do things which were, at the time, being done in few other places in China.” 

Chengduhas been and continues to undergo very significant changes, from the rich agricultural ‘land of abundance,’ into a thriving, modern capital city of Sichuan Province, a population of almost 12 million and rated the fourth most desirable city to live in by China Daily. 

“The underlying design philosophy for Luxehills was to create an exhilarating walk in nature, the main purpose of the golf course to help sell real estate, to create a country club setting,” continues Mark Hollinger, adding, “The focus of the golf course at that time was to create a great golf experience for residents and members, more so than staging major golfing events, which has come as something of a bonus.” 

Working within an overall master-planning team with the residential architects and landscape consultants, the end result at Luxehills is a very joined-up approach to an upmarket lifestyle, neither golf, nor housing, nor the considerable open spaces dominating, the whole certainly greater than the sum of its parts.

But that balance was not achieved by accident, but by design, Mark Hollinger, a member of the American Society of Golf Course Architects, the American Society of Landscape Architects explaining, “We made sure there was a balanced relationship between the residential areas and golf course, up to eight metres.

“We moved almost 1.5million cubic metres of earth to create the many unique features, each and every one of the thousands of tress and shrubs planted by us, everything imagined, designed and created from scratch.” 

But, whilst the Chengdu area may be ideal for agriculture, hence its reputation as the, ‘Land of bountiful harvest,” the climate created some problems from a golf course perspective, Hollinger and his team conducting considerable turf testing, which led them to a combination of warm and cool season turf grasses. 

“The lack of consistent sunshine during some periods of the year presented us with some headaches during the grow-in period, so we used a combination of cool season A1 and A4 creeping bent grass on the greens, Kentucky bluegrass on the tees, whilst the fairways and rough were planted with warm season Salem Paspalum,” he explains. 

“The overall environment and natural ambiance, which the golf course helps to create was the driving force behind all the design elements, on and off course, lakes, streams, waterfalls, outcrops of rock, extensive colourful landscaping with a richness of textures and forms, creating natural habitats for the flora and fauna that now occupy what was getting quite close to waste land before we moved on site.” 

Hollinger, together with his two JMP partners, Brian E Costello and Robert Moore Jr. eschew the big name, ‘Signature’ courses that bear the name but little else of some of the world’s leading golfers past and present. 

“There are very few touring professional of celebrity golf course designers who actually work at designing courses, they merely franchise their name, sometimes even employing a specialist golf course designer to perform those services,” says Hollinger, proud of his track record and reputation in Asia, and especially in China. 

“I spend over 100 days each year travelling all around China, servicing my numerous design commissions, as I have been doing for the past 20 years [and] as a golf course architect in Asia, if you want to work consistently on quality projects, you must be physically there, be prepared to spend a good deal of time in the field, defending the integrity of your designs.” 

After four years in play, Luxehills had matured sufficiently to stage to RMB6.5million Luxehills Chengdu Open, won by Chinese number-one Liang Wenchong, who says of Luxehills, “Of course, I like the golf course very much and not just because I won there last year.” 

He explains, “It is a very tough course, but very fair, good shots are rewarded, bad shots punished and it forces you to use your imagination, to play every club in the bag and to improvise, so it is very challenging, but also great fun.” 

Even at a cost of over RMB120 million for the golf course alone – the expansive clubhouse would have added a further RMB10 million, the developers will have turned a handsome profit, with properties said to be changing hands for between RMB5 million for a modest property, right up to a rumoured RMB25million for the top-of-the-range landmark residences. 

But let there be no doubt, Luxehills has earned the right to join that small, exclusive number of golf clubs in China to have had the honour of hosting the country’s national open golf championship. 

Opening-up with a Par-5, 523-yard risk-and-reward hole, followed by the scenic 208-yard Par-3 where the plateau green sits atop an outcrop of rock, and a Par-4, at 431-yards, far less simple than it looks. 

With almost 150 bunkers and extensive water hazards, Luxehills allows no let-up in concentration, course management absolutely essential, the final three holes throwing down the toughest of challenges to the leading groups on the late afternoon of Sunday 24th April.

“We took the approach from the outset that the [Luxehills] course was going to be a series of 18 ‘signature holes,’ each hole standing alone as something visually dramatic and strategically interesting,” says designer Mark Hollinger, concluding, “I did focus on creating an exciting – and challenging – finish, a final flourish of Par-5, Par-3 and Par-5.” 

And the American is not wrong in his estimation. 

At 569-yards, the Par-5 16th is the second longest on the golf course, whilst the Par-3 17th, relatively short at 196-yards is well defended by bunkers, whilst Hollinger saves the best ‘til last, the gargantuan 18th, Par-5, at 602-yards playing into an island green, the margins between glory and grief wafer thin, especially given the Gold Jacket and RMB3.3 million (Approx. US$500,000) on offer for the winner of the Volvo China Open. 

Co-sanctioned by the European Tour and OneAsia, the RMB20 million (Approx. US$3million) Volvo China Open takes place at Luxehills International Country Club from Thursday 21st – Sunday 24th April 2011.

www.luxehills.com

Søren Kjeldsen Hoping to Double Volvo Titles

Søren Kjeldsen 

Søren Kjeldsen is one of just two players heading in the Volvo China Open who has already qualified for next month’s Volvo World Match Play Championship.

But the man who holds the Volvo Masters crown in perpetuity by taking the title on the 21st and final staging of the event is coming to Chengdu for one purpose and one purpose only, to win China’s national open golf championship at the Luxehills Interernational Golf Club.

English-based Dane Søren Kjeldsen seems to enjoy Volvo-sponsored tournaments; he started his career winning the Volvo Finnish Open in 1997 on the Challenge Tour, following that up with victory in Scotland, the ‘Home of Golf,’ at Gleneagles six-years-later.

But he saved the best win of a glittering career to date at the Volvo Masters in 2008, the 21st and final staging of the event, and recalls, “It was a huge win for me and although it is a bit disappointing when you do not get the chance to defend a title, the other side of that is that nobody can take it away from you.”

The 35-year-old father-of-two has been a regular at the Volvo China Open since it joined the European Tour in 2004, missing only last year as he made his Masters debut and says, “National open championships are always special and the Volvo China Open is an event I always enjoy and would love to win.”

But if he does, Kjeldsen is already in the Volvo World Match Play Championship, with Graeme McDowell through the Andalucía Masters, so the Volvo China Open win for the Dane would pave the way for the next placed player not otherwise qualified.

“It’s great that I have qualified already,” he says adding, “But that does not take away my desire to win the Volvo China Open.

“I have heard it is a tight golf course, that could suit my game and now I am back with my old coach Colin Smith and my game, and my confidence is returning,” so I come to China with high hopes.”

One of the most intelligent players on the European Tour, Kjeldsen also enjoys the cultural experience of travelling the world, something he describes as, “A huge privilege and I enjoy China very much and will probably finish my practice round early on Monday and take a look at the Giant Pandas. It is important not to focus 100% on golf all the time, to get some balance.”Danish star Søren Kjeldsen is one of just two players heading to the Volvo China Open without needing a win to qualify for the next month’s Volvo World Match Play Championship, having qualified late last year through the Andalucía Masters.

McGrane Looking for China 2008 Repeat

Damien McGrane 2008 winner

Damien McGrane returns to the Volvo China Open this week looking for the form that won him the title in 2008 at the Beijing CBD International Golf Club and is joined six other Irish challengers  - Padraig Harrington, Shane Lowry, Peter Lawrie, Paul McGinley, Gareth Maybin and Michael Hoey.

For Harrington the search for momentum continues after a week off following the missed cut at The Masters and a few indifferent rounds so far this season.

Shane Lowry is also working on his return to some consistency after his wrist injury  having missed three cuts from as many starts.

For McGinley it was a two week break following the Trophee Hassan II in Morocco

Peter Lawrie, Gareth Maybin and Michael Hoey extend their stay in Asia having competed in the Maybank Malaysia Open last week. For Hoey it will be the tenth event of the season and he is currebroty 102nd in the Race to Dubai Rankings despite missing the cut in Kuala Lumpur.

They join eight former winners, led by defending champion YE Yang, and four Major winners.

China’s number one Liang Wenchong, 2010 Ryder Cup-winning Captain Colin Montgomerie and Spanish star Sergio Garcia will also be hoping to bring their considerable talents to bear at the 17th edition of the event, which takes place at Luxehills International Country Club in Chengdu, China, from April 21-24. 

With a record prize fund of RMB20million (approximately US$3million), of which RMB3.3million (approximately US$500,000) will go to the champion, not to mention a guaranteed place in the RMB32million (approximately US$5million) Volvo World Match Play Championship held in Spain in May, there is plenty to play for at the first Volvo China Open to be staged in the Sichuan Province.

On the back of an impressive top 20 finish at last week’s Masters Tournament, defending champion Yang said: “It is always important that a player defends any title he wins, out of respect for the tournament and its sponsors, so I am pleased to be returning to China, where I have already won twice. I know the Volvo China Open title has never been successfully defended, but there is a first time for everything.”

Chinese star Liang Wen-chong, who is making his seventh successive bid to become the first home player to win China’s the National Open since it joined The European Tour International Schedule in 2004, is looking forward to the event, especially as he is the only man in the 156-man field to have won over the 7,335 yards, par 72 Luxehills International Country Club course.

Liang said: “It is important that I have a competitive outing under my belt ahead of the Volvo China Open, my home open championship, which I have been especially excited about ever since Luxehills was announced as the host venue.”

It is just under one year ago that Liang won the last of his 17 career victories to date, the Chengdu Luxehills Open, beating Korean Kim Hyung-tae on the first hole of a dramatic sudden death play-off before heading to the Volvo China Open in Suzhou, where he finished in 17th place.

“It is always difficult coming off the back of a win, especially one as tense as my victory at Luxehills last year,” said the 32 year old. “I feel fresh, relaxed and on top of my game, but if I’m to win against a world-class field, I will have to play my very best.

“The support I will receive from my home crowd will hopefully inspire me to achieve what would be my most important victory so far, because every golfer, quite naturally, wants to win his National Open. Winning would be something very special, and the place in the Volvo World Match Play Championship is an added incentive to play my best golf.”

Montgomerie, fresh from his new role as a TV commentator at the Masters Tournament for Sky Sports, is preparing for his third successive appearance at the Volvo China Open, and is aiming to get his playing career back on track following his total immersion in the Captain’s role.

“The Volvo China Open has become a fixture on my schedule over recent years, and having won both the Hong Kong Open and the Macau Open, I would love to make it a hat-trick,” said the Scot, who has 40 wins worldwide. 

“It’s a tough field, Sergio and Padraig bring great added value for the sponsors and organisers, whilst Liang Wen-chong, Zhang Lianwei and a host of other ambitious Chinese professionals should show us just how far Chinese golf has come over the 17 years of their National Open. 

“I really enjoy being in China, where golf is definitely going places, and in the company of Volvo, which has been such a powerful force in golf for the past 23 years and counting,” added the man with nine Volvo tournament titles and seven straight Volvo Order of Merit crowns.

The Volvo China Open is being co-sanctioned by The European Tour and OneAsia.


Entry list

Steve Redgrave Helps Kiwi Campbell

Sir Steve Redgrave

New Zealander Michael Campbell heads for a Volvo China Open debut in Chengdu this week with a spring in his step after recapturing his best form since 2005.

Sitting at seven-under-par going into the final day of the Malaysian Open, the 42-year-old, who won the US Open in 2005 attributed his upswing to none other that five-time Olympic Rowing champion Sir Steve Redgrave, with whom he shared a Volvo courtesy car traveling between St Andrews and Carnoustie during the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.

"If you have won five Olympic gold medals over 20 years, you have to be a truly special athlete, and Steve gave me some really useful insights into preparing physically and mentally, and he should know," said Campbell, adding, "I said of my 2005 US Open win that it felt as if I had climbed Everest, and he said, 'great, but make sure you climb it again but this time without oxygen.'

"That really struck a chord with me and I have been working out, harder and smarter and I really feel my game is coming back together again for the first time in a couple of years," he continued.

The English-based New Zealander's last win was the 2005 World Match Play Championship at Wentworth and the event is playing a part in Campbell's decision to make what he calls a, "Long overdue debut," in the Volvo China Open in Chengdu this week."

"I love China, the culture, the food, the golf and having won the US Open, national open championships have a special importance for me," he said, explaining, "And with a place at the Volvo World Match Play Championship on offer to the Volvo China Open, that's a special incentive not only to play but to go all out for the win."

He concluded, "Golf is 95% hard work, and with hard work comes opportunities, which lead to confidence, which is building nicely."

Campbell is one of four 'Major' champions in the field for the RMB20million (Approx. US$3.3million) Volvo China Open, alongside three-time 'Major' winner Pádraig Harrington, defending Volvo China Open champion YE Yang and 2004 Open Champion Todd Hamilton from the USA.

Hu Mu Qualifies for VOLVO China Open

Hu Mu (pic by Richard Castka/Sportpixgolf.com)

Hu Mu claimed his first victory as a professional golfer by winning the Northern China qualifying event for the Volvo China Open on Tuesday.

Hu carded his second successive round of 73 to win by two shots from national junior squad member Liu Yu-xiang, who led the event for much of the day until dropped shots at the 17th and 18th holes pulled him back to the field, and Beijing-based Tuo Wen-tao, who closed with a four over par round of 76.

The trio will now compete against some of the world’s leading players at the 17th edition of the Volvo China Open, which will be held in Chengdu later this month.

“I’m both thrilled and relieved to get through what was a very tough day,” said Hu. “The cold wind made life really difficult, so good concentration was paramount.

“This will be my third Volvo China Open, and I’m very much looking forward to playing with top European Tour stars. It’s my national Open, so I hope to play well.”

Hu could have been five or even six under par for his round had his putter performed as well as his woods and irons. The 21 year old drilled a three iron 256 yards to the long par five ninth to set up his first birdie of the day.

An eight foot par putt on the par four 14th hole maintained Hu’s momentum, and he admitted later to feeling more confident about tackling the difficult closing holes after holing the putt and seeing his name at the top of the leaderboard positioned at the back of the green.

Hu split the fairway on the long par five 15th hole, before hitting a majestic fairway wood 260 yards over the lake to set up a 25 foot eagle putt which stopped inches from the hole, but still left him with a tap-in birdie.

Meanwhile, Yiu demonstrated a talent way beyond his 17 years to secure his place in the field. His dropped shots at the 17th and 18th holes were uncharacteristic of an otherwise impressive round, and he attributed them down to bad luck.

"I had a bad lie in the rough on the edge of a bunker on the 17th and the ball flew to the back of the green," said Yiu. "It was a difficult shot anyway from the poor lie but I'm proud of myself for holing the five-foot bogey putt."

The Volvo China Open will take place over the JMP-designed 7,335 yards layout at Luxehills International Country Club in Chengdu, Sichuan Province. The event this year offers a record prize fund of RMB20 million (approximately US$3 million), with the champion receiving a cheque for RMB3.3 million (approximately US$500,000).

Yang Hopes to Repeat Volvo China Win

YE Yang wins 2010 Volvo China Open

YE Yang will attempt to create history by becoming the first player to successfully defend the Volvo China Open title after the Korean star confirmed his attendance at Luxehills International Country Club from May 21st - 24th.

Having won the Volvo China Open at Jinji lake International Golf Club last year after a 24-hour inter-continental dash from the Masters Tournament at Augusta National, Yang will at least have a more relaxed journey to China this time, as the new date in the schedule allows a week between the first Major of the season and the China’s national open.

Yang won by two strokes from the Welsh duo of Rhys Davies and 2004 Volvo China Open champion Stephen Dodd in a star-studded top ten which also included the Swedish pair of Johan Edfors and Henrik Stenson, Thai star Thongchai Jaidee and Graeme McDowell, who would later go on to win three times in 2010, including his first Major title at the US Open Championship.

Yang, who became the first Asian Major winner at the 2009 US PGA Championship, said: “It’s always important that a player defends any title he wins, out of respect for the event and its sponsors, so I’m pleased to be returning to China, where I have already won twice.

“I know nobody has ever successfully defended the Volvo China Open title, but there is a first time for everything. And at least I can take my time going to China following the Masters this time, unlike last year when it was touch-and-go whether I would make it on time.”

YE also has another Volvo date in his diary in the coming weeks, after winning his place in the Volvo World Match Play Championship at Finca Cortesín from May 19–22.

He said: “I don’t get to play much match play golf, although I enjoyed a good run at the WGC-Accenture this year, beating Graeme McDowell to get to the quarter finals, where I lost narrowly to Matt Kuchar. I’ve heard great things about the Volvo World Match Play Championship and Finca Cortesín, so I’m very much looking forward to it.”

Three Qualify for 2011 VOLVO China Open

Damien McGrane winner in 2008

Three Chinese golfers Yang Guang-ming, Zhang Xin-jun and Zhang Chang-lei could not be separated as they finished in a three-way tie for first place at the Volvo China Open Mid China Qualifying event at Lakehill Golf Club.

Their five over par totals of 149 for the 36-hole event earned them each a place in the RMB20 million (Approx. US$3million) Volvo China Open at Luxehills International Country Club in Chengdu , which starts on April 21st.

It was a particularly pleasing result for Luxehills as the 26-year-old Yang is based at the club and will therefore give Chengdu golf fans a home favourite to follow as China's national open golf championship comes to town for the first time.

“I’m extremely happy with today’s result,” said Yang, the father of a two-year-old daughter. “I want to thank Volvo for giving me this chance. We all know that the Volvo China Open is a high profile event on the European Tour, and to win it at my home course would be a dream come true.”

The members and management at Luxehills were thrilled to hear of Yang’s success in Zhejiang province.

“This is very good news indeed,” said C.B Fong, general manager at Luxehills. “This will bring extra interest to everybody in Chengdu, and indeed to the people of Sichuan who will be watching the Volvo China Open in a month’s time.” 

The calm, sunny and dry conditions of the second and final round were in complete contrast to those endured in the opening round and it was expected that scores would fall for during final round.

However, with at least 10 players in with a good chance of qualifying it seemed that the pressure caused by the prospect of a place in their open golf championship conspired with the tough test presented by the 7,596 yard Neil Haworth-designed golf course got in the way of the anticipated low scoring.

Both Yang and Zhang Chang-lei added 75s to their first rounds of 74 for an aggregate 149.

Clearly delighted by the result, 25-year-old Shanghai-based Zhang Chang-lei said: “I played in the Volvo China Open at Jinji Lake last year and because it’s our national Open Championship it was a very special experience for me. So to qualify again for Chengdu is definitely one of the highlights of my season.”

Meanwhile, former national amateur squad member Zhang Xin-jun improved on his first round 76 by three, adding a 73 to also finish on 149 and ensure the first-ever three-way tie at the top of a Volvo China Open Qualifier leaderboard.

“I struck the ball really well today and I was both relieved and happy to see my 10-foot putt go in on the last,” said Zhang, who was born in Xian but recently moved to Chengdu .

“Since I now live in Chengdu I’m hoping that the local golf fans will give me lots of support when I play in the Volvo China Open next month," added Zhang.

A fourth player, Liao Gui Ming also tied for first place, but withdrew from the line-up; however Liao also shared in the winner's prize-fund taking home a cheque for 19,250RMB.

With no outright winner, the trio shared the first, second and third prizes, each earning RMB19,250 for their efforts, but the big prize for the threesome is the opportunity to line up in the Volvo China Open itself, rubbing shoulders with global golf stars such as Pádraig Harrington, Sergio García and Chinese number-one Liang Wenchong.

The 17th Volvo China Open will take place over the JMP-designed 7,335-yard layout at Luxehills International Country Club in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, and offers a record prize fund of RMB20 million (approx US$3 million) with the Champion receiving a cheque for RMB3.3 million (approx US$500,000).

In 2008 Damien McGrane defied the elements to claim his maiden European Tour title with a convincing nine stroke victory in the Volvo China Open when it was hosted at the Beijing CBD International Golf Club.