Title holder Dodd targets Volvo China Open

Welshman Stephen Dodd is fired up for his title defence at the Volvo China Open in November, saying last year's breakthrough gave him a new lease of golfing life.

The quiet man from Cardiff has confirmed that he would return for the US$1.3 million championship at Shenzhen Golf Club from November 24-27, an event jointly sanctioned by the Asian Tour and European Tour.

"Although going into the event as a defending champion will be something new to me, naturally coming back to the place where you won your maiden Tour victory will remain close to my heart until the day I die," said Dodd.

"And given my fond memories of 2004, I am looking forward to it immensely," added the 39-year-old.

Dodd held off a fierce challenge from Ryder Cup star Thomas Bjorn last year to lift his first professional victory, 14 years after turning professional. He had won the 1989 Amateur Open Championship but his career failed to blossom as expected after joining the paid ranks.

The Welshman's struggles saw him return to Qualifying School on 10 occasions but it all fell into place at Shanghai Silport Golf Club last year when he romped to a three-stroke victory with his winning total of 12-under-par 276.

"I really enjoyed the course as well as how beautiful I found China. I immediately felt comfortable at the event and in the end I guess the thing that stuck out the most was the realisation that I could win on The European Tour.

"I think the fact I was comfortable with how I was playing and the fact I was able to compose myself all the way through the final two rounds was the biggest thing that helped me win," said Dodd.

Following his maiden success, Dodd went on to win the Irish Open this year, beating Ryder Cup star David Howell in a play-off, and has also posted three top-10 finishes, including a runner-up outing behind world number three Ernie Els at the Dubai Desert Classic.

He has earned just under 900,000 euros this season, which is already a career high and Dodd said that his Volvo success has been the catalyst to an outstanding 2005 season thus far.

"Without doubt, it (the win) gave me the belief and the temperament that, in a position to win, I had nothing to fear and knew from that point on that I could hold my own and do what was required to cross the finishing line.

"Although I won in Ireland, I was also second in Dubai where I felt I never really put a foot wrong. On the last day, I played well and did not feel I lost the tournament. Ernie won it as he stepped up a gear over the closing stretch and did something only a player of his calibre could do to pip me at the post.

"Ireland however came down to a test of nerve and without a doubt, the experience of winning in China gave me the inner belief to go on and lift the title," said Dodd.

He's also excited at being part of the Volvo China Open's impact on creating a golf revolution in the Middle Kingdom.

"As a country I found it to be superb and I feel that by playing the co sanctioned events it is good for everybody concerned," said Dodd.

It was in early 1995 that Volvo and the China Golf Association made golfing history together by creating the Open Championship of the world's most populated country. It spawned top Chinese players Zhang Lian-wei, Chen Jun and Liang Wen-chong and yet, it would be another nine years before another global brand would commit to title sponsor a major golf tournament in China.

This year Dodd will find himself in the midst of another piece of golfing history as the Volvo China Open sets off to follow in the footsteps of The (British) Open and the US Open by opening up places to players who win their way through via local pre qualifying competitions.

The field of 144 at Shenzhen in November will include eight such players who will pit their skills against regulars from the Asian and European Tours and the top Chinese pros. In June this year, Michael Campbell of New Zealand came through pre qualifying stages to win the US Open.

September 27, 2005

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