Ryder cup stars head full steam to Volvo China Open

Ryder Cup heroes Paul Casey and Thomas Levet will star in the US$1.3 million Volvo China Open later this month alongside swashbuckling Englishman Nick Dougherty.

The talented trio will be amongst the contingent from Europe who will head full speed to Asia to wrest the Volvo trophy from Welshman Stephen Dodd at Shenzhen Golf Club from November 24-27.

For Casey, he will be counting on a triumphant return to China as he claimed victory in Sanya earlier this season. The 28-year-old Englishman is in solid form after posting two top-10s in the closing events on the European Tour, including a tied 15th finish in the season-ending Volvo Masters in Spain.

Casey endured a lean spell during summer but after finishing third in Switzerland at the European Masters, he was delighted to have regained his best form. "I came close to catching the leaders a few times, but overall I can’t be too frustrated. I feel I am getting back to where I want to be.”

Casey and Dougherty, who broke through with a maiden European Tour title after a memorable win in Singapore this year, are both former winners of the European Tour Rookie of the Year award in 2001 and 2002 respectively.

A four-time winner on the European Tour, Casey, a two-time English Amateur champion, also tasted team success in the Ryder Cup in 2004 and capped his year by teaming up with compatriot Luke Donald to lift the WGC-World Cup in Spain where he holed the winning putt.

The 23-year-old Dougherty is nicknamed "Little Nick" as he is a protégé of six-time major winner Nick Faldo. After an impressive amateur career – his first title was an under-14 event when he was six, Dougherty turned professional the week after playing a major role in the victorious Great Britain and Ireland Walker Cup team in 2001.

He completed an impressive first season on The European Tour by finishing in 36th place on the Order of Merit in 2002, but was hindered in 2003 by glandular fever and endured a relatively quiet 2004.

But earlier this year, Dougherty finally underlined his growing potential. He enjoyed a flying start with a fourth place finish at the South African Airways Open before enjoying his career breakthrough in Singapore where he held off European stalwarts Colin Montgomerie and Thomas Bjorn.

Dougherty, a huge Beatles fan, has lived up to the famous fab four's tune where his hard work led him to four more top-10s, including a second place finish at the German Masters. He finished a career high 15th on the European Tour Order of Merit after signing off the recent season with an equal 15th place outing in the Volvo Masters in Spain after a final round 65 at Valderrama.

Dougherty said of his breakthrough victory: "It was only after putting out at the last hole that I said to myself 'oh my God' I have won. It is magnificent to win and to do it against guys like Colin and Thomas, two greats of the game, makes it even better. It was picture perfect really."

Levet is the "clown prince" on the European Tour and is always eager to show off a trick or two to entertain fans. Last year, the Frenchman enjoyed his best season by finishing fifth on the Order of Merit, thanks largely to his success at the Scottish Open where he romped to victory with a superb final round 63.

The 37-year-old was part of Europe's victorious Ryder Cup team last year and is also famous for finishing second in the British Open in 2002, losing to South African star Ernie Els after a play-off. Such was his magnanimous heart that he gave Els a lift on the green despite losing a major title.