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Dougherty and former champions sign up for Volvo China Open

Swashbuckling Englishman Nick Dougherty and in-form former champions Simon Dyson of England, Korean star Charlie Wi and Welshman Stephen Dodd have added glamour to the US$1.8 million Volvo China Open next week.

Germany's Alex Cejka, a four-time European Tour winner and now a regular on the US PGA Tour, will also head full speed to Beijing Honghua Golf Club from April 13-16 and challenge for the coveted title.

Dougherty is in flying form after registering four recent top-10s on the back of a career best season in 2005, which included a maiden professional title. The supremely talented 23-year-old feels a second career victory is around the corner after coming close in recent months.

Lifting the Open Championship of the world's most populous nation, and denying compatriot Paul Casey a successful title defence, is a strong possibility as Dougherty has contended twice over the past month and is now shooting for the top prize at the Volvo China Open, jointly sanctioned by the Asian Tour and European Tour.

“Every time you have a chance to win, I think you get closer to winning again. I was disappointed not to have won both the OSIM Singapore Masters (where he finished second) and the TCL Classic (fourth) as I did have a chance at both of them, but if I keep knocking on the door, then I'm confident my next victory isn't far away,” said Dougherty, currently sixth on the European Tour Order of Merit.

Dougherty warned his rivals that his game has yet to hit into fifth gear despite the strong early-season results. A winning performance in Beijing could also consolidate his chase for a maiden appearance in the Ryder Cup later this year.

“It's a work in progress. I haven't played all that great recently, but to get good results when I feel I'm not playing my best gives me confidence,” said Dougherty, who finished 15th on the European Order of Merit last season.

He will have to deal with a trio of in-form former Volvo China Open champions, who have also signed up for the prestigious championship. This year, Volvo has increased prize money by US$500,000.

England's Dyson, winner in 2000, Korea's Wi, who triumphed in 2001, and 2004 winner Dodd will attempt to become the first player to win the Volvo China Open for a second time. Their current winning form could well see them play their way into the history books.

Dyson delivered a superb 20-under-par 268 winning display in the Indonesia Open last month and believes he can relive his glory days of 2000 when he won three times en route to lifting the Order of Merit title in Asia. “There's no reason why I can't win another one," said the 28-year-old Yorkshireman.

"I got the first win in Asia early and won three titles previously, so there's no reason why I can’t do it again. If I play like that for the rest of the year there could be another one,” said Dyson.

When he triumphed in the Volvo China Open in 2000, a week after his maiden professional success in Macau, Dyson was over the moon. "I can’t believe it. It’s a good feeling and I can’t put it to words. They say the first is special but this one feels so great because the Volvo China Open is a very big championship in Asia."

Wi, who holds seven career wins on the Asian Tour, was victorious at the Malaysian Open in February and will be amongst the front runners at the Nick Faldo-designed Hong Hua course. Dodd has grown from strength to strength after his success in 2004 as he went on to claim the Irish Open and World Cup with Bradley Dredge last year.

Other talented European Tour stalwarts who will play the Volvo China Open include South African Charl Schawrtzel and Frenchman Raphael Jacquelin. Cejka, who has represented Germany in eight World Cups, is also tipped to throw in his challenge in Beijing.

Volvo was the first sponsor of professional golf in China, launching the Volvo China Open in 1995 with close cooperation with the China Golf Association and Richtone Worldwide.

It plays an irreplaceable role in the 21-year history of golf in China and was the first to create a 72-hole Open competition named after the nation. The advent of China's national Open has also cultivated top-class golfers in China and Asia such as Zhang Lian-wei, Chen Jun and Liang Wen-chong.

April 3, 2006