Volvo China Open to be first OneAsia event

Former Asian number ones Thongchai Jaidee and Liang Wen-chong are amongst the favourites to make history this week by winning the Volvo China Open, the first tournament on the mould-breaking OneAsia Super Series.

Thailand’s Thongchai, an 11-time winner and the first player to win more than US$3 million in the region, spearheads the Asian challenge with local hero Liang, the Chinese number one who topped the regional rankings in 2007.

The Volvo China Open will be staged at Beijing CBD International Golf Club from April 16-19 and boasts prize money of US$2.2 million, the richest purse in Asia so far this season.

The OneAsia Super Series is backed by several of the most powerful bodies in Asia-Pacific golf – the China Golf Association, the Korea Golf Association, the Korean Tour and the PGA Tour of Australasia.

The Japan Golf Tour Organisation has signed a memorandum of understanding with OneAsia and has committed to join the series in 2010, provided certain conditions are met.

OneAsia plans to stage a minimum of five tournaments with prize money in excess of US$1 million in 2009 with between 12 to 15 events expected to be on the 2010 schedule. By 2011 up to 20 tournaments could be held as the Super Series zeroes in on its objective of increasing the playing opportunities in the region.

“This is a historic moment for Asian golf,” the founding partners of OneAsia said in a statement. “OneAsia is about the creation of a tournament schedule in Asia-Pacific that, ultimately, will provide our leading players with a full time playing option in the region.

“It is our aim that our best players can legitimately choose to stay and play in Asia-Pacific – by the creation of a real alternative to the existing tours.”

Thongchai, a two-time winner of the regional Order of Merit, will be joined in the field for the Volvo China Open by countrymen Chapchai Niirat and Chinnarat Phadungsil, both multiple champions on the Asian circuit.

Chapchai wrote his name in the record books last month by winning the SAIL Open in India with a score of 32 under par, a new world mark.

India’s Shiv Kapur, who triumphed at the 2005 Volvo Masters of Asia, and compatriot SSP Chowrasia, winner of last year’s Indian Masters, are also featured in the strong line-up.

Chinese interest will centre on Liang and the country’s best-known player, Zhang Lian-wei, who won the Volvo China Open in 2003. Wu Ashun, who has had two top-10s in Asian events this season, and 2008 Omega China Tour Order of Merit winner Liao Guiming are amongst a record number of Chinese participants in their home Open.

Despite the ongoing dispute between the Asian Tour and OneAsia, numerous Asian Tour members have been given releases to participate in the Volvo Chian Open - those who are dual Asian/European Tour members, and also mainland Chinese players.

Kang Wook-soon, the region’s top player in 1996 and 1998 and the winner of seven tournaments, leads a strong Korean contingent.

Scotland’s Colin Montgomerie, the recently appointed Ryder Cup captain for the 2010 clash with the United States, defending champion Damien McGrane of Ireland and in-form Swede Johan Edfors, winner of the recent Black Mountain Masters in Thailand, head the European challenge in the joint-sanctioned event.

April 14, 2009

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