The details
The venue: Genzon GC, Shenzen, China
Date: May 2-5, 2019
Course stats: Par 72, 7,145 yards
Course summary: Drive it well and score on the par 5s – that’s the key to negotiating the Genzon course which is the returning host of the China Open. This parkland course last staged this event in 2014 but did host the Shenzhen International from 2015 to 2017. Fairways are generous on the A course, which will be used for this event, and the scores should approach the high teens under par.
Purse: €2.6 million
Defending champion: Alexander Bjork (-18)
Weather forecast: Warm with some cloud through most of tournament week. It should be overcast on Sunday with a chance of rain as the leaders reach the climax.
TV Coverage
Thursday: Sky Sports Golf and Main Event, 7.30am
Friday: Sky Sports Golf and Main Event, 7.30am
Saturday: Sky Sports Golf, 5.30am; Sky Sports Main Event, 6am
Sunday: Sky Sports Golf, 5.30am; Sky Sports Main Event, 6am and 8.45am
Volvo China Open betting tips: Steve’s players to follow
Taking course and event form then Alexander Levy (20/1 with bet365) would have to be on your list – but he comes with something of a question mark.
The Frenchman won the China Open in 2014 on this course and finished fourth and tied 8th in the Shenzhen International staged here in 2016 and 2017.
He also won the China Open again, at Topwin G&CC, in 2017 and was top 20 last year so his form in this part of the world is pretty stellar.
Levy missed the cut at the Trophee Hassan II last week, when defending his 2018 title, in what was his first competitive action since the first week of March.
I’m hoping those rounds of 75 and 77 were simply a tune up after a long spell on the sidelines – after he withdrew from the Oman Open through injury.
I say this because the price is short enough given he has only just come through his first foray after a decent spell on the sidelines. But, if he has shaken off the rust, you’d think he’d have to feature.
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Thongchai Jaidee (80/1) recorded his first top 10 in nearly a year in Morocco last week and the Thai could build on that here.
The 49-year-old has only played the Genzon layout on one occasion but did well enough – finishing tied 8th at the Shenzhen International in 2016 after opening and closing with rounds of 67 and 66.
Jaidee has been steady enough this season, with a top 20 at the Oman Open and a top 30 at the Maybank Championship, as he looks to return to the form that once made him a fixture of the world’s top 64.
Jazz Janewattananond (28/1) has been in decent touch all year on the Asian and European Tours.
Tied 4th at the Singha Chiang Mai open last week, that display followed a top five at the Bangabandhu Cup Golf Open two weeks previously.
He may have missed the cut at the Indian Open but Jazz was 3rd at the Maybank Championship and 4th the previous week at the New Zealand Open.
He’s got plenty to play for as – ranked at 72 – he’s on the fringes of the world’s top table and all that entails.
For the latest prices visit bet365.
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