Volvo China Open participants share insights and expectations

As the 2024 Volvo China Open at Hidden Grace Golf Club in Shenzhen is set to begin on Thursday, players met with the media on Wednesday to share their thoughts and expectations for the tournament.

The 156-player field showcases a strong mix of DP World Tour professionals alongside promising young Chinese players.

Among them is China's Chen Guxin, who tied for second place in last year's Volvo China Open and has since earned a spot on the DP World Tour. At just 20 years old, he has been adapting to the challenges and rewards of competing at this higher level.

Reflecting on his performance last year and his outlook for this year's tournament, Chen said, "Last year, I didn't have many expectations for this tournament. I just focused on doing a good job with every shot, and the results were surprisingly good. This year we're going to use the same strategy, which is just to focus on every shot, and let the results come as they may."

With rain persisting in the forecast for the past few days, it poses a unique challenge for the competitors. Chen observed, "With the heavy rainfall we've had recently, the greens will be much slower than last year. It's part of the challenge for us players, and I hope we can adapt quickly to the changes on the course."

Regarding whether there is any added pressure due to this being China's premier open championship, Chen did acknowledge a difference, stating, "My goal is definitely to achieve better results because it's my own country's Open."

Wu Ashun, a veteran of the DP World Tour and past champion of the Volvo China Open, won the tournament in 2015. He cherishes this event, saying, "Winning the Volvo China Open as the first Chinese player to win a DP World Tour event on home soil was a milestone. The tournament was in Shanghai, my hometown. Celebrating this victory in front of family, friends and fans was a highlight for me. The pandemic prevented me from playing on the tour for a few years, but I returned this year. We all value this tournament and I hope it will be a great success. I aim to perform well this week."

Wu, one of the most decorated Chinese golfers, boasts over a decade of professional experience and three wins on the DP World Tour. Reflecting on the mindset that kept him competitive over the years, he said, "The secret is never giving up. Throughout these ten years, there have been smooth times and difficult ones. However, I never gave up. My passion for golf helped me endure the tough times. I always had faith in myself and knew that the rough patches were temporary. I kept practicing and playing according to my plan."

Defending champion Sarit Suwannarut was also delighted to return to Hidden Grace Golf Club. The 26-year-old from Thailand secured victory here last year with a final round of eight-under-par 64, winning the tournament by an impressive six-shot margin. He expressed his gratitude to the organizers, stating, "Thank you for having me back. I'm excited to be playing in China again and I hope I can perform as well as I did last year."

On how he is feeling about the elevated spotlight of defending his title while playing with DP World Tour competitors, he shared, "I'm not thinking about anyone else, so it's as if I'm playing against myself. If I play well enough to win the tournament, and don't let up, no one can outperform me. I try not to think about others and focus on my own goals. But I'm also a student, always learning."

The 2024 Volvo China Open is set to take place from May 2nd to 5th at Hidden Grace Golf Club in Shenzhen. Making a highly anticipated return to the DP World Tour after a five-year hiatus, this tournament holds significance as the longest-standing international professional golf event in the Chinese mainland, now celebrating its 29th edition. Organized by the China Golf Association and co-sanctioned by both the DP World Tour and the China Tour, this event attracts top talent from around the globe. With a total prize fund of $2.25 million in 2024, along with both Race to Dubai ranking points and Olympic qualification points on offer, there's no shortage of incentives for players to showcase their best performance on the course this weekend.