Hainan Classic presented by MAEXTRO: Five things to know – Articles

The DP World Tour arrives in China this week for the beginning of the Asian Swing on the Hainan Classic presented by MAEXTRO. Here are your 5 things to know.

A brand new format

Co-sanctioned by the DP World Tour and the China Tour, the match returns for the second 12 months operating and this time with an modern format. A subject of 120 prime worldwide gamers and 120 amateurs will compete, with one skilled and one novice enjoying collectively in a staff throughout the opening two rounds cut up between the Blackstone and Vintage programs at Mission Hills Haikou. Both gamers and amateurs will use buggies over the primary two days, with no prize cash at play within the staff competitors. An particular person stroke play competitors takes place concurrently, with the highest 65 and ties on the midway stage progressing to play on the Blackstone course over the ultimate 36 holes. The whole prize fund for the occasion is US$2.55 million, with 3,500 Race to Dubai factors on supply.

The venue

Mission Hills Haikou, positioned on the tropical island of Hainan, is one in every of Asia’s most prestigious golf resorts and boasts ten championship programs. The Blackstone course was solely used for the final 12 months’s version, and beforehand hosted the 2011 World Cup of Golf, received by American duo Matt Kuchar and Gary Woodland. Known for its placing volcanic rock panorama and strategic design, the course – measuring over 7,700 yards – is likely one of the longest we see on Tour. The par 5 thirteenth measures 681 yards on the scorecard, so size off the tee is probably going to be an attribute. Holes on the Vintage, a course that performs over some 250 acres, characteristic placing, abrupt mounds, deep pots, sq. edges, ridges, blind photographs, lengthy and skinny bunkers close to each small and large greens with wicker basket pins. The ninth on the Vintage has a bunker positioned on the inexperienced itself – you do not see that always on Tour. Both programs are designed by American course architect Brian Curley.

Inside the sector

Major Championship, Ryder Cup and Rolex Series winner Francesco Molinari will look to construct on a promising begin to the 12 months on the DP World Tour, highlighted by a fourth-place end on the Hero Dubai Desert Classic in January. Fellow a number of DP World Tour winner Dan Bradbury is the highest-ranked participant on the Race to Dubai Rankings Delivered by DP World at fourth place, with Andy Sullivan, Calum Hill, Nacho Elvira, Freddy Schott and Angel Ayora additionally within the prime 15 and teeing it up. France’s Martin Couvra will probably be one other to be careful for as he appears to be like to return to the heights of the shape that noticed him win the Sir Henry Cotton Rookie of the Year Award final 12 months. The occasion brings collectively worldwide expertise whereas shining a highlight on rising stars from Asia and China. Among the native contingent are Wenyi Ding and Yanhan Zhou, a brand new member on the DP World Tour this season after successful final 12 months’s Order of Merit on the China Tour. Five-time DP World Tour winner Ashun Wu provides to a robust Chinese line-up.

Start of the Asian Swing

This week sees the beginning of the Asian Swing, the third of 5 Global Swings on the 2026 Race to Dubai. Next week, the Hero Indian Open takes place on the notoriously difficult DLF Golf and Country Club. There is then every week’s break earlier than the world’s finest – together with a number of DP World Tour members – assemble for the Masters Tournament at Augusta National, which doesn’t rely in direction of the Swing rankings. There is then an additional week-lengthy pause, earlier than the motion resumes with the Volvo China Open. The Swing then attracts to a detailed with the Turkish Airlines Open. The participant who wins probably the most factors throughout the 4 counting occasions will win the Swing and acquire entry into all occasions in Phase Two of the season – the Back 9 – and a US$200,000 bonus, with a spot on the Genesis Scottish Open additionally up for grabs. The main three DP World Tour members on the shut of the Asian Swing will qualify for this 12 months’s US PGA Championship. At the conclusion of the Back 9, the highest 70 gamers on the Race to Dubai Rankings Delivered by DP World will then head to the UAE for the beginning of Phase Three of the season – the DP World Tour Play-Offs.

A busy week on and off the course

The Hainan Classic, one in every of two occasions in China on the DP World Tour this season, supplies a chance for Hainan to strengthen its place as a world golf vacation spot for tourism by attracting golfers and guests from across the globe. But it is not simply the match motion that’s going down, with a Charity Auction Gala taking place on Friday to increase cash in direction of growing grassroots golfers into the celebs of the long run whereas supporting the continued development of the sport throughout China and Asia. The occasion has engaged with a number of native colleges, with youngsters set to take within the motion on-web site throughout the week, whereas junior golf clinics will even be staged together with a six-gap enjoyable-crammed occasion for kids and their mother and father. On Saturday, in the course of the third spherical, eight juniors could have their shot at upstaging the celebs in a Beat the Pro initiative on the fifteenth gap on the Blackstone course. MAEXTRO, China’s excessive-finish luxurious automotive model, have come on board because the presenting sponsor for the occasion.