– This week the Hainan Classic takes place, the second tournament of the European circuit season in China, consecutively following the Volvo China Open played last week. It is not unusual for the DP World Tour to travel to Chinese lands (although it stopped doing so in the years 2020, 21, 22, and 23 due to the pandemic), but this event is special as it will be the 50th European circuit tournament in this country since the first was held 21 years ago. Fortunately, Spanish golf has also left its mark in China in this half-century of tournaments (to date there are 49; this week marks the fiftieth).
– The first DP World Tour tournament played in China was a BMW Asian Open in May 2004. In that debut, there was only one Spanish player in the fray, but what a player: it was Miguel Ángel Jiménez, who curiously claimed victory.
– As is well known, Jiménez has not been the only Spanish winner in China. On one hand, Sergio García won the HSBC Champions in 2008 and Adrián Otaegui took the Volvo China Open last year, 2024. On the other hand, Gonzalo Fernández Castaño deserves a special mention, as he has won twice in China (BMW Asian Open 2006 and BMW Masters 2013), in addition to securing two runner-up finishes.
– In total, Spanish men’s golf has five victories in Chinese lands. Only the United States and England match this figure, both countries also with five victories to their name. This week, therefore, we could have a tiebreaker among these three powers. The American representation is not significant, it is true, but it includes names that should never be underestimated (Johannes Veerman, Sean Crocker, Brandon Wu, or Jordan Gumberg).
– Thirteen Spaniards start this Thursday in search of that sixth victory, with a player like Eugenio Chacarra who has shown to be in great form, and with the last-minute addition of Sebas García, who has been performing very well in the Challenge and has entered the tournament due to Colsaerts’ withdrawal. Also present are Larrazábal, Campillo, Cabrera Bello, Hidalgo, García Heredia, Tarrio, Nacho and Manu Elvira, Cantero, Boneta, and Moscatel.
– No player has won three times in these 49 tournaments already held in China. But several have done so on two occasions, starting with the aforementioned Gonzalo Fernández Castaño. The others are Paul Casey, Y. E. Yang, Alex Levy, Phil Mickelson, and Ashun Wu. Of all of them, only Levy and Wu are present this week and could therefore reach the trio of victories.
– Many great stars have passed through China in these 49 tournaments, especially thanks to the HSBC Champions, before and after becoming a World Golf Championship (which is no longer held). Tiger Woods, for example, played in China on four occasions but never managed to win (he was second twice).
– In addition to five victories, Spanish golf boasts four runner-up finishes in China. Two by Gonzalo Fernández Castaño, one by Pablo Martín, and another by Adrián Otaegui.
– This week the Hainan Classic is played at the Blackstone course of Mission Hills Resort Haikou, on Hainan Island. And if top-level golf in China has been characterised by anything, it is the use of many and varied courses: the 49 mentioned tournaments have been played on a total of 16 different courses.
– In addition to these 49 tournaments, four editions of the World Cup by countries were also held in China.
