After last week’s Shenzhen International, the European Tour stays in China for the Volvo China Open at Topwin Golf and Country Club, which enjoys spectacular views of the Great Wall of China.
Li Haotong became the second consecutive home winner of the event 12 months ago with a winning total of 22 under par, with more low scoring expected despite the tricky greens.
With that in mind, the first of our Volvo China Open betting tips is Denmark’s Thorbjorn Olesen, whose four European Tour wins to date have come at a combined total of 70 under par.
Olesen was 15 under in winning his maiden title in Sicily in 2012, 17 under in Perth in 2014, 18 under in the Dunhill Links in 2015 and 20 under when claiming the Turkish Airlines Open last year.
The 27-year-old was 15th in this event last year and eighth last week, but can be backed at 28/1 to get another victory under his belt.
South Africa’s Haydn Porteous finished just a shot behind Olesen 12 months ago and is our second Volvo China Open selection at 66/1, despite a somewhat disappointing performance last week.
Porteous was a shot off the lead after an opening 67, but failed to break par the rest of the week and had to settle for a share of 45th. However, after a run of six missed cuts in succession dating back to the end of 2016, the big-hitting South African has made the last five in a row, including recovering from an opening 77 to finish tied 13th in the Hassan Trophy.
Last week’s winner Bernd Wiesberger and England’s Ross Fisher lead the betting, but it’s tough to justify backing the pair at odds of 10/1 and 11/1 respectively, so instead we’ll take a punt on Sweden’s Peter Hanson for our final pick.
Hanson has won six times on the European Tour and featured on two victorious Ryder Cup teams, but has not tasted victory since 2012 and played just 10 times in 2014 due to a back injury.
However, the 39-year-old was sixth in this event last year and fourth in the British Masters, while he currently ranks 10th in greens in regulation with 77.8 per cent. He was also eighth in Abu Dhabi earlier this season and could reward a small interest at 50/1.
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