The Asian Swing comes to a conclusion this week at the inaugural Hainan Classic. Here are your five things to know.
50 up for DP World Tour in China
After the Volvo China Open celebrated its 30th edition last week, the DP World Tour remains in China for what is a landmark 50th visit to the country. Since its first trip in 2004 for the BMW Asian Open, Golf's Global Tour has been a regular visiter over the last three decades. The Hainan Classic is the eighth different tournament to be held on the DP World Tour schedule, furthering strengthening the Tour's presence in the region. Among past events to have been held in China were the HSBC Champions, which became part of the World Golf Championships rota in 2009, and attracted the world's best golfers. For a breakdown of the DP World Tour's history in China, click here.
All to play for as Asian Swing concludes
The third of the DP World Tour's five Global swings comes to a close this week and there is plenty on the line for those in the field. All Race to Dubai points earned across the Porsche Singapore Classic, Hero Indian Open and Volvo China Open have counted towards the Asian Swing Rankings and this week we will crown a winner with the last counting event. The player who finishes top will earn a place in all events in Phase Two of the DP World Tour season, the Back 9, and a US$200,000 bonus. The players who finish first to third only in the Swing will also earn a spot in the field for the season's second Major, the US PGA Championship at Quail Hollow Club from May 15-18. There is also a spot available at the Genesis Scottish Open - the second Rolex Series event of the season - for the highest-ranked player in the Rankings not already exempt.
Nakajima leads the way in Swing race
Despite a missed cut at China's national open in Shanghai last week, Keita Nakajima retained his lead at the top of the Asian Swing Rankings. Spaniard Eugenio Chacarra, who pipped the Japanese to victory for his maiden DP World Tour title at the Hero Indian Open, is his nearest challenger, trailing by 44.67 points. On the back of his fifth DP World Tour title at the Volvo China Open, Ashun Wu - now exempt on Tour until the end of next season - sits third alongside Richard Mansell, who opted to miss the Chinese double header after claiming his maiden DP World Tour win in Singapore last month. Fifth-placed Jordan Smith is absent in Hainan too, as he hopes to build on his runner-up finish last week when he teams up with Laurie Canter at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans on the PGA TOUR. Heading into the final event of the Swing, and with 585 points on offer to the winner, anyone up to Matthew Jordan in 12th could finish top of the rankings. For a breakdown of the Asian Swing Rankings ahead of the Hainan Classic, click here.
Mission Hills plays host
Mission Hills Haikou, located on the tropical island of Hainan, is one of Asia’s most prestigious golf resorts. It boasts ten championship courses, including the renowned Blackstone Course, which will play host to the Hainan Classic. The venue previously hosted the 2011 World Cup of Golf, which was won by American duo Matt Kuchar and Gary Woodland. Known for its striking volcanic rock landscape and strategic design, Blackstone has also staged events such as the World Ladies Championship and the biennial World Celebrity Pro-Am. And while this is the first time Mission Hills Haikou has hosted an individual stroke play event on the DP World Tour, it is not the European Tour group's first on the island, with the HotelPlanner Tour holding the Hainan Open, which is set for its third edition in October.
Inside the field
Co-sanctioned by the China Tour, the Hainan Classic has attracted a strong international field, featuring DP World Tour winners, rising stars, and homegrown talent eager to make an impact on home soil. Chinese star Haotong Li climbed to ninth on the Race to Dubai Rankings with a top five finish in his home open last week, and will again be bidding to challenge for a second win of the season after his win in Qatar in February. Among those hoping to stop him will be American Johannes Veerman, South Africa's Dylan Naidoo, Scotland's Calum Hill and Australia's Elvis Smylie, all players to have won on the 2025 Race to Dubai schedule. There will also be keen interest on home talents Zihao Jin - the 2024 China Tour Order of Merit winner - and Wenyi Ding, the inaugural winner of the Global Amateur Pathway. Graduates of the HotelPlanner Tour and the Qualifying School will all be aiming to pick up valuable Race to Dubai points, including the likes of emerging talents Martin Couvra and Jacob Skov Olesen and experienced duo Edoardo Molinari and Alexander Levy. 24-year-old amateur Taichi Kho, who became the first golfer from Hong Kong to compete at The Open in 2023, is in action as an invite.
