Haotong Li and Wenyi Ding may be at different points in their careers but they are both relishing the expectation that comes with playing on home soil at the Volvo China Open.
The Chinese duo will be a huge draw for the crowds this week at Enhance Anting Golf Club as the 30th anniversary edition of the national championship marks the penultimate stop of the DP World Tour’s Asian Swing.
World-recognised Li will lead the home charge in Shanghai on the back of a strong start to the Race to Dubai season, having won his fourth DP World Tour title in Qatar in February.
As the top-ranked Chinese player in the 156-strong field, there will be high hopes he can mount a title challenge at an event where he first announced himself with victory in 2016 – something the 29-year-old is embracing.
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"I play with pressure and high expectations," said Li on the eve of his 202nd start on the DP World Tour. "Home crowds, a home sporting event, that’s the best thing about this week.
"I feel like I deal with the pressure well and I enjoy it. That’s what we play for, isn’t it?
"It’s such a great honour to play at home and so nice to be at home, playing such a valuable event. There’s a lot of memories from junior times and especially when I won in 2016."
The tournament - co-sanctioned by the China Tour - also provides a great opportunity for golf fans to get a close-up view of the game’s rising young stars.
Among them is DP World Tour rookie Ding, who turned professional last year after a successful amateur career which culminated with him topping the inaugural Global Amateur Pathway Ranking.
Echoing Li's anticipation at the chance to fly the flag for Chinese golf on the world stage, Ding said: "I’m so excited to be here and playing in my home country. I know a lot of friends who are playing this week, I’m really happy to be here.
"I just feel really happy because a lot of people will support me this week. It’s a different feeling. I can’t let them down."
The Beijing-born golfer finished in a tie for fifth in Australia in just his second start of the campaign, and now comes into his debut at his home open on the back of consecutive top 20 finishes in Kenya, South Africa and Singapore.
"I’m very grateful that the DP World Tour gave us the opportunity (through the Global Amateur Pathway)," he added.
"It’s a really good pathway to get on to a Tour, and it’s a really important thing that I was able to do."
Designed by renowned American architect Robert Trent Jones II, the course this week features an interconnected system of lakes, with the 614-yard par-five 18th its signature hole.
"The course is different, this week it’s a lot windier and the course is open if you’re not being aggressive," said Li. "It’s a second-shot course. If you have good approaches, you will have good chances.
"Based on my stats I feel like I have a great look this week; my approaches definitely. We will see how it is after Thursday."
Ding, who has changed his putting grip ahead of the event, added: "You just need to put the ball on the fairway and put the ball on the green.
"That’s so important this week, you just have to make sure you’re safe and it won’t be too bad."
