Beijing has been eagerly awaiting the return of the China Open after an eight-year absence, during which time the game has boomed in the city.
The tournament first teed off in the capital in 1995 with a three-year run at Beijing International, back in the days when there were only a handful of clubs in the city catering largely to expatriate golfers.
Since then the game's popularity has soared among the local business community and more than 20 courses have opened up around the city.
These days more than 50,000 Beijingers play golf on a regular basis, according to Li Hao, the owner of Beijing Honghua International Golf Club, the venue for the 12th China Open.
'There are huge differences from eight years ago,' Li said. 'The number of people playing golf is jumping by 20 to 30 per cent each year. And spectators are far more knowledgeable about the game now than before.' Sponsors were also excited about the game's rocketing popularity, he said, a point illustrated by the record US$1.8 million up for grabs at this year's Open, an increase of US$500,000 from last year, when it was held in November at the Shenzhen Golf Club.
Bringing the open back to Beijing was 'highly significant', he said.
