China Open moved to December, but off European Tour calendar
- Zhang Huilin returns to his ‘happy place’ at Shenzhen Genzon Golf Club to defend 2020 title and stake claim of US$312,000 prize pot
- Event not co-sanctioned by the European Tour for second year, after it was removed from calendars in September
The Chinese golf season will climax with the 2021 Volvo China Open on December 16-19 after the showpiece event was moved from November 4-7.
Organisers confirmed that event, which takes place at Shenzhen Genzon Golf Club, will be solely sanctioned by the PGA China Tour for a second year.
From 2004 until last year’s Covid-19 pandemic the event had been co-sanctioned by the European Tour. It was removed from this season’s schedule in September.
China Golf Association chairman Zhang Xiaoning explained the decision for the China Tour to exclusively sanction the event, which has also been part of the Asia Tour, for a second successive year.
“This year, under the situation of regular epidemic prevention and control, the Volvo China Open will continue to be exclusively sanctioned by the China Tour,” Zhang said in a statement.
“The staging of the tournament plays a major role in improving the competitive level of Chinese golfers, strengthening preparations for the Hangzhou Asian Games, developing the reserve of golf talent in China, promoting the sport to the public, and underlining the development of the golf industry in China.”
