Published July 17, 2008 on April 25, 2018

Young Guns at the Volvo China Open

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Malaysia’s Gavin Green, his good friend Shubhankar Sharma of India as well as the best players from Asia and Europe will be eyeing a memorable outing at the Volvo China Open when they tee off at the Beijing Topwin Golf and Country Club on Thursday.

It has been a meteoric rise for Sharma since claiming his breakthrough victory at the Joburg Open last December. The 21-year-old Indian secured his second title in Malaysia two months later and went on to finish top-10 in his World Golf Championship debut in Mexico, thereby earning an invite for his Major debut at The Masters tournament.

Sitting atop the Asian Tour’s Habitat for Humanity Standings following a victory and one top-10 result, India’s number one Sharma has established himself as one of the title favorites at the CN¥20,000,000 (approx. US$3,178,000) event, which is the oldest professional golf tournament in the Middle Kingdom.

Shankar said, “It is great to be here. I had the chance to visit the Great Wall of China yesterday and it was a great experience. This is my first time in China and I am really excited. I arrived at 7.45am yesterday morning from Houston and I went straight to the Great Wall after checking in to the hotel.

“It will be great to have another win definitely. I have had a superb season so far. I am just trying to do the same things that I have been doing for the past few months. It’s my first time playing in the Volvo China Open. I have seen the course on television before and Jeev (Milkha Singh) won the tournament back in 2006.

“Jeev and I both came from Chandigarh in India. I basically see him every day on the range when we’re back home. He’s a very good friend of mine. I looked up to him since I was a kid and I believe it’s the same for other young players back home.

“I remember it was a great moment for us back home when he won the Volvo China Open in 2006. He’s always good to talk to and he always has nice things to say. I met him yesterday and we caught up for a little while. He asked me how the Masters was for me and the other events in the United States.

“The game’s feeling good. I haven’t really had a break. I was playing in the United States for the past few weeks. A bit of up and downs but that’s how golf is. I am feeling confident with how has transpired over the past few weeks. I know my game is there. I just need one good tournament to win again.

“It was great to see Rahil winning in Japan last week. In fact, I was with Anirban (Lahiri) and we were talking about Rahil’s game and how we really wanted him to win. We were all very happy for him when he won. He’s one of the most likeable guys on Tour.

“It’s good to see the recent rise of Indian golf. We have more and more good players winning out there. It’s great for the development of golf in India. If I can contribute to that in any way, I will be very happy.

“It feels great to be back playing on the Asian Tour. I am leading the Habitat for Humanity Standing right now so I will try my best to play as many events as I can. This is where I started so it will be great if I can win the Order of Merit crown.

He will spearhead the Asian Tour challenge alongside Thai stars Kiradech Aphibarnrat and Thongchai Jaidee, as well as reigning Order of Merit champion Gavin Green of Malaysia, who was awarded the 2017 Sportsman of the Year by his state government last week.

“It’s been a really interesting course so far, from what I have seen. I am really comfortable with it. It looks good and it’s something that I am actually looking forward to. It’s a good track and there are a lot of good players here this week,” said Gavin Green.

He added, “It will be a good week to play well in and I really want to do that. I am just going to take it hole by hole, shot by shot and do the best I can.

“I won the State Athlete of the Year award back home last week. It was pretty cool. It’s a great recognition for me from the government. The game’s feeling alright. It’s improving. I went through a little bit of a quiet time. I wasn’t finishing very well.

“Hopefully I can finish off strongly this week and in the next few tournaments. I have a couple of goals this year. I will try to play as many Asian Tour events as I can. I am just trying to balance my schedule as it’s very full right now.

“I went to the Great Wall of China with my parents yesterday. It was my first time there. I tried to go as high up as I can. It was a great experience.”

Fresh from winning his fifth European Tour title in Morocco last week, Alexander Levy of France is confident of launching a successful title defence where he will also take aim at winning the tournament for a record third time this week. He is the only player to have won twice.

Levy said,  “I am very happy to be back here. Winning last week and defending my title this week feels way better than I would have imagined. I didn’t think of withdrawing from this tournament even though I won in Morocco last week. I really like this tournament and I love to be back. I can’t ask for a better way to defend my title this week.

“I still remember my celebration on the 18th last year. The memories came back when I played the hole in the pro-am today. I slept only two hours but I just had a massage earlier so I’m feeling alright now. I will be ready for tomorrow when I play with my good buddies Haotong and Kiradech.

“I was supposed to fly to China on Sunday night but I had to postpone my flight as it was just too much adrenaline for me to fly that night.

“If you keep thinking about your goals, you will never improve your game. For sure I want to win this tournament and become better but I need to improve my game first. I need to be a better player first.

“I kept my mind in the best way that I have ever been on the golf course to win last week as the course was very tough. It’s another step forward for me so it’s very nice. I practiced really hard and I will continue to do so. The best improvement I have had this year is my mindset.I try to be less emotional out there and just be straightforward.”

Local prospect Yanwei Liu reckons home comfort will provide an edge for him when he chases for glory in what will be his sixth appearance in his National Open. The 20-year-old is among the record 42 players who will represent China in the prestigious event.

The 24th edition of the Volvo China Open is tri-sanctioned by the Asian Tour, European Tour, and the China Golf Association. It is staged for the third successive year at the Topwin Golf and Country Club.