Bjorn praises ‘remarkable growth’ of golf in China

Ryder Cup captain Thomas Bjorn is delighted to be back at the Volvo China Open – 13 years after he finished second at the event’s European Tour debut.

The Volvo China Open joined the Tour as part of the 2005 season and has since gone from strength to strength as an ever-present fixture on the international schedule.

The event, and the emergence of the Shenzhen International and WGC-HSBC Champions, has seen golf grow in China with Ashun Wu and Li Haotong making it back-toback Chinese wins the past two seasons.

That duo also finished second at the ISPS HANDA World Cup of Golf last season, and Bjorn, who will lead Europe in Paris next year, is happy to see the world’s most populous nation embrace the sport.

“It has always been a tournament I have enjoyed,” said the Dane in an interview with europeantour.com

“We have played at some great venues and we have enjoyed our relationship here in China, and certainly the one we have with Volvo and the China Open which has become special over the years, so it is a good event to come and play.

“It’s a remarkable growth really. The first time we came here, there was a general feeling of it being very new but now it is an integral part of our Tour and world golf as well.

“It has grown a lot from a tournament perspective, both the professional and amateur game, and they have so many good players coming through putting their stamp on the game.

“One of the big things for Chinese golf is now the Olympics and I think that will play a massive part in growing the game in this country even more.

“Everything is taking steps in the right direction, I think maybe we thought it was going to happen a little bit quicker but this game has a funny way of taking its time and it always has done.”

Three Scots – Richie Ramsay, Stephen Gallacher and David Drysdale – are among the field.

Ryder Cup captain Thomas Bjorn was second on China debut.