Golf Events / Editor / 10 April 2007 / Leave a Comment

Liang Wen-Chong will be hoping that history has the happy knack of repeating itself when he takes part in this week's Volvo China Open.

Chinese compatriot Zhang Lian-Wei pulled off a memorable double in 2003 when he won both the Singapore Masters and Volvo China Open in the same season.

And, following his maiden European Tour victory in Singapore five weeks ago when he beat Malaysia's Iain Steel in a play-off, the 28-year-old is aiming to follow in his mentor's footsteps this week by winning in front of his home supporters.

Liang caught the eye of many observers last month with the calm way he held his game together while others hit the panic button and he is priced at 20 in the early markets to follow up his triumph in Singapore with another win.

Asian golf specialist Simon Dyson is favourite and can be backed at 15 ahead of ex-European Ryder Cup star Thomas Bjorn (19), Thongchai Jaidee (20), South African Richard Sterne and Frenchman Raphael Jacquelin (both 34).

This week's event takes place at the Shanghai Silport Golf Club and, with the par-71 course measuring just 6,795 yards, the onus will very much be on positional play off, the tee and the players who can hole the most putts.

Liang has fond memories of the course as Shanghai Silport was the place where he first announced himself as an emerging star of the future in 1999, finishing fourth as an amateur.

The Chinese star has enjoyed a fantastic start to the 2007 season, following up his win in Singapore by tying for sixth place at last month's TCL Classic and he is fancied to do well again. He can be backed at 5.6 to finish in the top five.

Dyson arrives in China still seeking his first win in Asia this year after several near misses.

The Yorkshireman is familiar with the course after winning this event in 2000 and coming joint-10th last year and assumes an added air of confidence whenever the European Tour visits Asia.

Dyson, who is trading at 4.4 to place in the first five, will feel that a win on the continent in 2007 is well overdue after two third-place finishes this season and comes into this week rested after last week's US Masters.

Bjorn has had no such luxury after missing the cut at Augusta but certainly was not the only player to struggle at the first Major of the year and acquitted himself better than others.

The mercurial Dane, who has finished a runner-up three times in Grand Slam events, is capable of anything from the sublime to the ridiculous depending on his mood but is likely to start this week with plenty of followers and maybe worth keeping an eye on. He is 5.1 to finish among the top five.

Asian Tour favourite Jaidee is expected to attract plenty of support on the back of his excellent past record in tournaments on his home continent and will be anxious to make up for some disappointing displays earlier this season.

But it would be no surprise if, in this season of shocks where the number of first-time European Tour winners is already into double figures, yet another winner emerges that is hard to predict.

Anton Haig, priced at 50 to win, and rising Thai star Chapchai Nirat can already be included on that list and it will be interesting to follow their progress in China.

Haig returns to Asia for the first time since his victory over some big names in the Johnnie Walker Classic at the start of last month while Nirat, the same price as Haig to win, showed he could be a player with a big future after leading from start to finish to cruise home by five shots at the TCL Classic.

Frenchman Jacquelin looks to be coming into form after his encouraging second place at the Estoril Open de Portugal a fortnight ago and may be worth backing at 8 to come in the first five.

Geordie Graeme Storm, 42 to win and 5.2 to come in the top 10, also fits into that category after finishing one place behind Jacquelin in Portugal and having flattered to deceive several times already in 2007.

Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano (80 to win and 17 to finish in the top five) and Peter Hanson (an attractive-looking 65 to win) have the knowledge that they performed well here last year when coming in second and joint 10th behind winner Jeev Milkha Singh and could go well.

There may also be good performances from the likes of Sterne, Prayad Marksaeng and Iain Steel.

Sterne just lost out to Haig in a play-off at the Johnnie Walker Classic, Marksaeng (50 to win) won this event 11 years ago and finished third to Nirat at the TCL Classic last month while Steel (85 to win and 15.5 to come in the first five) has been a factor all season on the Asian leg of the European Tour.