China open now in European tour

The growth of golf in the world's most populated country takes another big step today when the Volvo China Open becomes part of the European tour.

Prize money has been doubled to more than £550,000, next year will see another 30% added to the purse and it is even hoped that in time the event will have 'major' status.

Ten years ago there were just 10 courses throughout the whole country - one of them only nine holes - but now 190 are listed and the number of Chinese playing the game has exploded from a handful to more than 200,000.

This year also saw the first Chinese - Zhang Lian-wei, this week's defending champion - compete in the Masters at Augusta. And he missed the halfway cut by only one shot.

Thomas Bjorn, currently ranked 31st, is the leading player taking part at the Shanghai Silport club.