YE Yang will attempt to create history by becoming the first player to successfully defend the Volvo China Open title after the Korean star confirmed his attendance at Luxehills International Country Club from May 21-24.
Having won the Volvo China Open at Jinji lake International Golf Club last year after a 24-hour inter-continental dash from the Masters Tournament at Augusta National, Yang will at least have a more relaxed journey to China this time, as the new date in the schedule allows a week between the first Major of the season and the China’s national open.
Yang won by two strokes from the Welsh duo of Rhys Davies and 2004 Volvo China Open champion Stephen Dodd in a star-studded top ten which also included the Swedish pair of Johan Edfors and Henrik Stenson, Thai star Thongchai Jaidee and Graeme McDowell, who would later go on to win three times in 2010, including his first Major title at the US Open Championship.
Yang, who became the first Asian Major winner at the 2009 US PGA Championship, said: “It’s always important that a player defends any title he wins, out of respect for the event and its sponsors, so I’m pleased to be returning to China, where I have already won twice.
“I know nobody has ever successfully defended the Volvo China Open title, but there is a first time for everything. And at least I can take my time going to China following the Masters this time, unlike last year when it was touch-and-go whether I would make it on time.”
YE also has another Volvo date in his diary in the coming weeks, after winning his place in the Volvo World Match Play Championship at Finca Cortesín from May 19–22.
He said: “I don’t get to play much match play golf, although I enjoyed a good run at the WGC-Accenture this year, beating Graeme McDowell to get to the quarter finals, where I lost narrowly to Matt Kuchar. I’ve heard great things about the Volvo World Match Play Championship and Finca Cortesín, so I’m very much looking forward to it.”
