DID YOU KNOW? – VOLVO CHINA OPEN
• Nicolas Colsaerts will be aiming to become the first player to successfully defend the Volvo China Open. With Colsaerts winning in 2011, Belgium witnessed their first victory on The European Tour since Phillipe Toussaint at the 1974 Benson and Hedges Festival.
• In the 17 previous stagings of the Volvo China Open dating back to 1995, there have been 17 different winners, from 12 different countries. England have the most wins with three – Ed Fryatt (1998), Simon Dyson (2000) and Paul Casey (Nov 2005 – part of the 2006 European Tour season). The host nation has produced two winners – Chen Jun (1997) and Zhang Lian-wei (2003).
• Paul Casey will be aiming to keep up his 100% record of finishing in the top four from his two appearances of the Volvo China Open. Both of these performances came when the tournament was played twice in the 2006 season. The Englishman beat Oliver Wilson in November 2005 at Shenzhen Golf Club in a play-off. As defending champion, he was tied fourth in April 2006 at Bejing Honghua International Golf Club.
• The Volvo China Open has the distinction of being the first European Tour event to be played twice in the same season. This occurred in 2006, firstly played in November 2005, won by Paul Casey and then by Jeev Milkha Singh in April 2006.
• In 2011 Jamie Donaldson’s round of 61 (-11) in the Volvo China Open was the lowest total in relation to par during the 2011 European Tour season. Coincidentally, the Welshman carded a 61 (-11) in the 2012 Trophée Hassan II. This is to date the lowest 18 hole score this season and joint lowest to par.
• The winner of the Volvo China Open will gain an exemption into the next two Volvo-sponsored events. They are: 2012 Volvo World Match Play Championship and 2013 Volvo Golf Champions.
