As the 30th edition of the Volvo China Open gets ready to tee off Thursday in Shanghai, China, No. 1 Li Haotong and Wu Ashun are hoping to use their local knowledge of Enhance Anting Golf Club to their advantage in their respective bids to win the national championship for a second time.

With the golf club hosting the championship for the first time, the challenging layout is a new experience for most of the field competing in the 2.55 million-U.S. dollar tournament, a co-sponsored event between the DP World Tour and China Tour.

For Li, however, the 2016 Volvo China Open winner thinks Chinese players have a "very real chance" to win on the course, a 7,168-yard, par-71 layout.

Paul Waring competes during the Volvo China Open second round in Shenzhen, China, on May 3, 2024. (Photo courtesy of Volvo China Open)

"I've been playing golf at this course regularly and know it well, but the greens have become significantly firmer and faster compared to before," he said.

"The key is to avoid the rough. I believe the second shot will be decisive. It all hinges on how well you execute that shot," said Li, who won the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters in February for his fourth DP World Tour title.

The 29-year-old Shanghai-based pro predicted that the winning score could "potentially reach 20-under par" this week under calm conditions.

"I need to focus on executing every single shot and truly stay present in the moment," he said.

Wu, the 2015 Volvo China Open champion, said the combination of windy conditions and the course's undulating greens posed a real challenge for approach shots this week.

"I'm doing my utmost to familiarize myself with both the greens and wind, hoping to optimize my preparation and perform at my best," said the 39-year-old Xiamen native.

"As for the outcome? That's beyond my control. Winning a championship isn't entirely up to you," he said.

"When you lift the trophy among so many elite players it feels like divine grace. There will always be multiple competitors in peak form delivering outstanding performances. But whether you win or not, if you've prepared thoroughly and given your absolute best ... I believe providence will ultimately decide who takes the title," he added.

With more than 40 domestic players in the field this week, other notable Chinese include Ding Wenyi, a DP World Tour rookie who turned pro last year after an outstanding amateur career, and Jin Zihao, the 2024 China Tour Order of Merit winner.

Adrian Otaegui enters the tournament as the defending champion after winning last year's championship by a stroke in Shenzhen. To stage a successful title defense, the Spaniard, who holds dual nationality with the U.A.E., will have to beat a top field featuring eight players who have won on the DP World Tour in the 2024-2025 season.

Others in the field include past Volvo China Open champions Alexander Levy, a two-time winner, and fan favorite Nicolas Colsaerts. 

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