The DP World Tour is back this week with the Hainan Classic in China, marking the start of the Asian Swing.
The tournament, now in its second year, features a second course and includes amateur players.
Ayora Looks to Capitalise
Thriston Lawrence of South Africa, is the only player in the world’s top 100 competing this week.
Angel Ayora, hovering just outside the top 100, may be ready to break through after a string of solid performances.
His consistency, including 11 top-ten finishes in his last 24 tournaments, suggests a win is coming. Recent form includes figures of 5-8-9-18 in his last four tournaments.
While Ayora didn’t participate in last year’s event at Mission Hills, his statistics align well with the course’s demands.
Marco Penge, last year’s winner, excelled in stroke-gained off the tee and on approach. Ayora is currently ranked fifth and ninth in those metrics, respectively.
After an opening round 64 at the Joburg Open, Ayora will be looking to improve on his 18th-place finish.
Kimsey’s Form and Forrest’s Experience
Nathan Kimsey is another player entering the tournament in good form.
After a difficult 2025, he regained his form through qualifying school and has been taking advantage of his opportunities. Since the beginning of February, he has finished ninth in Bahrain, fifth in Kenya, ninth at the South African Open and 12th in Joburg.
Kimsey will be making his venue debut. His strokes-gained off-the-tee ranking of 13th could be an advantage.
Grant Forrest has previous experience at this tournament, finishing 23rd last year when all four rounds were played on the Blackstone Course.
Forrest, who won August’s Nexo Championship, should be confident.
He finished 15th in Qatar in early February, following a seventh-place finish the week before in Bahrain.
- Angel Ayora: 3pts each-way 9-1
- Nathan Kimsey: 1pt each-way 22-1
- Grant Forrest: 1pt each-way 30-1
The DP World Tour’s Hainan Classic runs from Wednesday, March 18, to Sunday, March 22.