Golf Association, decided to delay the tournament with the outbreak of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome virus.

“The easy option would have been to cancel and come back next year,” said Alistair Polson, Richtone executive director. “But this is China’s ultimate [event] in professional golf, its Open Championship. There was no way that we, or Volvo, would consider passing up the opportunity to hold it this year.”

This year’s event at Silport, the only remaining mainland China tournament on the revised Asian PGA Tour calendar, will feature the return of Zhang Lian-wei. The Shenzhen-based Chinese number one, who beat world number two Ernie Els at the Caltex Singapore Masters in January, finished fifth last year. Joining him will be Chinese number two Liang Wen-chong.

Also returning is Australian David Gleeson who captured his first pro title in front of a large gallery at Silport last year with a one-stroke victory over Pablo Del Olma.

Mel Pyatt, Volvo Event Management president and chief executive, said the carmaker was committed to the continuity of the Volvo China Open because it was the “showpiece” of the Chinese golf calendar.

“We have big plans for the Open to move up to a new higher level. This year we will put more emphasis on promotion in and around Shanghai and that should result in increased spectator attendance. We also want to build more awareness among the golf media in the US and Europe. This is, after all, the Open golf championship of the most dynamic economy in the world,” he said.

Silport owner Beta Soong called it an honor to once again host Asia’s top professional golfers. He added Silport would be a different animal under conditions found in November.

“For myself and Volvo’s Mel Pyatt, we share a vision and we expect that in the next 15 or 20 years that the Volvo China Open will become a very important tournament in the world. Maybe, just maybe, it can compete with the four Majors. It is the only tournament that has the chance,” Soong said.