Hainan Classic 2026 Betting Tips: Six chasing wins in China

The DP World Tour returns this week for the start of its Asian Swing, as the players head to China for the Hainan Classic at the Mission Hills Resort Haikou.

Our golf tipster Jamie Worsley is back with his usual long-read preview of the event. He's picked out six players he likes the look of this week, so check out Jamie's thoughts and his Hainan Classic 2026 Betting Tips below...

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TOURNAMENT HISTORY 

The Hainan Classic debuted on the DP World Tour (DPWT) last year, where Marco Penge produced an impressive display to win his maiden title on the circuit, firing 17-under-par to beat Kristoffer Reitan and Sean Crocker by three shots.

That event took place solely on the Blackstone Course at Mission Hills Resort Haikou. However, the format has been tweaked this year, with the first two rounds now featuring a pro-am element across the Blackstone and Vintage Courses at the resort. A halfway cut will then be made, with those who reach the weekend returning to Blackstone for the final two rounds.

THE COURSES

Mission Hills Resort Haikou – Blackstone & Vintage Courses

• Original architect / Year opened:
  • Blackstone: Schmidt-Curley Design / 2010
  • Vintage: Schmidt-Curley Design / 2010
• Previous tournaments: 2011 World Cup (Blackstone Course)
• Par / Yardage:
  • Blackstone: Par 72 / 7637 yards
  • Vintage: Par 72 / 7331 yards
• Hole breakdown:
  • Blackstone: 4x par 3s (172-227 yards), 10x par 4s (386-518 yards), 4x par 5s (532-681 yards)
  • Vintage: 4x par 3s (140-219 yards), 10x par 4s (378-483 yards), 4x par 5s (540-588 yards)
• Course style:
  • Blackstone: An undulating and striking course, framed by natural lava rocks, wetlands and dense jungle. It is heavily bunkered (147 in total) and features frequent dramatic elevation changes
  • Vintage: A more classic, tree-lined parkland inspired by courses from America's Golden Age of architecture
• Fairways:
  • Blackstone: Extremely wide but largely doglegging and sloping fairways. Strategic bunkering tightens some landing areas and there are several forced carries over the lava rock
  • Vintage: Generous, doglegging fairways smartly protected by a variety of bunkers
• Greens:
  • Blackstone: Average-sized and well contoured paspalum greens. They're largely shallow/narrow in shape, and with run-offs aplenty, they can be tough to hold
  • Vintage: Average-to-large paspalum greens that are often long, narrow, and multi-tiered, surrounded by bunkers and short grass
• Defences:
  • Blackstone: Length; abundance of bunkers; elevation changes and uneven ground places added stress on approach play
  • Vintage: Tough to access pins on the tricky, uniquely-shaped greens; heavy bunkering

THE WEATHER

Clear, bright conditions are predicted throughout the week in China, accompanied by hot temperatures up to 29°C each day. A 9-12mph breeze will be a constant feature, but it's not strong enough to cause too many problems for this field.

KEY STATS

SG: Off-the-Tee (SG: OTT) / Driving Distance

The temptingly wide fairways at the Blackstone Course looked to set up perfectly for the bigger hitters last year, and with Marco Penge – the fifth-longest player on tour in 2025 – coming out on top, that certainly seemed to be the case

• 2025
  • Marco Penge (Winner): 3^rd in SG: OTT
  • Kristoffer Reitan (2^nd): 10^th in driving distance
  • Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen (4^th): 4^th in SG: OTT

SG: Approach / Greens-in-Regulation (GIR)

With these interesting green complexes proving reasonably difficult to hit 12 months ago, it's a course that appears to favour a strong all-round ball-striking profile.

• 2025
  • Marco Penge (Winner): 8^th in SG: Approach / 1^st in GIR
  • Sean Crocker (2^nd): 3^rd in SG: Approach / 10^th in GIR
  • Kristoffer Reitan (2^nd): 16^th in SG: Approach
  • Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen (4^th): 13^th in GIR
  • Martin Couvra (5^th): 4^th in SG: Approach

CORRELATING EVENTS (COURSES)

Singapore Classic (Laguna National – Classic Course)

As a lengthy resort venue in a similar climate, Laguna National's Classic Course immediately jumps out. When we consider its hilly terrain, wide fairways, and paspalum greens, it rates as the standout comp for Hainan.

Notable correlating form:

• Sam Bairstow: Hainan (6^th) / Singapore (3^rd)
• Fabrizio Zanotti: Hainan (9^th) / Singapore (9^th)

Qatar Masters (Doha Golf Club)

Spacious, with generous fairways and paspalum greens is something that applies to many courses in the Middle East. Of those layouts, it's Doha Golf Club that offers the strongest comp form.

Notable correlating form:

• Sean Crocker: Hainan (2^nd) / Qatar (9^th)
• Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen: (4^th) / Qatar (2^nd)
• Martin Couvra: Hainan (5^th) / Qatar (5^th)
• Sam Bairstow: Hainan (6^th) / Qatar (10^th)

Bahrain Championship (Royal Golf Club)

That said, Bahrain Championship host Royal Golf Club is more undulating than its Qatari counterpart, which brings it more in line with the Blackstone Course.

Notable correlating form:

• Martin Couvra: Hainan (5^th) / Bahrain (4^th)
• Daniel Hillier: Hainan (9^th) / Bahrain (4^th)

Abu Dhabi Championship (Yas Links)

The last of the three Middle Eastern venues to consider is Yas Links. This dramatically sloping course has similarly generous fairways to this week's host.

Notable correlating form:

• Marco Penge: Hainan (1^st) / Abu Dhabi (9^th)
• Daniel Hillier: Hainan (9^th) / Abu Dhabi (5^th)

Open de Espana (Club de Campo Villa de Madrid)

There is no course that threw up as much crossover form as Club de Campo Villa de Madrid. Although a considerably more traditional, tightly tree-lined setup, it is a place where high-class, lengthy drivers have enjoyed enormous success.

Notable correlating form:

• Marco Penge: Hainan (1^st) / Espana (1^st)
• Sean Crocker: Hainan (2^nd) / Espana (3^rd)
• Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen: Hainan (4^th) / Espana (5^th)
• Edoardo Molinari: Hainan (6^th) / Espana (4^th)
• Fabrizio Zanotti: Hainan (9^th) / Espana (4^th)
• Daniel Hillier: Hainan (9^th) / Espana (9^th)

Mauritius Open (Mont Choisy Le Golf & La Reserve Golf Links)

Whilst there was little comp form to speak of last year, I do think the Mauritius Open could provide some clues. Each of the most recent hosts – Mont Choisy Le Golf (2022, 2024) and La Reserve Golf Links (2023, 2025) are open, undulating layouts with wide fairways, some dramatic elevation changes, and paspalum putting surfaces.

THE FIELD

World No. 89 Thriston Lawrence is the highest-ranking player in this week's field and the only player from inside the top 100 in attendance. Talented Spanish youngster Angel Ayora sits just outside at No. 101.

Having earned his PGA Tour card at the end of last season, Marco Penge doesn't return to defend. However, 2025 runner-up Sean Crocker is in action and will be hoping to go one better in the Englishman's absence.

Major-winning Italian Francesco Molinari is back after finishing 4^th at the Dubai Desert Classic almost two months ago. Meanwhile, Wenyi Ding leads the home challenge, joined by 17-year-old sensation Yanhan Zhou, who recorded an incredible seven victories to top the Chinese Tour rankings in 2025.

SELECTIONS 

Market leaders (1/4 5 places): Angel Ayora 15/2, Nathan Kimsey 16/1, Oliver Lindell 18/1, Wenyi Ding 18/1, Eugenio Chacarra 20/1

1 pt Ugo Coussaud each-way (1/5 - 8 places) @ 50/1

As a lengthy driver with some of the strongest comp form in the field, Ugo Coussaud has a fantastic opportunity to claim his first DPWT trophy this week.

Missing only six cuts in 27 appearances, Coussaud would have expected more than just a solitary top-10 in Spain, but his consistency was undeniable. His start to the new campaign was positive, following a 49^th-place finish in the Dubai Desert Classic with a 6^th in Bahrain, but he will need to respond from disappointing displays in South Africa on his last two starts.

The Frenchman boasts a sharp short game, ranking 18^th in SG: Around-the-Greens, which could be invaluable around these resistant putting surfaces. He's also a sound putter who hits plenty of greens and, consistently ranking inside the top 40 in driving distance, his skillset marries well with this challenge.

While Coussaud didn't play the Blackstone Course last year, his results on comp layouts are compelling. He's finished 2^nd in Qatar, 5^th in Spain, 6^th in Abu Dhabi and Bahrain, and having never missed a cut in Singapore, he clearly excels at venues that mirror the challenge awaiting him in Hainan.

1 pt Oihan Guillamoundeguy each-way (1/5 - 8 places) @ 60/1

A collection of the most talented maidens on tour dominated this event 12 months ago, and with a weaker field this time around I’m leaning on youth with a trio of rookies among my selections.

The first of these 21-year-old French youngster Oihan Guillamoundeguy. Not lacking for power, he’s a player who excels with the driver and with a top-10 in Mauritius in December boding well, this solid all-rounder is a compelling contender in this company.

Guillamoundeguy won on the Alps Tour as a 17-year-old amateur in 2022 and turned pro later that year. He again won at that level in 2023, and after a solid debut season on the HotelPlanner Tour in 2024, he then made the grade on that second tier, winning the Irish Challenge last August.

That was one of six top-five finishes that earned him this step up to the DPWT, and he has taken this latest promotion in his stride. He’s made four of five cuts and picked up two top-20s, finishing 9^th at the Mauritius Open in December and 14^th in the Kenya Open on his latest start.

Every area of his game has shown promise this season, and while he’s got a neat-and-tidy short game, I’m particularly pleased with his ball striking. He sits 24^th in GIR and his ranking of 41^st in SG: OTT is another plus, making him a strong candidate for this test.

Guillamoundeguy didn’t play here last year but he has finished inside the top 20 on each of his three starts in China on the HotelPlanner Tour. Furthermore, not only does that top-10 in Mauritius provide encouragement, his victory in Ireland at Killeen Castle also bodes well – a lengthy and open resort-style course.

1 pt Dylan Frittelli each-way (1/5 - 8 places) @ 80/1

Equalling his top-20 tally from the previous two years after just 10 appearances in this campaign, Dylan Frittelli is playing some of his most consistent golf for several years. He drove the ball excellently when we last saw him at the Joburg Open, which should enable him to deliver another top-class display in a country where he’s played well in the past.

Frittelli has missed just one cut in nine DPWT starts this season and has recorded three top-20 finishes. He was 14^th at the Alfred Dunhill Championship towards the end of 2025 and has maintained form into the new year, finishing 10^th at the Dubai Invitational and 20^th at the Qatar Masters.

His fine short game could be useful around a layout where finding greens isn’t easy, whilst he’s also putting better than he has in recent years. The long game is inconsistent, but he ranked 4^th in SG: OTT at the Joburg Open – displaying power and accuracy – and as the 16^th-ranked player in driving distance, he should relish bombing it down these generous fairways.

Frittelli picked up two top-10s in China on the HotelPlanner Tour back in 2016 and again looked right at home in the country the following year, losing a playoff to Alex Levy to finish 2^nd in the China Open after surrendering a three-shot 54-hole lead. He’ll feel he has unfinished business here, and with his victory in Bahrain in 2024 acting as a promising pointer, he could finally gain redemption for that defeat this week.

1 pt Hugo Townsend each-way (1/5 - 6 places) @ 90/1

I’m going to return to the HotelPlanner Tour graduates for the first of a couple of talented bombers, beginning with Hugo Townsend. The former No. 33 amateur has hit the top 20 on three occasions already this season, and with each area of his game clicking, he’s well worth chancing at Mission Hills.

Townsend made his pro debut at the 2023 Scandinavian mixed – a co-sanctioned event between the DPWT and LET (Ladies European Tour) – and showed everyone his potential at this level by finishing 11^th. That said, he’s had to be patient in waiting for further opportunities and only played his first full season on the HotelPlanner Tour last year.

The Swede did make up for lost time in 2025, securing nine top-20s on that second tier. He was 3^rd in Spain at the Challenge de Cadiz in June, though, no doubt, his standout performance came at the Rosa Challenge Tour in September, where he made use of his impressive five-shot 54-hole lead to win by two at the end of Sunday.

Having missed just one of six cuts and claiming three top-20s, he’s looked completely at ease at this grade. He finished 14^th at the Alfred Dunhill Championship and 19^th at the Mauritius Open at the end of 2025, whilst he arrives in China after an 18^th-place finish at the Joburg Open last time out.

Townsend shone with his irons there, ranking 14^th in SG: Approach. He’s also gaining strokes across his short game at present and possessing power to burn – ranking 12^th in driving distance – he can take advantage of this weak field to set a new personal best on the DPWT.

1 pt Jordan Gumberg each-way (1/5 - 8 places) @ 90/1

Although he may be lacking the length of my other selections, I found it hard to ignore the ball-striking talents of Jordan Gumberg this week. He was right in the mix here last year before eventually finishing 16^th and having found improvement with the putter at the Joburg Open, I’m keen to take my chance with him at the Blackstone Course.

Gumberg missed three straight cuts to begin this year, though with his tee-to-green game appearing to be in decent shape, it was only a matter of time before he began to reap the rewards of his overall play. He made a step in the right direction in Kenya, firing four under-par rounds to finish 42^nd, and following a missed cut at the South African Open he finished 28^th at the Joburg Open, where he sat 9^th after 36 holes following two rounds of 67.

The American ranked 17^th on the greens there – a major upgrade on his ranking of 125^th for the season. Combined with his ultra-accurate ball striking, which sees him rank 2^nd in GIR, 7^th in driving accuracy and 24^th in SG: OTT this season, I’m hoping he can now convert the countless birdie chances he sets up.

He did just that here last year, arriving at the final round four off the lead in 9^th, though he ultimately had to settle for a 16^th-place finish after an even 72 to finish. Meanwhile, what catches the eye is that his two strongest performances in 2025 both came in East Asia, as he finished 7^th at the Genesis Championship in Korea and 14^th at the correlating Singapore Classic.

With that, Gumberg is clearly comfortable in this environment and having earned his breakthrough victory at the 2024 SDC Championship – where he topped another bomber-friendly leaderboard – there is a lot to like about his profile (and price) in China.

1 pt Rocco Repetto Taylor each-way (1/5 - 8 places) @ 125/1

Last up is Spanish powerhouse Rocco Repetto Taylor. He made an excellent start to his professional career in 2025, winning twice, and having performed well in Hainan on the HotelPlanner Tour last year, this monster hitter can contend for another victory this week.

Repetto Taylor, who has Italian and Irish heritage, though grew up in Spain, turned pro towards the end of 2024 after a short but solid amateur career. He took little time to make his mark in the professional ranks, winning in Tunisia on the Alps Tour on just his fifth start of the year, and he then achieved a more impressive feat, winning the Challenge de Cadiz on his second HotelPlanner Tour appearance a couple of months later.

Picking up eight further top-25s at that level, including an 8^th-place finish in the Hainan Open, he did enough to earn an impressively swift promotion to the DPWT.

The 23-year-old settled into life at this level immediately, making each of his four cuts at the end of 2025, going best when finishing 23^rd at the Australian Open. He has failed to make the weekend in his four appearances in 2026, though having sat inside the top 20 after round one of each of his last two outings, there are signs that his game is coming together.

Ranking 2^nd in SG: OTT this season, and 7^th in driving distance, there is no better place for Repetto Taylor to showcase his talents than here in Hainan. He’s also hitting plenty of greens, and if he can just find some inspiration on these paspalum surfaces, don’t be surprised to see him contend.

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