Steve Palmer's free predictions and golf betting tips for the China Open

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When to bet on the China Open

By 11.40pm on Wednesday

Where can I watch the China Open?

Live on Sky Sports Golf and Main Event from 6am on Thursday

Steve Palmer's China Open predictions

Wenyi Ding
4pts each-way 20-1 Coral, Ladbrokes

Keita Nakajima
3.5pts each-way 19-1 Betfair, Paddy Power

Sam Bairstow
2pts each-way 40-1 general

Angel Ayora
1.5pts each-way 45-1 Coral, Ladbrokes

Oliver Lindell
1pt each-way 75-1 Coral, Ladbrokes

Recommended

4/5

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Steve Palmer's China Open preview

The DP World Tour resumes with the China Open in Shanghai, where lots of youngsters will be dreaming of following in the footsteps of Rory McIlroy, who won for the first time on this circuit in 2009 before developing into a Grand Slam champion.

Steve Palmer's top tip

Wenyi Ding 20-1

Since becoming a professional at the end of last year, Wenyi Ding has quickly settled on the DP World Tour, and the Chinese looks ready for a breakthrough at the age of 20.

The former world number three amateur, who earned a DPWT card through the Global Amateur Pathway Rankings, could have been teeing up at Augusta last week had he retained his amateur status. He turned pro, thus giving up his Masters spot, but has enough talent to reach Augusta soon enough.

Fifth place in the Australian Open in December has been followed by a steady start to 2025 on the DPWT. Form figures of 20-14-14 from his last three starts should be followed by a bold title tilt in his home country this week.

Ding finished runner-up in the 2020 China Open when he was a 16-year-old amateur. He won the Chinese Amateur three times (2019, 2020, 2021) before becoming a college star in the States. He was third in the 2021 China Open, then seventh in 2023.

Ding was third in a Challenge Tour event in China in 2023 and 11th in the same tournament last year. Enthusiastic galleries should have plenty to cheer over the next four days.

Next best bet

Keita Nakajima 19-1

The main threat to Ding could come from his fellow Asian Keita Nakajima, who has finished second in his last two tournaments, the Singapore Classic and the Indian Open.

Nakajima is a brilliant player – a former world number one amateur who won four times on the Japan Tour before making his DPWT breakthrough in the Indian Open last year. A thrilling duel may develop between Ding and Nakajima, two of the best youngsters on the circuit.

Other selections

Sam Bairstow 40-1
Angel Ayora 45-1
Oliver Lindell 75-1

It seems only a matter of time before Sam Bairstow becomes a DPWT winner. The left-hander was a great amateur, won on the Challenge Tour in 2023, and contended numerous times on the DPWT last season. The 26-year-old Yorkshireman has started 2025 impressively, posting four top-20s, including tenth spot in the Qatar Masters and ninth in the Joburg Open.

Bairstow is attached to Alcanada and it has been his practice base for many years. That Mallorca layout is a Robert Trent Jones Junior design, so should have similarities to Enhance Anting. Bairstow finished fourth in the 2023 Challenge Tour Grand Final at Alcanada.

Angel Ayora, who finished second in last year's Challenge Tour Grand Final at Alcanada, was also second in a Challenge Tour event in China last year, the Hangzhou Open. The Spanish youngster looks pure class and may fall in love with this week's venue.

Complete the staking plan with Oliver Lindell, who has an eyecatching record in China. The Finn, who won three times on the Nordic Golf League before becoming a regular Challenge Tour contender, tied with Ayora for second place in the Hangzhou Open last year. Lindell was third in the Hainan Open, another CT gathering in China, last year. He was 11th in the 2017 Hainan Open.

Fourth place in the CT Grand Final at Alcanada last year adds to the confidence in the 26-year-old, who is having a respectable rookie campaign on the DPWT.

Recommended

4/5

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Course guide for the China Open

• Course Enhance Anting Golf Club, Shanghai, China
• Prize money $2.55m ($425,085 to the winner)
• Length 7,168 yards
• Par 71 – three par-five holes, 11 par-fours, four par-threes
• Field 156 The cut Top 65 and ties qualify for round three
• Highest-ranked players in field (world ranking in brackets) Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen (80), Shaun Norris (100), Keita Nakajima (102), Romain Langasque (113), Jordan Smith (123)
• When to bet By 11.40pm on Wednesday
• When to watch Live on Sky Sports Main Event and Golf from 6am on Thursday
• Time difference China is seven hours ahead of the UK and Ireland
• Course type Parkland
• Course overview The Robert Trent Jones Junior-designed Enhance Anting is a flat track hosting for the first time this week. A feature of the layout are enormous water hazards, creating lots of risk-reward options. The tree-lined fairways demand accurate driving
• Story of last year Adrian Otaegui won a weather-shortened, 54-hole event at Hidden Grace Golf Club, edging Guido Migliozzi by a shot
• Weather forecast Sunny, hot and calm throughout, temperatures peaking at 31C
• Type of player suited to the challenge Accurate driving and approach-play seems the key to success at this new DP World Tour venue
• Key attribute Accuracy

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Rory McIlroy 5-1 to win US PGA and 80-1 for calendar Slam as thrilling Masters triumph costs the bookies dear 

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For those looking for even more extensive golf coverage don't miss Palmer's extra pointers every Wednesday in the Racing Post newspaper.

As well as his tips and insight you will also get expert spotlight comments for all players in our extensive PGA Tour and DP Tour price comparison grids which include course and recent form, plus Palmer's unique attribute icons to help identify the type of players likely to be suited to conditions each week.