Hainan Classic Preview and Picks
 |
| The Cannon is set to fire at the Hainan classic |
The inaugural edition of the Hainan Classic gets underway this week from the well renowned Blackstone Course at Mission Hills, a venue known for hosting the World Cup of Golf. The prize fund is similar to last weeks with $2.5m US up for grabs and a big slice of the 3500 Race to Dubai points on offer. The Hainan Classic will close the third of the five global swings on the DP World Tour.
At the China Open we saw a strongish lineup and similar test and the field and golf course will be similar again here. It's a ball strikers second shot track with elevation changes and undulations in a parkland setting. Premium will be on hitting greens and precise approach play.
Hainan Classic market
The Hainan Classic market is lead by Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen at a top price of 14/1. Haotong Li got a full place for us last week and he joins Rasmus atop the market also at 14s best price. We also had Wenyi Ding (16/1) in the China Open and he lead at one stage down the stretch after a fast start of -6 thru 10 holes or so. Recent winners like Eugenio Chacarra (16/1) load the front of the Hainan Classic market. Keita Najajima had an off week last week but he still holds his price at 18/1.
Nic's top tips for the Hainan Classic
Jacob Scov Olesen 40/1 (1/5th 6) was on the radar in last week's China Open. He finished out 2024 with a top 10 in Mauritius and is now showing excellent progressive form with a t13 in Kenya followed by a t7 in Joburg and he finshed t8 for us last week at a big price for anyone that backed him top 10. The 25-year-old hit four rounds of 65 in those three events. Olesen is 11th in stroke average on the DP World Tour and makes par breakers in abundance.
Tapio Pulkannen 66/1 (1/5th 6) is 32nd in birdies this season and he opened the Volvo China Open with a course record of 9-under par, three shots ahead of the next best. He finished in a tie for seventh meaning his price is still very juicy for the Hainan Classic. The Cannon is known for going low and he regained his DP World Tour card this season, already recording four top 25 finishes. His progressive form reads t36 - t13 -7. Across the 2021-23 seasons, Pulkannen's driving distance ranking averaged in the top 25 and so far in 2025 he is ranking 20th in putts per round - a good concoction for success....
Join me on Nicspicks Patreon platform to access all seven picks for this week's Hainan Classic, and my six fancies, insights and angles for the Zurich Classic team event.
