Tianjin (China): SSP Chowrasia alongwith Jeev Milkha Singh and Gaganjeet Bhullar will spearhead the Indian challenge in the Volvo China Open starting here on Thursday.
Chowrasia, Bhullar and Jeev, a former champion here in 2006, are playing in the event as members of the European Tour. Chowrasia is relishing his fine form recently after having finished tied 11th last week at the Ballantine's Championship in Korea. While Jeev won the Scottish Open last year, Chowrasia won the Avantha Masters in 2011 and Bhullar finished second in Avantha Masters 2013.
The event will also see the new face of Chinese golf, as Ye Wo-cheng will become the youngest player in European Tour history when he tees up in the first round, where he will be joined by his fellow teens Dou Ze-cheng and Bai Zheng-kai.
At a combined age of 43, the trio are a year younger than one of this week's other star attractions, Paul Lawrie. Besides them, there is also Andy Zhang, who became the youngest competitor in US Open Championship history when he teed up at the Olympic Club last year.
Ye and Dou earned their places in the elite field after coming through last month's qualifiers, whilst Bai earned his starting berth courtesy of his victory in the Volvo China Junior Match Play Championship.
The youngest member of the trio, Ye, is aged just 12 years and 241 days, but he is hoping to prove the theory that "if you are good enough, you are old enough" when he tees up alongside European Tour champions, Jos Manuel Lara of Spain and Australian Scott Strange the winner in 2009, at Binhai Lake Golf Club here.
South African Braden Grace is bidding to become the first player to successfully defend the China Open title this week. Joining defending champion Grace are a whole host of European Tour champions, including former China Open winner Paul Casey, the winner of this year's Omega Dubai Desert Classic, Stephen Gallacher, Sweden's Alexander Norn, Spaniard Rafael Cabrera-Bello and Thomas Aiken.
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