Hainan Classic 2025 Preview, Picks & Analysis

The DP World Tour’s Asian Swing concludes this week with the inaugural Hainan Classic, the second of back-to-back events in China.

A brand-new DP World Tour event boasting a prize fund of $2.5 million will take place at Blackstone Course, Mission Hills Haikou and will feature a number of recent winners including Chinese star Haotong Li and American Johannes Veerman.

Li won his fourth DP World Tour title at the 2025 Qatar Masters and also recorded a tied ninth finish at the Porsche Singapore Classic, the first event of the Asian swing. He also came within a whisker of winning the Volvo China Open at the weekend, losing out only after being too aggressive at the final hole.

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(Image Credit: Kevin Diss Photography)

"I'm in great shape after some much-needed rest in China and a solid workout session. I'm really looking forward to the Hainan Open" Li said.

American Veerman, 32, captured his second DP World Tour title by winning the Nedbank Golf Challenge in December, and recently posted a tied 16th finish at the 2025 Ras Al Khaimah Championship.

Also among those in the field is Eugenio Chacarra. The 26-year-old recently won his maiden DP World Tour title at the Hero Indian Open and will look to build on his breakout victory.

The Spaniard will be joined in Hainan by Kiwi Dan Hillier, the 2023 British Masters winner. Hillier had struggled after that win but has rediscovered some consistent form, highlighted by a runner-up finish at the Dubai Desert Classic.

There is also plenty of local interest. Apart from home favourite Li, 25-year-old Beijing native and 2024 China Tour money list champion Zihao Jin has secured status for the 2025 DP World Tour season and will be keen to make an impression.

Jin said: “I’m honoured to participate in this inaugural event. Navigating new courses and conditions has been a valuable journey of self-improvement. My strong finish at the Kenya Open has provided me with essential experience.”

The Chinese secured his first top ten finish at the Kenya Open —where he rediscovered the nuances of kikuyu grass from his early days— which bolstered his confidence. With the advantage of playing at home, he intends to adopt a measured and strategic approach at Hainan, focusing on methodical preparation and patience rather than succumbing to pressure.

Keita Nakajima, the 24-year-old Japanese star, is also looking to continue his fine start to the season, having finished runner-up in back-to-back events at the Porsche Singapore Classic and Hero Indian Open. A former world number one amateur, he won the gold medal at the 2018 Asian Games. Turning professional in 2022, Nakajima earned his first DP World Tour victory at the Hero Indian Open in 2024.

South Africa’s Dylan Naidoo, who clinched his breakthrough DP World Tour victory at the South African Open in March, will also compete. He will be joined by another first-time winner this season in Elvis Smylie. The 22-year-old Australian prodigy will be another exciting addition to the field after winning the Australian PGA Championship earlier this season, which saw his World Ranking surge from 736th to 216th.

His victory in Brisbane secured him a two-year DP World Tour exemption, and he has expressed his goal of finishing in the top ten of the Race to Dubai.

Other notable competitors include Calum Hill from Scotland, who claimed his second DP World Tour title at the 2025 Joburg Open, and Ricardo Gouveia of Portugal, the 2023 Hainan Open champion on the HotelPlanner Tour. Gouveia enters the tournament following a series of solid top-20 finishes in Singapore and India, while Hamish Brown, the 2024 Hainan Open champion, claimed victory in what was one of the most thrilling finishes of the year. His impressive triumph at this prestigious event has elevated his profile, and fans are excited to see him return to Hainan.

Tournament winners:

This is the inaugural staging

The course:

Blackstone carves its way through a landscape of mature trees, thick jungle vegetation, and expansive lakes and wetlands and is not for the faint-hearted. It is a par 72 measuring 7,200 yards

Form guide:

Eugenio Chacarra has already won this season and continued that fine form at the Volvo China Open

Prize money:

The total prize fund is $2.5m, with the winner collecting 3,500 Race to Dubai points and 1,000 Ryder Cup points

To win:

Keita Nakajima. Class act

Each way:

Calum Hill. Joburg Open win has changed everything

Each way:

Eugenio Chacarra. Has already won this season

Five to follow:

Keita Nakajima. A birdie machine

Calum Hill. Full of confidence

Eugenio Chacarra. In great form

Sebastian Soderberg. Proven winner

Matthew Jordan. Consistent performer.

Five outsiders to watch:

Zihao Jin. Home favourite

Ricardo Gouveia. Looking for return to the top

Jamie Donaldson. Rare return to action

Alexander Levy. Mercurial French golfer

Jack Senior. Battling away