Ian Wilkerson’s Hainan Classic Picks: Top Golf Betting Insights
The DP World Tour opens the Asian Swing at Mission Hills in Hainan, China. The Hainan Classic runs from Wednesday March 18 to Sunday March 22.
Event overview
This is the tournament’s second staging at Mission Hills. Organisers have added a second course and invited amateur players. The professional field has been trimmed to 120 competitors.
Schedule and format
Each golfer will play both courses over the first two days. The top half of the field after the cut will play the final two rounds. The field includes just one top-100 player.
Course details
| Course | Yards | Par |
|---|---|---|
| Blackstone | 7,637 | 72 |
| Vintage | 7,331 | 72 |
Both courses are parkland layouts. Blackstone is longer with wide fairways. Vintage features doglegs, blind shots and heavy bunkering.
Key statistics and conditions
- Prize fund: $2.55 million. Winner’s share: $433,500.
- Course record (18 holes): 65, shared by Marco Penge, Bowen Xiao and Conor Purcell (2025).
- Hainan is eight hours ahead of the UK and Ireland.
- Forecast: dry conditions and highs near 30C across the event.
- Length off the tee is a major advantage on these layouts.
Notable names in the field
Thriston Lawrence is the highest-ranked entrant at 89 in the world. Other leading names include Angel Ayora, Andy Sullivan, Nacho Elvira and Dan Bradbury.
Last year’s winner
Marco Penge took the title last year. He recorded strong driving and putting numbers on his way to a three-shot victory. Penge also topped greens-in-regulation statistics during his winning week.
Ian Wilkerson’s short list
Filmogaz.com reviewed the selections made by Ian Wilkerson for the Hainan Classic Picks. His choices highlight players with recent form and power off the tee.
- Angel Ayora – leading pick. Ayora sits just outside the world’s top 100. He has posted multiple top-ten finishes and ranks highly in strokes-gained off the tee and on approach.
- Nathan Kimsey – noted for a strong run since February. Recent results include top-12 finishes across several events. He ranks among the leaders for strokes-gained off the tee.
- Grant Forrest – experienced at Mission Hills. Forrest finished 23rd last year and has a recent win on tour. His form includes solid finishes in early-season events.
Form and metrics to watch
Past performance shows that putting and greens-in-regulation matter here. Five of the top eight last year were also top performers for strokes-gained putting. Expect driving distance to influence leaderboard movement.
Betting and broadcast notes
Markets are expected to close by 11.20pm on Wednesday. Players making their Mission Hills debuts will play both courses in the opening rounds. Filmogaz.com will carry ongoing coverage and context for bettors and fans.
