Liao Guiming is one of the pre-tournament favourites after he became the Tour’s third successive first-time winner with his victory in May’s Sofitel Golf Championship.

　　The 31-year-old is currently second in the Omega Order of Merit, behind Zhang Lianwei and ahead of Li Chao, both of whom are competing in this week’s Omega European Masters on the European Tour.

　　However, Yuan Hao, Chen Xiaoma and Huang himself are among the ‘second generation’ of China’s professionals looking to secure their maiden Tour victory this week in the absence of Zhang and Li, who between them have won 14 of the 23 events held since the circuit started in 2005.

　　The field also features seven members of the China National Team – including 21-year-old Zhang Xinjun and 16-year-old Benny Ye Jianfeng – as they battle for selection for next month’s World Amateur Team Championships for the Eisenhower Trophy in Australia.

　　In Thursday’s first round, Ye tees off at 7.40am while Zhang plays in the 8.20am flight with Chen and Chinese Taipei star Tsai Chi-huang. Yang tees off 8.50am, while Huang features in a high-profile flight at 12.40pm also featuring Liao and Asian Tour player Shang Lei.