Major champion Francesco Molinari has been confirmed for the Hainan Classic presented by MAEXTRO, set to be played at Mission Hills Haikou from March 19-22.
The Italian will join multiple DP World Tour winners Andy Sullivan and Nacho Elvira, as well as 2025 Henry Cotton Rookie of the Year Martin Couvra, when he tees it up for the second edition of the tournament next week.
Molinari, who currently sits 22nd on the Race to Dubai Rankings Delivered by DP World, enjoyed an impressive start to the season, including a fourth-place finish at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic in January.
The 43-year-old is excited to build on his form, for what will be his first event in China since the 2019 WGC-HSBC Champions.
“I’m really looking forward to returning to China and playing in my first Hainan Classic presented by MAEXTRO,” said Molinari.
“I have been fortunate enough to play at some magnificent courses across my career, and I am excited to add Mission Hills Haikou to that list. Hopefully we can make it a special week.”
Molinari, who won The 147th Open Championship in 2018, is no stranger to success in the Middle Kingdom, having been victorious at 2009 Omega Mission Hills World Cup, where he represented Italy in Shenzhen, and the 2010 edition of the WGC-HSBC Champions, played at Sheshan International GC in Shanghai. The six-time DP World Tour winner will be eager to add to his list of achievements in 2026.
He will have to outplay a field of local and international talent, including two emerging Chinese prospects in 17-year-old Yanhan Zhou and 20-year-old Wenyi Ding.
The pair, alongside the experienced Ashun Wu, will be looking to do their country proud and make their mark on home soil.
This year’s event will see the introduction of a dual-course competition, marking the first time Mission Hills Haikou’s Blackstone Course (Course 1) and the Vintage Course (Course 3) will be used simultaneously. The two courses offer distinct styles, with the Blackstone Course more challenging and testing of players’ precision, compared to the flexible layout of the Vintage Course.
The Hainan Classic presented by MAEXTRO is the opening tournament of the DP World Tour’s Asian Swing, the third of five Global Swings included on the 2026 Race to Dubai.
The event is co-hosted by the China Golf Association and the Department of Tourism, Culture, Radio, Television and Sports of Hainan Province and is co-sanctioned by the DP World Tour and the China Tour. The total prize fund for the event is US$2.55 million, with 3,500 Race to Dubai points on offer.
MAEXTRO, the ultra-luxury Chinese car brand, was announced as Presenting Sponsor of the tournament last month.
