Luiten Favourite for Volvo China Open

The European Tour remains in the land of the red dragon as Joost Luiten comes into the Volvo China Open fresh off consecutive runner-up finishes

It's the Volvo China Open this week on the European Tour hosted by TopWin Golf Club in Beijing.

It's the the first time TopWin hosts a European Tour event.

The course is designed by Ian Woosnam and is almost 7,300 yards with water coming into play on 15 of the holes.

Last year's Volvo China Open at Tomson Shanghai Pudong Golf Club was won by Wu Ashun, who became the first Chinese golfer to win a European Tour event in his homeland.

Ashun won the title by a stroke from David Howell when the Englishman bogeyed the 72nd hole.

Joost Luiten comes into the Volvo China Open as favourite after consecutive runner-up finishes on the European Tour.

The Dutchman finished one stroke shy of Andrew Johnston two weeks ago in the Open de Espana at Valderrama and then finished two behind Soomin Lee at the Shenzhen International last week.

He lies 8th on the Race to Dubai.

True Thailand Classic winner Scott Hend had another good week in Asia, as he finished three behind Soomin Lee in T4th.

France's Alexander Levy also finished T4th in Shenzhen. He won the 2014 Volvo China Open and became the tournament's youngest ever winner in doing so. He finished T3rd last year.

The weather looks very good after a frustrating tournament in Shenzhen where the final round had to be completed on Monday.

The forecast for the tournament is sunny with temperatures increasing throughout the week from 29 degrees celsius on Thursday up to 35 degrees on Sunday.

Venue: TopWin Golf Club, Beijing

Date: 28th Apr - 1 May

Course stats: Par 72, 7261 yards

Winners cheque: €450,176

Defending Champion: Wu Ashun (-9, Tomson Shanghai Pudong Golf Club)

Player watch:

Joost Luiten: The Dutchman has six European Tour titles but hasn't won since the ISPS Handa Wales Open in September 2014. Surely another victory is just around the corner after back-to-back second-place finishes.

Alexander Levy: His last two Volvo China Open appearances have been a victory and a T3rd finish. He is in good form so expect him to feature.

Brandon Stone: The South African won his national open back in January and nearly won his second title of the season last week at the Shenzhen International. He's proved he can win on tour and looks to be finding form.