As last year's tournament attracted 54,656 spectators over the four rounds at Enhance Anting, Zhao said the goal for this year was to build on those record numbers by becoming a "bridge connecting sportsmanship and urban culture".

"The future Volvo China Open is envisioned as far more than a four-day competition. We are committed to building it into an integrated 'Sports+' platform – deeply combining golf with the cultural, tourism, and commercial aspects of the host city," she said.

"This year, we will continue to develop the 'Tournament+' model, deepening the integration of sports, culture, commerce, tourism, and exhibitions to create a 'Golf Carnival'. Our goal is to transform the tournament's temporary influx of visitors into a lasting engagement for the city."

With a recent China Golf Association report listing the country's golfing population at approximately 5.4 million participants, Zhao said it was the tournament's duty to ensure a high level of competition and entertainment, in addition to providing a valuable platform for Chinese players to improve their world ranking and prepare for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

"The world of golf is undergoing tremendous change, leadership transitions, a changing of the guard among star players, and the emergence of Chinese talent. Li Haotong has made it to the PGA Tour. Wu Ashun, Ding Wenyi, and Zhou Yanhan are establishing themselves on the DP World Tour. They are raising the ceiling for Chinese golf," she said.

"We believe that in this era of transition, new champions and new legends are being forged. In 2026, we look forward to witnessing the opening of this new chapter together with everyone."