Out of the Rough: Hainan Classic presented by MAEXTRO (2026)

The DP World Tour heads to China for this week’s Hainan Classic presented by MAEXTRO to kick-off the ‘Asian Swing.’

This year marks the second playing of the Hainan Classic presented by MAEXTRO with last year’s installment being the inaugural event.

Although this week’s event is the second playing, there will be changes to this year’s installment.

The Blackstone Course at the Mission Hills Resort Haikou played host a year ago. The Blackstone Course will again play host, along with the Vintage Course.

Golfers will play one of each the Blackstone Course and Vintage Course across the first two rounds. Those who make the cut will play the Blackstone Course across the final two rounds.

This event will also be co-sanctioned between the DP World Tour and the China Tour.

The Field

Following a week off and the first event of a new ‘swing,’ a full field of DP World Tour stars will be in attendance this week.

Season winners Dan Bradury (Joburg Open,) Freddy Schott (Bapco Energies Bahrain Championship) and Nacho Elvira (Dubai Invitational) will help headline this week’s field.

Other notable players teeing it up this week include Andy Sullivan, Calum Hill, Angel Ayora, Wenyi Ding, Davis Bryant, Marcus Armitage, Francesco Molinari, Frederic Lacroix, Oliver Lindell and Nathan Kimsey.

Marco Penge won last year’s installment, claiming his maiden and first-of-three victories a season ago. He will not be back to defend his title.

The Course(s)

As previously mentioned, this week’s first two rounds will be played across both the Blackstone Course and Vintage Course at the Mission Hills Haikou.

Blackstone Course

The Blackstone Course of the Mission Hills Haikou is renowned as one of the best golf courses in all of Asia.

It is a part of the Mission Hills Complex, which is the world’s second-largest golf resort that features ten championship courses. 

The course is set on top of an ancient lava field, known for its volcanic landscape. It is routed through dense jungle and open wetlands with lychee trees throughout.

It was designed by Brian Curley and opened in 2011.

It plays as a par-73 at a staggering 7,808 yards. The course was established to challenge the elite players of the world.

One of the course’s claims-to-fame is its ability to seamlessly blend the golf course into the natural environment.

For example, the bunkers seamlessly transition into lava rock-filled waste areas.

The fairways are described as both tumbling and feature dramatic elevation changes.

One of the featured holes of this golf course is the par-three fifth that plays over a lava field to a tiered green surrounded by a waste area.

The front-nine of this golf course is routed through dense forest as the back-nine climbs to higher elevation and offers panoramic views of the property.

The back-nine also features back-to-back par-fives, a rarity across professional golf. The first of which is the 12th hole, which is one of the easier holes on the golf course. That is followed by the daunting 681-yard 13th hole.

Vintage Course

The Vintage Course pays homage to the golden age of golf course design.

It plays as a par-72 at roughly 7,380 yards.

It too was designed by Brian Curley as he paid tribute to the legendary work of Charles Blair Macdonald and Seth Raynor, also known as “MacRaynor.”

Due to this, the Vintage Course features sprawling fairways, lined by mature trees along with strategically placed bunkers that guard undulating greens.

Much like the aforementioned Blackstone course, the Vintage Course also has a way of blending into the natural environment. 

The par-3 12th is the course’s signature hole. It is known as “The Island,” which, just as the name suggests, features an island green. 

The Weather

As of the time of writing this, there is at most, a five-percent chance of precipitation across all four-days this week. Temperatures are set for 81-degrees for both Thursday and Saturday. Friday and Sunday currently call for 82-degrees on both days. Winds are set to begin the week at 12 miles-per-hour before increasing to 14 miles-per-hour for each of Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Key Stats

• Strokes Gained: Tee to Green (SG: TTG)

• Average Driving Distance

• Scrambling

• Sand Saves Percentage

• Birdie or Better Percentage

• Par 5 Scoring Average

• Strokes Gained: Putting (SG: PUTT)

Betting Card

Check back Monday (3/16) for my full betting card!

2025 Betting Card

• Marco Penge (+4500) - 1st

• Niklas Lemke (+6000) - T45th

• Jacob Skov Olesen (+7000) - MC

• Freddy Schott (+10000) - W/D