The par-72, 7,116-yard Yalong Bay Golf Club offers a new challenge to the European Tour golfers in every sense of the word.

Constructed in China's holiday paradise Hainan Island by Robert Trent Jones Jnr, it was opened for business just five years ago and only added to the schedule earlier in 2005.

Montgomerie needs a good week in China to book a Masters berth

Tournament director Miguel Vidaor reports that the Tour's course managers have barely had time to mould it into shape. The rough, for example, is still shorter than ideal despite being left to grow in recent weeks.

Nevertheless, Vidaor is confident Trent Jones' skill and the natural hazards of this beautiful course will serve up trouble enough. It's fairly long, conditions can be windy and it boasts water hazards galore including a 120,000 square-metre lake to concentrate minds.

In total there are 95 bunkers. And the greens look tricky and undulating and can be extremely quick.

Vidaor says temperatures at the weekend were touching 28 degrees Celsius. It has staged the Asian Tour's Sanya Open for the last two years and in 2004, Australian Terry Pilkadaris won after a play-off with American Clay Devers, both finishing on 18-under-par 270 totals. The prize fund is $1m.

EASIEST HOLE: The seventh, at 273 yards, is one of the shortest par-fours on the European Tour circuit. Its small green is tricky to read and is guarded by water on the left and a large bunker to the right. All the same, Vidaor predicts many will be able to find the green with one blow - probably a three wood - setting up two-putt birdies.

HARDEST HOLE: The 452-yard par-four second, Vidaor confidently predicts, will cause problems for all the field. It is a dog-leg right with water protecting the green on the left and a small pot bunker will suck in anything hit short and right. There are also fairway bunkers on both sides but the main problem is the hole's length, especially if the prevailing wind blows against as usual.

This is a last-chance saloon for Colin Montgomerie, who needs a very high finish to force his way into the world's top 50 and also the Masters in three weeks. He faces considerable competition from a strong field that includes Paul Casey, Thomas Bjorn, Paul McGinley, Ian Woosnam and Michael Campbell.