Golf ourse for the Hainan Open European Challenge. (Photo: File)

SANYA (Xinhua) -- 2018 Hainan Open European Challenge Tour tees off on Tuesday in Sanya, South China's island province of Hainan.

126 players from 32 countries and regions are here vying for a total prize of about $350,000.

Inaugurated in 2009, Hainan Open is going to brace its ten years old birthday. Over the past ten years, Hainan Golf Open has played an active role in promoting the golf culture and the development of golf industry, said Pang Zheng, the secretary general of China Golf Association.

"The cooperation between Hainan Open and European Challenge Tour has made an excellent platform for Chinese golf players to go on the international stage", Pang said.

"It is obviously a great opportunity to promote Hainan island to the rest of the world. And it's also a great opportunity for Chinese players to compete with other very good international players ", said Mats Lanner, tournament director of European Challenge Tour Hainan Open.

For Mats Lanner, golf in China is going quickly and rapidly upwards so he won't be surprised if he saw a Chinese player up in the top.

"The strength of Chinese golf is growing every year," he said. "In my old time as a player, I played in the first Volvo China Open back in 1995, so I've seen the whole developments since the last nearly 25 years. It's really pleased to see how China golf is growing."

According to organizers, to celebrate its 10 years birthday, the 2018 Hainan Golf Open will host a total of 30 events, including 22 domestic and five global promotion competitions, three tournaments of the European Challenge Tour, International Amateur Championships and International Junior Championships.