The world’s leading women golfers have arrived in Shenzhen for the 2026 Aramco China Championship, but as the final preparations get underway at Mission Hills Resort, Olivia Cowan has already identified a few things that could make life interesting over the next four days.

The heat, the unfamiliar grass and greens that aren’t always inclined to reveal their secrets could all play a part. Then there are the par-fives, where Cowan believes opportunities must be taken if anyone fancies getting their hands on the trophy.

With a $2 million prize fund at stake and the PIF Global Series reaching its conclusion, there’s plenty to play for when the opening round begins on Thursday, 5 November.

Cowan Knows Where the Shots Could Be Won and Lost

Having competed at Mission Hills in previous editions, Cowan knows the World Cup Course presents a different challenge from many of the venues familiar to players on the Ladies European Tour.

The conditions require adjustment, particularly around the greens, where an unfamiliar grass type and difficult reads can quickly complicate an otherwise promising round.

“Just getting used to the grass type is a bit different from what we normally play in Europe or elsewhere in the world, so it’s about adapting to that, getting a good feel around the greens, and getting used to the green speeds.”

“Some of the greens are quite tricky to read.”

Cowan also highlighted the importance of managing the heat and maintaining electrolyte intake throughout the day.

But alongside those challenges sits an opportunity. The par-fives could provide valuable scoring chances, making them an important part of any successful strategy over the four rounds.

At this level, a good week rarely comes down to one spectacular shot. Quite often, it’s knowing which holes to attack and which ones are better left alone.

Skarpnord Sees a Different Generation Coming Through

For Marianne Skarpnord, the Shenzhen championship offers another opportunity to measure the changing standards of women’s professional golf.

The experienced Norwegian has watched the Aramco events develop from their earlier Team Series format into a competition with greater financial backing and an expanding international presence.

“They have doubled the prize fund, which has been amazing. It has elevated the events and expanded our reach well beyond what we were used to previously.”

It’s not simply the prize money that has caught her attention, however.

Having shared the course with some of Asia’s leading emerging talents, Skarpnord believes the preparation and physical development of younger professionals are increasingly evident.

She recalled playing alongside Ruoning Yin at this event last year, when the Chinese star’s short game left a particularly strong impression.

“The biggest difference with the generation coming through now is how they’ve been trained from an early age, how athletic they are, and how far they hit the ball. Their overall preparation and development are incredible to see.”

That combination of athleticism, distance and technical ability is something established professionals must continue to contend with as younger players move through the ranks.

And with the Ladies European Tour and China LPGA both represented in Shenzhen, the final event provides another opportunity to see those different generations competing on the same stage.

Van Dam Praises China’s Golf Crowds

Anne van Dam, meanwhile, is looking forward to an atmosphere she has come to appreciate during previous visits to Shenzhen.

The Dutch professional believes the enthusiasm of Chinese spectators adds something distinctive to the tournament, particularly in their willingness to support players throughout the field.

“The crowds here in Shenzhen are always amazing. They’re extremely enthusiastic and cheer for everyone. There’s a lot of energy out on the course, and the fans are so excited to see us play. It makes it very fun and exciting for us.”

Van Dam also reflected on her experience as Junior Solheim Cup captain earlier this year, working with players under 18 and sharing some of the lessons accumulated during her professional career.

She described the experience as rewarding, particularly because of the younger golfers’ eagerness to learn and the energy they brought to the team environment.

It offered another perspective on the development of women’s golf, beyond the professional leaderboards and prize funds.

A Little Legally Blonde Before the Serious Business

There was room for some lighter conversation during the pre-tournament press conference, too.

Cowan was asked about her viral social media collaboration with Nelly Korda, when the pair competed together at the Dow Championship under the rather memorable team name Legally Blonde.

The name came about because the two friends are both blonde, with a trending Instagram audio clip from the musical providing the inspiration for their accompanying Reel.

“We were laughing the entire time while filming it and definitely didn’t expect it to blow up that much, but it was great fun.”

Whether that particular partnership produces another social media appearance remains to be seen. For now, Cowan’s attention is firmly on the golf course.

Aramco China Championship: Dates, Format and Prize Money

The 2026 Aramco China Championship takes place from 5–8 November at Mission Hills Resort Shenzhen, with the opening round scheduled to begin at 7.30 am local time on Thursday.

The tournament is co-sanctioned by the Ladies European Tour (LET) and China LPGA (CLPGA), featuring four days of individual stroke play on the resort’s World Cup Course.

It is the fifth and final event of the PIF Global Series, presented and organised by Golf Saudi and title-sponsored by Aramco.

Defending champion Ruixin Liu was among the players attending the official pre-tournament photocall, helping unveil the trophy ahead of the opening round.

With $2 million on offer, the championship brings the series to its conclusion in Shenzhen.

And if Cowan’s assessment is anything to go by, anyone hoping to finish the week at the top of the leaderboard will need more than a reliable long game.

Reading those greens properly would be a very good start.

Tickets for the 2026 Aramco China Championship at Mission Hills Resort China (November 5–8) are available now HERE.