China Open, to be teed off on Thursday in Shanghai, will feature golfers from across the world, including a string of well-known players.

Among them are British Open champion Paul Lawrie of Scotland, Danish Ryder Cup star Thomas Bjorn, Spaniard Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano and Thongchai Jaidee of Thailand.

The tournament, first of two back-to-back events co-sanctioned by the European and Asian tours, will take place on the 6,468-meter par-71 course at the Shanghai Silport Golf Club.

Former winners Simon Dyson of England and Welshman Stephen Dodd will also show up for the tournament, which offers a prize money of 2 million US dollars, including 333,390 dollars for the winner.

Missing from the tournament will be defending champion Jeev Milkha Singh of India, who decided to stay in the United States following his debut at the Masters.

Sponsor Volvo plans to move the tournament back to Beijing next year to coincide with the Chinese capital's staging of the 2008 Olympic Games.