The temperature in the $2.55 million event at the Blackstone Course will be soaring this week. And with many top European players lined up to be in action in China, the DP World Tour has made a major decision. They are going to allow something that might keep the pros safe, but will not make them happy.

Ben Parsons from The Today’s Golfer revealed a statement shared by a DP World Tour representative: “Pros and amateurs will use buggies across the first two rounds this week for pace of play purposes, and for safety in the need of a storm/evacuation on the Vintage Course.”

The 2026 Hainan Classic will boast a field of 120 players. Each group will include two pros, and every minute, two groups will tee off from either the first or tenth hole. The last groups will tee off at 12:52 P.M. local time or 12:52 A.M. (EST).

As per the weather report, the temperature during the first couple of rounds will rise to 83°F with a RealFeel of 88°F, according to AccuWeather. The reports on Friday also reveal a 20% chance of precipitation with 5% possibility of thunderstorms. The Longhua District is also prone to thunderstorms and rainfall this time of the year. It marks the beginning of the spring rainy season. The region will also see an 82% cloud cover, which might lead to low light.

Hence, things might get quite hectic for the players to complete the 7637 yards of 18 holes in regulation time. The DP World Tour has decided to take this drastic step in order to maintain the pace of play. With this, they will also be prepared to evacuate the players in case of thunderstorms.

However, some players are not happy with the DP World Tour’s rule. In general, the pros are not allowed to use golf carts during the PGA Tour or European events. And they expressed their disappointment over the situation.

“It’s probably the thing I’m least looking forward to because I hate playing golf in buggies,” Eddie Pepperell told the crew of the Chipping Forecast podcast.

It draws parallels to the Casey Martin case, where he successfully sued the PGA Tour for the right to use a cart under the Americans with Disabilities Act. That said, the Hainan Classic 2026 will boast an impressive field of players. It’s understandable why the DP World Tour wants to protect its top stars.

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The top talent in the DP World Tour playing in the 2026 Hainan Classic

The field in Hainan Classic 2026 is packed with some in-form golfers and a few big names. One of them is Nacho Elvira, who has proven to be a threat in many tournaments of late. He beat Rory McIlroy and Co. to win the Dubai Invitational at the beginning of 2026. The Spaniard also got a T7 finish in the Bahrain Championship in February.

The man who won in Bahrain by beating Patrick Reed in the playoff, Freddy Schott, is also playing the tournament. Team Europe Vice Captain for the 2025 Ryder Cup, Francesco Molinari, will also be on the field. Former LIV Golf pro Eugenio Chacarra will be eager to win his second DP World Tour title in China.

Lastly, Daniel Hillier will also be competing for the title. While he hasn’t won anything this season, the Australian pro has bagged four top-6 finishes in six tournaments so far. He might finally grab a win at Mission Hills.