Japan's Sato set for Sanya

Looking for back-to-back titles to open PGA Tour Series-China season

Taihei Sato last week became the first Japanese to win a PGA Tour Series-China tournament. Now he's shooting to be just the second player to win the first two events of a season.

In the tour's four previous seasons, only China's Dou Zecheng opened with back-to-back victories－at the 2016 St. Andrews Henan Open in his hometown, followed by the United Investment Real Estate Wuhan Open a week later.

Dou followed up with victories in the fifth event (Suning Estate Nanjing Zhongshan Open) and the seventh tournament (Yulongwan Yunnan Open) en route to earning Player of the Year honors.

Sato, winner of the Chongqing Championship, has a chance to match Dou's double by winning this week's Sanya Championship.

The Japanese ace is joining 143 players at Yalong Bay Golf Club as Hainan Island hosts the tour for the third time. China's Li Haotong won the 2014 Sanya Hainan Open at Luhuitou Golf Club, while compatriot Zhang Huilin took the Hainan Open at Dragon Valley Golf Club the following year.

In the inaugural 2014 season, South Korea's Wang Jeung-hun won the opening event by 10 strokes, with Sam Chien of the US winning next in Guangzhou.

In 2015, New Zealand's Josh Geary was the circuit's first winner, with Chinese Taipei's Chan Shihchangn taking The Eternal Courtyard Open, the second tournament of the season.

Last year, American Jeffrey Kang won the Chengdu Championship, but failed to make it two in a row when local favorite Cao Yi won at Chongqing.

"I hope I can win again this week. I am playing really well right now and I have confidence from last week's result. I feel very good," Sato said before teeing off in Wednesday's pro-am.

"This course is much different compared to last week. It can be tricky if the wind picks up and the layout is different. It will be a new challenge, which I am looking forward to."

One player Sato won't need to worry about this week is his playoff rival from the Chongqing Championship, Liu Yanwei, who isn't in the Sanya Championship field.

Other top players competing this week include newcomers David Kocher, Max McGreevy and Charlie Dann, who all had top-10 finishes a week ago in their inaugural starts on tour.

Kocher finished third, McGreevy was fourth and Dann tied for seventh.

This week's field is packed with a host of past PGA Tour Series-China winners－Kevin Techakanokboon, Eugene Wong, Bryden Macpherson, Gunn Charoenkul, Kim Taewoo Kim, He Zeyu, Chao Haimeng, Alex Kang, Justin Shin, Jin Cheng and American Chien.

Even this early in the season, Sato hasn't lost sight of his ultimate goal.

"My goal is to play on the PGA Tour, so the win last week helped me get a little closer," he said.

"This week, I want to win again to get closer to a spot on the Web.com Tour."