A prize pool of US$2 million will be up for grabs at the 2007 China Open, an increase of US$200,000 on this year's event.

And a source hinted yesterday that the sponsor could yet match this year's half a million dollar hike when the motoring giant's budgets are approved later this year.

Mel Pyatt, the chief executive of Volvo Event Management, would only confirm the 'guaranteed' US$200,000 increase, along with a long-term deal with the China Golf Association.