Hong Kong Open (golf)

Hong Kong Open
Tournament information
Location New Territories, Hong Kong
Established 1959
Course(s) Hong Kong Golf Club
Par 70
Length 6,699 yards (6,126 m)
Tour(s) European Tour
Asian Tour
Format Stroke play
Prize fund $2,000,000
Month played November
Tournament record score
Aggregate 258 Ian Poulter (2010)*
To par

−22 José María Olazábal (2002)
−22 Ian Poulter (2010)*

*These records only date back to 2001 when this tournament became a European Tour event.
Current champion
Australia Wade Ormsby
Hong Kong GC
Location in China
Hong Kong GC
Location in Hong Kong

The Hong Kong Open is a golf tournament which is co-sanctioned by the Asian Tour and the European Tour. It was founded in 1959 and has been part of the European Tour's schedule since 2001. The Hong Kong Golf Association, Hong Kong PGA, and Chinese PGA also receive a limited number of exemptions into the tournament for their members.

Since taking its place on the European Tour the event has always been held at the Hong Kong Golf Club in Sheung Shui, New Territories. The current title sponsor is the Japanese golf manufacturer, Honma.

The tournament remains alongside the Masters at Augusta, Georgia, as the only two professional events in golfing history that have been played at the same venue for more than 50 years.[1]

In its early years, the tournament used to be played in spring.[2] Since 1995, the tournament has usually been played towards the end of the year, in November or December, and often falls into the following year's European Tour season.

History

In 1958, Hong Kong Golf Club member Kim Hall wrote to Australian professional Eric Cremin to see if those players playing in the Philippine Open in 1959 would consider staying in the region to play in Hong Kong. Hall then approached Peter Plumley, secretary of South China Morning Post, who was also a golfer. Plumley then persuaded his boss to sponsor 1,000 Australian pounds in prize money in the name of South China Morning Post. Then, the first Hong Kong Open was launched in February 1959.[2]

According to Hong Kong Golf Club member Willie Woo, Kim Hall was very keen for the tournament and he talked a lot with Australian golfers, including Peter Thompson. Woo helped to get Taiwanese players through his connections.[3]

The first tournament was hosted by Sir Robert Black, the then-Governor of Hong Kong. Around one thousand spectators joined the tournament.[4] Taiwanese golfer Lu Liang-huan won the inaugural edition of the tournament.[5]

The success of the Hong Kong Open prompted Malaysia, Singapore and Japan to introduce their own tournaments and bring about the setting up of the Far East Golf Circuit.[5]

Despite the SCMP's agreement to keep up its 1,000 pounds sponsorship of the Hong Kong Open, it was felt that prize money would need to be increased if the best players were to be attracted. As a result, the 1963 Open was jointly sponsored by the SCMP and British American Tobacco Co., with the purse going up to 4,000 pounds.[5]

Due to poor weather conditions during the 1966 event, the Hong Kong Golf Club lost HK$10,442 as the money put up by the sponsors was insufficient to cover expenses. As a result, the club decided that in future it could not undertake to assist financially in any way, but would provide only the courses and the general facilities.[5]

The 1968 tournament was the first to be shown live on television.[5]

In 1969, the newly formed the Hong Kong Golf Association took up the task of organising the tournament.[5]

In 1996, Hong Kong golfer Dominique Boulet finished fourth, the best result by a local golfer.[6]

In 2008, Florida-based Hong Kong amateur Hak Shun-yat became the youngest player ever to make the cut in a European Tour event, at 14 years and 304 days, eclipsing the record set by Sergio García at the Turespaña Open Mediterrania in 1995.[7] At the other end of the age spectrum, Miguel Ángel Jiménez became the oldest golfer ever to win on the European Tour when he won in 2012 at age 48 years, 315 days, and extended his record by defending his title in 2013 at age 49 years, 337 days.[8]

In 2013, organizers and potential sponsors raised concerns over the complex becoming enmeshed in a controversial redevelopment plan for Fan Ling.[9] The tournament was played that year without a title sponsor.

Winners

European Tour and Asian Tour event

Year* Winner Country Score To par Margin
of victory		 Runner(s)-up
Asian Euro
Honma Hong Kong Open presented by Amundi
20182019
UBS Hong Kong Open
20172018Wade Ormsby Australia269−111 strokeSweden Alexander Björk
Spain Rafael Cabrera-Bello
United States Paul Peterson
United States Julian Suri
20162017Sam Brazel Australia267−131 strokeSpain Rafael Cabrera-Bello
20152015Justin Rose England263−171 strokeDenmark Lucas Bjerregaard
Hong Kong Open
20142014Scott Hend Australia267−13PlayoffPhilippines Angelo Que
20132014Miguel Ángel Jiménez (4) Spain268−12PlayoffWales Stuart Manley
Thailand Prom Meesawat
UBS Hong Kong Open
20122012Miguel Ángel Jiménez (3) Spain265−151 strokeSweden Fredrik Andersson Hed
20112011Rory McIlroy Northern Ireland268−122 strokesFrance Grégory Havret
20102010Ian Poulter England258−221 strokeEngland Simon Dyson
Italy Matteo Manassero
20092009Grégory Bourdy France261−192 strokesNorthern Ireland Rory McIlroy
20082009Lin Wen-tang Taiwan265−15PlayoffNorthern Ireland Rory McIlroy
Italy Francesco Molinari
20072008Miguel Ángel Jiménez (2) Spain265−151 strokeSouth Korea K. J. Choi
Thailand Thongchai Jaidee
Sweden Robert Karlsson
20062007José Manuel Lara Spain265−151 strokePhilippines Juvic Pagunsan
20052006Colin Montgomerie Scotland271−91 strokeSouth Korea K. J. Choi
South Africa James Kingston
Taiwan Lin Keng-chi
United States Edward Loar
Thailand Thammanoon Sriroj
Omega Hong Kong Open
20042005Miguel Ángel Jiménez Spain266−141 strokeRepublic of Ireland Pádraig Harrington
South Africa James Kingston
20032004Pádraig Harrington Ireland269−111 strokeSouth Africa Hennie Otto
20022003Fredrik Jacobson Sweden260−162 strokesArgentina Jorge Berendt
Sweden Henrik Nyström
20012002José María Olazábal Spain262−221 strokeNorway Henrik Bjørnstad

* The first year listed is the one in which the tournament was played and the Asian Tour season which it belonged to. The second year listed is the European Tour season that it fell into.

Asian Tour event
Year Winner Score To par Ref
2000England Simon Dyson263−21[10]
1999Sweden Patrik Sjöland269[11]
1998South Korea Kang Wook-soon272−12[12][13]
1997New Zealand Frank Nobilo267−17[14]
1996Philippines Rodrigo Cuello275[15]
1995United States Gary Webb271[16]
1994South Africa David Frost274PO[17]
1993United States Brian Watts274−10[18]
1992United States Tom Watson274[19][20][21]
1991Germany Bernhard Langer269[22]
1990United States Ken Green205**[23]
1989United States Brian Claar274[24]
1988Taiwan Hsieh Chin-sheng274[25]
1987Wales Ian Woosnam275[26]
1986Japan Seiichi Kanai285[27]
1985United States Mark Aebli270[28]
1984United States Bill Brask268[29]
1983Australia Greg Norman (2)134*[30]
1982Australia Kurt Cox276[31]
1981Taiwan Chen Tze-ming279[32]
1980Taiwan Kuo Chie-hsiung274[33]
1979Australia Greg Norman276[34]
1978Taiwan Hsieh Yung-yo275[35]
1977Taiwan Hsieh Min-nan (4)280[36]
1976Taiwan Ho Ming-chung279[37]
1975Taiwan Hsieh Yung-yo (3)288[38]
1974Taiwan Lu Liang-huan (2)280[39]
1973Australia Frank Phillips (2)278[40]
1972New Zealand Walter Godfrey272[41]
1971United States Orville Moody266[42]
1970Japan Isao Katsumata274[43]
1969Japan Teruo Sugihara274[44]
1968Australia Randall Vines271[45]
1967Australia Peter Thomson (3)273[46]
1966Australia Frank Phillips275[47]
1965Australia Peter Thomson (2)278[48]
1964Taiwan Hsieh Yung-yo (2)269[49]
1963Taiwan Hsieh Yung-yo272[50]
1962Australia Len Woodward271[51]
1961Australia Kel Nagle261[52]
1960Australia Peter Thomson272[53]
1959Taiwan Lu Liang-huan281

* Reduced to 2 rounds due to rain
** Reduced to 3 rounds due to bad weather

(Source: Robinson, S (1989), “Festina Lente – A History of the Royal Hong Kong Golf Club”, p. 105 & related news reports.)

Scorecard

HoleNameYardsMetresPar
1Trench4684284
2The Trap1491363
3Fearsome5515045
4Temptation2882634
5Table Top1921763
6The Pimple4474094
7The Narrows3803474
8Oasis1881723
9The Bend4934514
10Holland3673364
11The Paddy4664264
12Short Hole1441323
13The Long Hole5294845
14The Bungalow3953614
15The Burn4263904
16The Road Hole4113764
17The Graves4063714
18The Ultimate4103754
Total6710613770

References

  1. ↑ "Sense of heritage key to general manager Ian Gardner's vision for Fanling". South China Morning Post. 5 October 2015.
  2. 1 2 "A different era – founding father of the Hong Kong Golf Open recalls the early days of city's oldest sporting event". South China Morning Post. 3 October 2015.
  3. ↑ "The last Happy Valley golf survivor: Willie Woo goes down memory lane". South China Morning Post. 21 October 2015.
  4. ↑ S.C.M Post Open Golf Competition – New Page in Sporting History of H.K., South China Morning Post, page 1 & 20, 2 February 1959
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Robinson, S (1989), "Festina Lente – A History of the Royal Hong Kong Golf Club", p. 85–105
  6. ↑ Boulet thrills Open fans with final round flourish, South China Morning Post, 9 December 1996
  7. ↑ "Hak breaks Sergio Garcia's record, makes Euro Tour cut at 14 years old". ESPN. 21 November 2008. Retrieved 21 November 2008.
  8. ↑ "With This Win: Miguel Ángel Jiménez" (Press release). PGA European Tour. 8 December 2013. Retrieved 20 December 2013.
  9. ↑ Chen, Bonnie (22 July 2013). "In a hole". The Standard. Archived from the original on 3 December 2013.
  10. ↑ 戴臣香港高球賽奪冠, Ta Kung Pao, page B7, 18 December 2000
  11. ↑ Suttering Sjoland helds off Woosnam in gripping finale, South China Morning Post, 29 November 1999
  12. ↑ 韓好手姜旭淳奪標, Hong Kong Commercial Daily, 30 November 1998
  13. ↑ Final round duel puts friendship to test, South China Morning Post, 29 November 1998
  14. ↑ Nobilo steadies ship, then takes Open by storm, South China Morning Post, 8 December 1997
  15. ↑ Cuello shrugs off all challengers in Open win, South China Morning Post, 9 December 1996
  16. ↑ Win makes Webb rethink career, South China Morning Post, 20 November 1995
  17. ↑ Frost solves putting riddle in Open play-off, South China Morning Post, 28 February 1994
  18. ↑ Watts stays the course for thrilling Open win, South China Morning Post, 15 February 1993
  19. ↑ Public golf course plea by Open winner Watson, South China Morning Post, 9 March 1992
  20. ↑ Nerve-jangling win for Watson, South China Morning Post, 9 March 1992
  21. ↑ 湯屈臣失準製造緊張 仍以三桿壓倒華費迪, Sing Tao Daily, page 11, 9 March 1992
  22. ↑ Langer tames Fanling, South China Morning Post, 11 February 1991
  23. ↑ American Green wins golf Open, South China Morning Post, 26 February 1990
  24. ↑ Claar clinches memorable win, South China Morning Post, page 32, 20 February 1989
  25. ↑ Hsieh leads Taiwan change, South China Morning Post, page 22, 15 February 1988
  26. ↑ Woosnam wins by four shots, South China Morning Post, page 1, 2 March 1987
  27. ↑ King Kanai's charge clinches Open crown, South China Morning Post, page 29, 3 March 1986
  28. ↑ Amiable Aebli walking tall, South China Morning Post, page 33, 4 March 1985
  29. ↑ Brask bolts home by seven shots, South China Morning Post, pate 21, 27 February 1984
  30. ↑ Bit-hitting Norman's conquest, South China Morning Post, page 1, 28 February 1983
  31. ↑ Cox wins Fanling thriller, South China Morning Post, page 1, 1 March 1982
  32. ↑ Taiwan again! Dark horse Chen keeps up the Open tradition, South China Morning Post, page 24, 2 March 1981
  33. ↑ King Kuo's crown as he pips Mr Lu, South China Morning Post, page 21, 3 March 1980
  34. ↑ Australian clinches HK title, South China Morning Post, page 11, 4 March 1979
  35. ↑ Hsieh's fourth HK title, South China Morning Post, page 10, 5 March 1978
  36. ↑ Hsieh wins HK Open, South China Morning Post, page 12, 6 March 1977
  37. ↑ Taiwanese sweep HK Open Golf, South China Morning Post, page 10, 18 April 1976
  38. ↑ Hsieh makes it three, South China Morning Post, page 1, 24 February 1975
  39. ↑ Lu wins Open in dramatic play-off, South China Morning Post, page 19, 25 February 1974
  40. ↑ Tremendous climax to a gripping Open, South China Morning Post, page 15, 6 March 1973
  41. ↑ New Hongkong golf champion, South China Morning Post, page 1, 3 April 1972
  42. ↑ Moody wins H.K. Open, South China Morning Post, page 1, 5 April 1971
  43. ↑ Katsumata leads the charge, South China Morning Post, page 2, 30 March 1970
  44. ↑ First Japanese ever to win at Fanling, Bembridge second, South China Morning Post, page 2, 31 March 1969
  45. ↑ Randall Vines clings to title as dramatic Sugihara bid fools, South China Morning Post, page 2, 25 March 1968
  46. ↑ Thomson wins golf title in play-off, South China Morning Post, page 1, 27 March 1967
  47. ↑ Thrilling Duel Phillips Wins HK Open Despite Back Ailment, South China Morning Post, page 1, 28 March 1966
  48. ↑ Thomson's Dramatic "Open" Win, South China Morning Post, page 1, 29 March 1965
  49. ↑ Hsieh Retains Golf Title, South China Morning Post, page 1, 23 March 1964
  50. ↑ Hsieh Yung-ho Wins H.K. Open, South China Morning Post, page 1, 11 March 1963
  51. ↑ Woodward Wins H.K. Golf Open, South China Morning Post, page 1, 5 March 1962
  52. ↑ Nagle Wins S.C.M. Post Open Golf tournament, South China Morning Post, page 1, 13 February 1961
  53. ↑ Thomson Coasts to Victory in Open, South China Morning Post, 2 February 1960

Coordinates: 22°29′31″N 114°06′54″E / 22.492°N 114.115°E / 22.492; 114.115

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