Hong Kong Open (golf)

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 in 1962 was one of the five tournaments that made up the inaugural Far East Circuit, later known as the Asia Golf Circuit. It remained part of the circuit until 1996, before joining the Asian Tour, then known as the Omega Tour, in 1997. It became co-sanctioned by the European Tour in 2001, as part of the 2002 season.

Hong Kong Open
Tournament information
LocationNew Territories, Hong Kong
Established1959
Course(s)Hong Kong Golf Club
Par70
Length6,700 yards (6,100 m)
Tour(s)European Tour (since 2001)
Asian Tour (since 1997)
Asia Golf Circuit (1962–1996)
FormatStroke play
Prize fund$1,000,000
Month playedJanuary (in 2020)
Tournament record score
Aggregate258 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
Wade Ormsby
Hong Kong GC
Location in China
Hong Kong GC
Location in Hong Kong
Hong Kong Open
Traditional Chinese香港高爾夫球公開賽
Simplified Chinese香港高尔夫球公开赛

The Hong Kong Open was played in spring from its inception until 1994,[1] but since 1995 has usually been played towards the end of the year, in November or December, and as a result has often fallen into the following year's European Tour season.

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 Hong Kong Golf Association, Hong Kong PGA, and Chinese PGA receive a limited number of exemptions into the tournament for their members.

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.[1] 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.[2]

The first tournament was hosted by Sir Robert Black, the then-Governor of Hong Kong. Around one thousand spectators joined the tournament.[3] Taiwanese golfer Lu Liang-Huan won the inaugural edition of the tournament.[4] The success of the Hong Kong Open prompted first Singapore in 1961, and then Malaysia and Japan in 1962, to introduce their own tournaments and bring about the setting up of the Far East Golf Circuit.[4] The circuit further expanded into a regular ten-tournament tour, called the Asia Golf Circuit, that existed until the end of the twentieth century.

Despite the SCMP's original agreement to maintain 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. To that end the 1963 event was jointly sponsored by the SCMP and British American Tobacco, with the purse being increased to 4,000 pounds as a result.[4]

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 continued provide the courses and the general facilities.[4] The 1968 tournament was the first edition to be shown live on television.[4] In 1969, the newly formed the Hong Kong Golf Association took up the task of organising the tournament.[4] In 1971, the Hong Kong Open was on the verge of disappearing due to low spectator numbers and financial problems, but with the assistance of the Asia Pacific Golf Confederation, who were keen to retain the event on the Asia Golf Circuit, the tournament was saved.[5][6][7]

In 1996, Hong Kong golfer Dominique Boulet finished fourth, the best result by a local golfer.[8] 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.[9] 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.[10]

In 2013, organizers and potential sponsors raised concerns over the complex becoming enmeshed in a controversial redevelopment plan for Fan Ling.[11] The tournament was played that year without a title sponsor.

In 2020, the Hong Kong Open organizers announced that the tournament will be postponed till 2021 due to COVID-19 restrictions.[12]

Winners
Year Tour(s)[lower-alpha 1] Winner Score To par Margin of
victory		 Runner(s)-up Refs
Hong Kong Open
2020ASA[lower-alpha 2] Wade Ormsby (2)263−174 strokes Shane Lowry
Honma Hong Kong Open presented by Amundi
2018ASA, EUR Aaron Rai263−171 stroke Matthew Fitzpatrick
UBS Hong Kong Open
2017ASA, EUR Wade Ormsby269−111 stroke Alexander Björk
Rafa Cabrera-Bello
Paul Peterson
Julian Suri
2016ASA, EUR Sam Brazel267−131 stroke Rafa Cabrera-Bello
2015ASA, EUR Justin Rose263−171 stroke Lucas Bjerregaard
Hong Kong Open
2014ASA, EUR Scott Hend267−13Playoff[lower-alpha 3] Angelo Que
2013ASA, EUR Miguel Ángel Jiménez (4)268−12Playoff[lower-alpha 4] Stuart Manley
Prom Meesawat
UBS Hong Kong Open
2012ASA, EUR Miguel Ángel Jiménez (3)265−151 stroke Fredrik Andersson Hed
2011ASA, EUR Rory McIlroy268−122 strokes Grégory Havret
2010ASA, EUR Ian Poulter258−221 stroke Simon Dyson
Matteo Manassero
2009ASA, EUR Grégory Bourdy261−192 strokes Rory McIlroy
2008ASA, EUR Lin Wen-tang265−15Playoff[lower-alpha 5] Rory McIlroy
Francesco Molinari
2007ASA, EUR Miguel Ángel Jiménez (2)265−151 stroke K. J. Choi
Thongchai Jaidee
Robert Karlsson
2006ASA, EUR José Manuel Lara265−151 stroke Juvic Pagunsan
2005ASA, EUR Colin Montgomerie271−91 stroke K. J. Choi
James Kingston
Lin Keng-chi
Edward Loar
Thammanoon Sriroj
Omega Hong Kong Open
2004ASA, EUR Miguel Ángel Jiménez266−141 stroke Pádraig Harrington
James Kingston
2003ASA, EUR Pádraig Harrington269−111 stroke Hennie Otto
2002ASA, EUR Freddie Jacobson260−162 strokes Jorge Berendt
Henrik Nyström
2001ASA, EUR José María Olazábal262−221 stroke Henrik Bjørnstad
2000ASA Simon Dyson263−213 strokes John Kernohan
Charlie Wi
Kim Felton		[14]
Perrier Hong Kong Open
1999ASA Patrik Sjöland269–111 stroke Ian Woosnam[15]
1998ASA Kang Wook-soon272−122 strokes Ed Fryatt[16][17]
Andersen Consulting Hong Kong Open
1997ASA Frank Nobilo267−175 strokes Kang Wook-soon[18]
1996AGC Rodrigo Cuello275−53 strokes Scott Hoch
Bill Longmuir		[19]
Hong Kong Open
1995AGC Gary Webb271−132 strokes Rafael Alarcón[20]
1994AGC David Frost274−10Playoff[lower-alpha 6] Craig McClellan[21]
1993AGC Brian Watts274−101 stroke Chen Tze-chung[22]
1992AGC Tom Watson274−103 strokes Ronan Rafferty[23][24][25][26]
1991AGC Bernhard Langer269−157 strokes Choi Sang-ho
Lu Wen-ter		[27]
1990AGC Ken Green205[lower-alpha 7]4 strokes Brian Watts
Danny Mijovic		[28]
Johnnie Walker Hong Kong Open
1989AGC Brian Claar2741 stroke Mats Lanner
Gary Rusnak		[29]
Hong Kong Open
1988AGC Hsieh Chin-sheng2741 stroke Lu Chien-soon[30]
United Airlines Hong Kong Open
1987AGC Ian Woosnam2754 strokes David Feherty
Sam Torrance		[31]
Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Open
1986AGC Seiichi Kanai2851 stroke Ian Baker-Finch[32]
1985AGC Mark Aebli2704 strokes Chen Tze-ming[33]
1984AGC Bill Brask2687 strokes Greg Norman[34]
1983AGC Greg Norman (2)134[lower-alpha 8]3 strokes Mark James[35]
1982AGC Kurt Cox276−4Playoff[lower-alpha 9] Tom Sieckmann
Terry Gale		[36]
Hong Kong Open
1981AGC Chen Tze-ming2791 stroke Graham Marsh[37]
1980AGC Kuo Chie-hsiung2742 strokes Lu Liang-Huan[38]
Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Open
1979AGC Greg Norman273−73 strokes Lu Hsi-chuen
Chen Tze-ming
Hsu Chi-san		[39]
Hong Kong Open
1978AGC Hsieh Yung-yo2751 stroke Kim Seung-hack[40]
1977AGC Hsieh Min-Nan (4)2801 stroke Teruo Sugihara[41]
1976AGC Ho Ming-chung2792 strokes Hsu Sheng-san[42]
1975AGC Hsieh Yung-yo (3)2881 stroke Stewart Ginn
Gaylord Burrows
Ted Ball		[43]
1974AGC Lu Liang-Huan (2)280Playoff[lower-alpha 10] Graham Marsh[44]
1973AGC Frank Phillips (2)2781 stroke Ben Arda[45]
1972AGC Walter Godfrey2722 strokes Takashi Murakami[46]
1971AGC Orville Moody2662 strokes Haruo Yasuda[47]
1970AGC Isao Katsumata2741 stroke Haruo Yasuda[48]
1969AGC Teruo Sugihara2742 strokes Maurice Bembridge[49]
1968AGC Randall Vines2711 stroke Teruo Sugihara[50]
1967AGC Peter Thomson (3)273Playoff[lower-alpha 11] Brian Huggett[51]
1966AGC Frank Phillips2752 strokes Hideyo Sugimoto[52]
1965AGC Peter Thomson (2)2781 stroke Ross Newdick[53]
1964AGC Hsieh Yung-yo (2)269Playoff[lower-alpha 12] Alan Murray[54]
1963AGC Hsieh Yung-yo2723 strokes Tomoo Ishii[55]
1962AGC Len Woodward2711 stroke Frank Phillips
Bill Dunk
Alan Murray		[56]
1961 Kel Nagle2616 strokes Peter Thomson[57]
1960 Peter Thomson272[58]
1959 Lu Liang-Huan2811 stroke Bruce Crampton
Kel Nagle		[59]
  1. AGC – Asia Golf Circuit (earlier known as the Far East Circuit); ASA – Asian Tour (previously known as the Asian PGA Tour/Omega Tour/Davidoff Tour); EUR – European Tour
  2. Due to postponement and rescheduling, the Hong Kong Open was not a European Tour event in January 2020.[13]
  3. Hend won with a par on the first hole of a sudden-death playoff.
  4. Jiménez won with a birdie on the first hole of a sudden-death playoff.
  5. Lin won with a birdie on the second hole of a sudden-death playoff; Molinari was eliminated on the first extra hole after making a par to Lin and McIlroy's birdies.
  6. Frost won on the first hole of a sudden-death playoff, after McClellan had holed his second shot from the fairway for an eagle 2 on the final hole of regulation play to force the playoff.
  7. Third round cancelled as the course was unplayable due to rain.
  8. Reduced to 2 rounds due to rain.
  9. Cox won with a par on the fourth hole of a sudden-death playoff; Gale was eliminated after making bogey on the first hole of the playoff.
  10. Lu won with a birdie on the third hole of a sudden-death playoff.
  11. Thomson won on the second hole of a sudden-death playoff.
  12. Hsieh won on the fourth hole of a sudden-death playoff.
Source: [60][61]

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. "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.
  2. "The last Happy Valley golf survivor: Willie Woo goes down memory lane". South China Morning Post. 21 October 2015.
  3. 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
  4. Robinson, S (1989), "Festina Lente – A History of the Royal Hong Kong Golf Club", p. 85–105
  5. "HK quit decision won't hurt Asian golf circuit". The Straits Times. Singapore. 4 September 1971. p. 28. Retrieved 25 February 2020 – via National Library Board.
  6. "Staging of 1972 HK golf 'remote'". New Nation. Singapore. 7 September 1971. p. 15. Retrieved 25 February 2020 – via National Library Board.
  7. "HKGA decide to hold 1972 tourney". The Straits Times. Singapore. 24 September 1971. p. 30. Retrieved 25 February 2020 – via National Library Board.
  8. Boulet thrills Open fans with final round flourish, South China Morning Post, 9 December 1996
  9. "Hak breaks Sergio Garcia's record, makes Euro Tour cut at 14 years old". ESPN. 21 November 2008. Retrieved 21 November 2008.
  10. "With This Win: Miguel Ángel Jiménez" (Press release). PGA European Tour. 8 December 2013. Retrieved 20 December 2013.
  11. Chen, Bonnie (22 July 2013). "In a hole". The Standard. Archived from the original on 3 December 2013.
  12. "Golf: Hong Kong Open postponed until new year because of COVID-19". CNA. Retrieved 30 September 2020.
  13. "Hong Kong Open rescheduled for January 2020". ESPN. 6 December 2019.
  14. 戴臣香港高球賽奪冠, Ta Kung Pao, page B7, 18 December 2000
  15. Suttering Sjoland helds off Woosnam in gripping finale, South China Morning Post, 29 November 1999
  16. 韓好手姜旭淳奪標, Hong Kong Commercial Daily, 30 November 1998
  17. Final round duel puts friendship to test, South China Morning Post, 29 November 1998
  18. Nobilo steadies ship, then takes Open by storm, South China Morning Post, 8 December 1997
  19. Cuello shrugs off all challengers in Open win, South China Morning Post, 9 December 1996
  20. Win makes Webb rethink career, South China Morning Post, 20 November 1995
  21. Frost solves putting riddle in Open play-off, South China Morning Post, 28 February 1994
  22. Watts stays the course for thrilling Open win, South China Morning Post, 15 February 1993
  23. "Public golf course plea by Open winner Watson". South China Morning Post. 9 March 1992.
  24. "Nerve-jangling win for Watson". South China Morning Post. 9 March 1992.
  25. "湯屈臣失準製造緊張 仍以三桿壓倒華費迪". Sing Tao Daily. 9 March 1992. p. 11.
  26. "International Results". The Canberra Times. 9 March 1992. p. 22. Retrieved 26 June 2020.
  27. Langer tames Fanling, South China Morning Post, 11 February 1991
  28. American Green wins golf Open, South China Morning Post, 26 February 1990
  29. Claar clinches memorable win, South China Morning Post, page 32, 20 February 1989
  30. Hsieh leads Taiwan change, South China Morning Post, page 22, 15 February 1988
  31. Woosnam wins by four shots, South China Morning Post, page 1, 2 March 1987
  32. King Kanai's charge clinches Open crown, South China Morning Post, page 29, 3 March 1986
  33. Amiable Aebli walking tall, South China Morning Post, page 33, 4 March 1985
  34. Brask bolts home by seven shots, South China Morning Post, pate 21, 27 February 1984
  35. Bit-hitting Norman's conquest, South China Morning Post, page 1, 28 February 1983
  36. Cox wins Fanling thriller, South China Morning Post, page 1, 1 March 1982
  37. Taiwan again! Dark horse Chen keeps up the Open tradition, South China Morning Post, page 24, 2 March 1981
  38. King Kuo's crown as he pips Mr Lu, South China Morning Post, page 21, 3 March 1980
  39. Australian clinches HK title, South China Morning Post, page 11, 4 March 1979
  40. Hsieh's fourth HK title, South China Morning Post, page 10, 5 March 1978
  41. Hsieh wins HK Open, South China Morning Post, page 12, 6 March 1977
  42. Taiwanese sweep HK Open Golf, South China Morning Post, page 10, 18 April 1976
  43. Hsieh makes it three, South China Morning Post, page 1, 24 February 1975
  44. Lu wins Open in dramatic play-off, South China Morning Post, page 19, 25 February 1974
  45. Tremendous climax to a gripping Open, South China Morning Post, page 15, 6 March 1973
  46. New Hongkong golf champion, South China Morning Post, page 1, 3 April 1972
  47. Moody wins H.K. Open, South China Morning Post, page 1, 5 April 1971
  48. Katsumata leads the charge, South China Morning Post, page 2, 30 March 1970
  49. First Japanese ever to win at Fanling, Bembridge second, South China Morning Post, page 2, 31 March 1969
  50. Randall Vines clings to title as dramatic Sugihara bid fools, South China Morning Post, page 2, 25 March 1968
  51. Thomson wins golf title in play-off, South China Morning Post, page 1, 27 March 1967
  52. Thrilling Duel Phillips Wins HK Open Despite Back Ailment, South China Morning Post, page 1, 28 March 1966
  53. Thomson's Dramatic "Open" Win, South China Morning Post, page 1, 29 March 1965
  54. Hsieh Retains Golf Title, South China Morning Post, page 1, 23 March 1964
  55. Hsieh Yung-ho Wins H.K. Open, South China Morning Post, page 1, 11 March 1963
  56. Woodward Wins H.K. Golf Open, South China Morning Post, page 1, 5 March 1962
  57. Nagle Wins S.C.M. Post Open Golf tournament, South China Morning Post, page 1, 13 February 1961
  58. Thomson Coasts to Victory in Open, South China Morning Post, 2 February 1960
  59. "Crampton and Nagle Beaten". The Age. 3 February 1959. p. 20.
  60. Robinson, Spencer (1989). Festina Lente – A History of the Royal Hong Kong Golf Club. Royal Hong Kong Golf Club. p. 105.
  61. "Hong Kong Open: facts & figures, past champions and trivia". South China Morning Post. 21 November 2018. Retrieved 25 February 2020.

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