Miguel Angel Jiménez will be hoping to become the second player to win the Hong Kong Open four times when he tees it up at the historic Fanling venue this week.
The tournament celebrates its 55th edition at Hong Kong Golf Club, which has hosted every one, and defending champion Jiménez would like nothing better than to join Hsieh Yung-yo of Taiwan as a four-time winner, adding to the titles he won in 2005, 2008 and 2012.
“I came here for the first time in 2004 (at the beginning of the 2005 season) and won,” said the popular Spaniard, who became the oldest winner in European Tour history with his victory 12 months ago. “I love the city and I especially like the golf course.
“The history of the golf club makes it very special and the people always make us feel very welcome. It was an honour to win here last year and create a new European Tour record, and of course it would be fantastic to win it for a fourth time.”
Joining Jiménez in the cosmopolitan city are his compatriot Rafa Cabrera-Bello, Dane Thorbjørn Olesen Marcus Fraser, who was third here last year thanks to a final round 64, Richard Finch, who earned his spot in the field courtesy of a runner-up finish in last week’s Alfred Dunhill Championship, and American John Daly.
Fraser said: “I love this tournament and love this golf course, and I’ve got some pretty good memories here so hopefully I’ll have more this week.
“The course suits my eye and I tend to do well here – and it’s in the best shape I’ve ever seen it.
“The whole place has got that country club feel to it. It’s very exclusive to be a member here and we’re very lucky to be able to come back and play it every year.”
Also in the field for the US$1.3million event are China’s teenage stars Jason Hak and Guan Tianlang. In 2008 Hak became the youngest player ever to make the cut at a European Tour event, a record Guan broke at this year’s Masters Tournament, aged just 14 years and 169 days.