Hong Kong Open (golf)
Encyclopedia
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
. Current title sponsors are Swiss banking giants, UBS
, who signed a four year sponsorship agreement to cover the 2005–2008 tournaments.
The tournament is usually played towards the end of the year, in November or December, and as such, up to the 2008 event, it has fallen into the following season for European Tour purposes. For example the Hong Kong Open played on the 2–5 December 2004 was part of the European Tour's 2005 season. As the European Tour switches to a calendar based season from 2010, the 2009 schedule will contain two editions of the Hong Kong Open.
In 2008, Florida
-based Hong Kong amateur, Jason Hak, 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 Turespana Open Mediterrania in 1995. Many of the worlds best known golfers have won the tournament, including Bernhard Langer
, José María Olazábal
, Kel Nagle
, Greg Norman
, Peter Thomson, Tom Watson
, Pádraig Harrington
, Colin Montgomerie
, and Ian Woosnam
.
* The first year listed is the one in which the tournament was played and the Asian Tour season which it belonged to. The year in brackets is the European Tour season that it fell into.
Pre sanctioning by the European Tour
Golf
Golf is a precision club and ball sport, in which competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course using the fewest number of strokes....
tournament which is co-sanctioned by the Asian Tour
Asian Tour
The Asian Tour is the principal men's professional golf tour in Asia except for Japan, which has its own Japan Golf Tour, which is also a full member of the International Federation of PGA Tours. The Asian Tour is administered from offices in Singapore...
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
Professional Golfers Association
Professional Golfers' Association, , is the usual term for a professional association in men's golf. It is often abbreviated to 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
Hong Kong Golf Club
The Hong Kong Golf Club is a private golf club, and is one of only a few in Hong Kong. It is home to the Hong Kong Open, a tournament co-sanctioned by the European and Asian Tours....
in Sheung Shui
Sheung Shui
Sheung Shui is an area in New Territories, Hong Kong. Sheung Shui Town, a part of this area, is part of the Fanling-Sheung Shui New Town in the North District of Hong Kong. Fanling Town is to its southeast.-History:...
, New Territories
New Territories
New Territories is one of the three main regions of Hong Kong, alongside Hong Kong Island and the Kowloon Peninsula. It makes up 86.2% of Hong Kong's territory. Historically, it is the region described in The Convention for the Extension of Hong Kong Territory...
. Current title sponsors are Swiss banking giants, UBS
UBS AG
UBS AG is a Swiss global financial services company headquartered in Basel and Zürich, Switzerland, which provides investment banking, asset management, and wealth management services for private, corporate, and institutional clients worldwide, as well as retail clients in Switzerland...
, who signed a four year sponsorship agreement to cover the 2005–2008 tournaments.
The tournament is usually played towards the end of the year, in November or December, and as such, up to the 2008 event, it has fallen into the following season for European Tour purposes. For example the Hong Kong Open played on the 2–5 December 2004 was part of the European Tour's 2005 season. As the European Tour switches to a calendar based season from 2010, the 2009 schedule will contain two editions of the Hong Kong Open.
In 2008, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
-based Hong Kong amateur, Jason Hak, 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
Sergio García
Sergio García Fernández is a Spanish professional golfer who plays on both the United States PGA Tour and the European Tour. He has spent much of his career in the top 10 of the Official World Golf Rankings...
at the Turespana Open Mediterrania in 1995. Many of the worlds best known golfers have won the tournament, including Bernhard Langer
Bernhard Langer
Bernhard Langer is a German professional golfer. He is a two-time Masters champion, and was one of the world's leading golfers throughout the 1980s and 90s, being the first official number one ranked player in 1986...
, José María Olazábal
José María Olazábal
José María Olazábal Manterola is a Spanish professional golfer who has enjoyed success on both the European Tour and the PGA Tour, and has won two major championships.-Career outline:...
, Kel Nagle
Kel Nagle
Kelvin David George Nagle is an Australian professional golfer best known for winning The Open Championship in 1960. He won at least one tournament each year from 1949 to 1975.Nagle was born in North Sydney...
, Greg Norman
Greg Norman
Gregory John Norman AO is an Australian professional golfer and entrepreneur who spent 331 weeks as the world's Number 1 ranked golfer in the 1980s and 1990s...
, Peter Thomson, Tom Watson
Tom Watson (golfer)
Thomas Sturges Watson is an American professional golfer who has played on the PGA Tour and now mostly on the Champions Tour....
, Pádraig Harrington
Padraig Harrington
Pádraig P. Harrington is an Irish professional golfer who plays on The European Tour and The PGA Tour. He has won three major championships: The Open Championship in 2007 and 2008 and the PGA Championship, also in 2008.-Background:...
, Colin Montgomerie
Colin Montgomerie
Colin Stuart Montgomerie, OBE is a Scottish professional golfer, often referred to by one of his nicknames 'Monty'. He has had one of the finest careers in European Tour history, having won a record eight Order of Merit titles, including a streak of seven consecutively from 1993 to 1999, and 31...
, and Ian Woosnam
Ian Woosnam
Ian Harold Woosnam OBE is a Welsh professional golfer.Nicknamed 'Woosie', 'Woosers', or the 'Wee Welshman', Woosnam was one of the "Big Five" generation of European golfers, all born within 12 months of one another, all of whom have won majors, and made Europe competitive in the Ryder Cup...
.
Winners
As a European Tour co-sanctioned event| Year* | Winner | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|
| UBS Hong Kong Open | |||
| 2011 | December 1–4 | ||
| 2010 |  Ian PoulterIan Poulter Ian James Poulter is an English professional golfer who is a member of the world's top two professional golf tours, the U.S.-based PGA Tour and the European Tour. He has previously been as high as number five in the world rankings... |
258 (−22) | |
| 2009 |  Grégory BourdyGrégory Bourdy Grégory Bourdy is a French professional golfer who competes on the European Tour.Bourdy was born in Bordeaux. He turned professional in 2003. His cousin Nicolas Beaufils is also a professional golfer, who has played on the Challenge Tour.... |
261 (−19) | |
| 2008 (2009) |  Lin Wen-tangLin Wen-tang Lin Wen-tang is a Taiwanese golfer. He comes from a golfing family, with his father and uncle both being professionals and two brothers who play with him on the Asian Tour.... |
265 (−15)PO | |
| 2007 (2008) |  Miguel Ángel JiménezMiguel Angel Jiménez Miguel Ángel Jiménez Rodríguez is a Spanish professional golfer. He has won 18 times on the European Tour.-Early years:... |
265 (−15) | |
| 2006 (2007) | José Manuel Lara José Manuel Lara José Manuel Lara is a Spanish professional golfer.Lara was born in Valencia, Spain. He turned professional in 1997, and has competed on the European Tour since 2001, having finished 11th in the previous seasons Challenge Tour rankings... |
265 (−15) | |
| 2005 (2006) |  Colin MontgomerieColin Montgomerie Colin Stuart Montgomerie, OBE is a Scottish professional golfer, often referred to by one of his nicknames 'Monty'. He has had one of the finest careers in European Tour history, having won a record eight Order of Merit titles, including a streak of seven consecutively from 1993 to 1999, and 31... |
271 (−9) | |
| Omega Hong Kong Open | |||
| 2004 (2005) | Miguel Ángel Jiménez Miguel Angel Jiménez Miguel Ángel Jiménez Rodríguez is a Spanish professional golfer. He has won 18 times on the European Tour.-Early years:... |
266 (−14) | |
| 2003 (2004) | Pádraig Harrington Padraig Harrington Pádraig P. Harrington is an Irish professional golfer who plays on The European Tour and The PGA Tour. He has won three major championships: The Open Championship in 2007 and 2008 and the PGA Championship, also in 2008.-Background:... |
269 (−11) | |
| 2002 (2003) |  Fredrik JacobsonFredrik Jacobson Fredrik Ulf Yngve Jacobson is a Swedish professional golfer.Jacobson was born in Kungsbacka. He turned professional in 1994 and was a member of the European Tour in 1995 and from 1997 to 2004. In 2003 he won his first European Tour title, and went on to claim two more victories that season... |
260 (−16) | |
| 2001 (2002) | José María Olazábal José María Olazábal José María Olazábal Manterola is a Spanish professional golfer who has enjoyed success on both the European Tour and the PGA Tour, and has won two major championships.-Career outline:... |
262 (−22) | |
* The first year listed is the one in which the tournament was played and the Asian Tour season which it belonged to. The year in brackets is the European Tour season that it fell into.
Pre sanctioning by the European Tour
| Year | Winner |
|---|---|
| 2000 | Simon Dyson Simon Dyson Simon Dyson is an English professional golfer who is currently a member of the European Tour, having formerly played on the Asian Tour.-Amateur career:... |
| 1999 | Patrik Sjöland Patrik Sjöland Patrik Sjöland is a Swedish professional golfer.Sjöland was born in Borås. He turned professional in 1990 and after several season on the second tier Challenge Tour, graduated to the European Tour for the start of the 1996 season... |
| 1998 |  Kang Wook-soonKang Wook-soon Kang Wook-soon is a South Korean professional golfer.Kang has played on the Asian Tour since it began in its modern form in 1995. He topped the Order of Merit in 1996 and 1998 and was the first man to reach career earnings of US$500,000 on the tour. In 2002 he was the top player on the Korean... |
| 1997 |  Frank NobiloFrank Nobilo Frank Ivan Joseph Nobilo, CNZM is a professional golfer from New Zealand.Nobilo had a successful playing career, winning 15 pro tournaments around the world... |
| 1996 |  Rodrigo Cuello |
| 1995 |  Gary WebbGary Webb (golfer) Gary Webb is an American professional golfer who played on the Nationwide Tour.Webb was born in Pampa, Texas. He played college golf at the University of Texas at Austin. He turned pro in 1984.... |
| 1994 |  David FrostDavid Frost (golfer) David Laurence Frost is a South African professional golfer who has more than twenty professional tournament wins to his name, spread across four continents.... |
| 1993 | Brian Watts Brian Watts Brian Peter Watts is an American professional golfer.Watts was born in Montreal, Canada to European parents, but is now a U.S. citizen who lives in Oklahoma. He played collegiately at Oklahoma State and won the NCAA Division I Championship in 1987.Watts turned professional in 1988. He played... |
| 1992 | Tom Watson Tom Watson (golfer) Thomas Sturges Watson is an American professional golfer who has played on the PGA Tour and now mostly on the Champions Tour.... |
| 1991 |  Bernhard LangerBernhard Langer Bernhard Langer is a German professional golfer. He is a two-time Masters champion, and was one of the world's leading golfers throughout the 1980s and 90s, being the first official number one ranked player in 1986... |
| 1990 | Ken Green |
| 1989 | Brian Claar Brian Claar Brian J. Claar is an American professional golfer.Claar was born in Santa Monica, California. He play college golf at the University of Tampa where he was a two-time All-American. He was inducted into their Athletic Hall of Fame in 1989.... |
| 1988 | Hsieh Chin-sheng |
| 1987 |  Ian WoosnamIan Woosnam Ian Harold Woosnam OBE is a Welsh professional golfer.Nicknamed 'Woosie', 'Woosers', or the 'Wee Welshman', Woosnam was one of the "Big Five" generation of European golfers, all born within 12 months of one another, all of whom have won majors, and made Europe competitive in the Ryder Cup... |
| Year | Winner |
|---|---|
| 1986 |  Seiichi KanaiSeiichi Kanai Seiichi Kanai is a Japanese professional golfer.Kanai was born in Niigata. He won 11 tournaments on the Japan Golf Tour and ranks 18th on the career victories list.-Japan Golf Tour wins :*1976 Japan PGA Championship*1978 Kanto Open... |
| 1985 | Mark Aebli |
| 1984 | Bill Brask |
| 1983 |  Greg NormanGreg Norman Gregory John Norman AO is an Australian professional golfer and entrepreneur who spent 331 weeks as the world's Number 1 ranked golfer in the 1980s and 1990s... |
| 1982 | Kurt Cox |
| 1981 | Tze-Ming Chen Tze-Ming Chen Tze-Ming Chen is a Taiwanese professional golfer. In the U.S., he is often referred to as T.M. Chen. His younger brother, Tze-Chung Chen, is also a professional golfer.... |
| 1980 | Kuo Chie-Hsiung Kuo Chie-Hsiung Kuo Chie-Hsiung is a Taiwanese professional golfer.Kuo played on the Japan Golf Tour, winning four times. He also played throughout Asia, winning many tournaments.-Japan Golf Tour wins:*1978 Dunlop International Open... |
| 1979 | Greg Norman Greg Norman Gregory John Norman AO is an Australian professional golfer and entrepreneur who spent 331 weeks as the world's Number 1 ranked golfer in the 1980s and 1990s... |
| 1978 | Hsieh Min-Nan Hsieh Min-Nan Hsieh Min-Nan is a Taiwanese professional golfer.Hsieh won 11 events on the Japan Golf Tour, 18th on the all-time win list. He won the 1972 World Cup with teammate Lu Liang-Huan and also won the individual title... |
| 1977 | Hsieh Yung-yo Hsieh Yung-yo Hsieh Yung-yo is a Taiwanese professional golfer.Hsieh played throughout Asia, winning national opens in South Korea, Hong Kong, Thailand, Taiwan, Singapore, and the Philippines... |
| 1976 | Ho Ming-chung |
| 1975 | Hsieh Yung-yo Hsieh Yung-yo Hsieh Yung-yo is a Taiwanese professional golfer.Hsieh played throughout Asia, winning national opens in South Korea, Hong Kong, Thailand, Taiwan, Singapore, and the Philippines... |
| 1974 | Lu Liang-Huan Lu Liang-Huan Lu Liang-Huan , or "Mr. Lu" as he came to be known to British golf fans, was a successful Taiwanese golfer who won several important tournaments on the Asian and European circuits between 1959 and 1979.Lu was born in Taipei... |
| 1973 | Frank Phillips Frank Phillips (golfer) Frank Phillips is an Australian professional golfer. He was rated one of the best ball strikers of his era winning the 1957 and 1961 Australian Opens... |
| Year | Winner |
|---|---|
| 1972 | Walter Godfrey Walter Godfrey Walter Hindes Godfrey CBE, FSA, FRIBA , was an English architect, antiquary, and architectural and topographical historian. He was also a landscape architect and designer, and an accomplished draftsman and illustrator... |
| 1971 | Orville Moody Orville Moody Orville James Moody was an American professional golfer who won numerous tournaments in his career. He won the 1969 U.S. Open, the last champion in the 20th century to win through local and sectional qualifying.... |
| 1970 | Isao Katsumata |
| 1969 | Teruo Sugihara Teruo Sugihara Teruo Sugihara is a Japanese professional golfer.Sugihara was born in Osaka. He won 28 tournaments and over 630 million ¥ on the Japan Golf Tour. He also won the 1969 Hong Kong Open.-Japan Golf Tour wins :... |
| 1968 | Randall Vines |
| 1967 | Peter Thomson |
| 1966 | Frank Phillips Frank Phillips (golfer) Frank Phillips is an Australian professional golfer. He was rated one of the best ball strikers of his era winning the 1957 and 1961 Australian Opens... |
| 1965 | Peter Thomson |
| 1964 | Hsieh Yung-yo Hsieh Yung-yo Hsieh Yung-yo is a Taiwanese professional golfer.Hsieh played throughout Asia, winning national opens in South Korea, Hong Kong, Thailand, Taiwan, Singapore, and the Philippines... |
| 1963 | Hsieh Yung-yo Hsieh Yung-yo Hsieh Yung-yo is a Taiwanese professional golfer.Hsieh played throughout Asia, winning national opens in South Korea, Hong Kong, Thailand, Taiwan, Singapore, and the Philippines... |
| 1962 | Len Woodward |
| 1961 | Kel Nagle Kel Nagle Kelvin David George Nagle is an Australian professional golfer best known for winning The Open Championship in 1960. He won at least one tournament each year from 1949 to 1975.Nagle was born in North Sydney... |
| 1960 | Peter Thomson |
| 1959 | Lu Liang-Huan Lu Liang-Huan Lu Liang-Huan , or "Mr. Lu" as he came to be known to British golf fans, was a successful Taiwanese golfer who won several important tournaments on the Asian and European circuits between 1959 and 1979.Lu was born in Taipei... |