Hong Kong Open (golf)

The Hong Kong Open is a golf tournament which is played on the Asian Tour, and formerly on 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
Location	New Territories, Hong Kong
Established	1959
Course(s)	Hong Kong Golf Club
Par	70
Length	6,710 yards (6,140 m)
Tour(s)	European Tour Asian Tour Asia Golf Circuit
Format	Stroke play
Prize fund	US$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)
Current champion
Ben Campbell
Location Map
Hong Kong GC Location in China Show map of China Hong Kong GC Location in Hong Kong Show map of 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
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Xiānggǎng Gāo'ěrfū​qiú Gōngkāisài Yue: Cantonese Jyutping hoeng1 gong2 go1 ji5 fu1 kau4 gung hoi1 coi3

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 Thomson. 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 Shun Yat 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 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 would be postponed till 2021 due to COVID-19 restrictions.^[12]

In March 2023, it was confirmed that the Hong Kong Open would return after a two-year hiatus as an Asian Tour event. The tournament would also gain International Series status.^[13]

Winners

Year	Tour(s)^[a]	Winner	Score	To par	Margin of victory	Runner(s)-up	Ref.
Hong Kong Open
2023	ASA	Ben Campbell	261	−19	1 stroke	Cameron Smith
2021–22: No tournament
2020	ASA, EUR^[b]	Wade Ormsby (2)	263	−17	4 strokes	Shane Lowry
2019: No tournament
Honma Hong Kong Open
2018	ASA, EUR	Aaron Rai	263	−17	1 stroke	Matt Fitzpatrick
UBS Hong Kong Open
2017	ASA, EUR	Wade Ormsby	269	−11	1 stroke	Alexander Björk   Rafa Cabrera-Bello   Paul Peterson   Julian Suri
2016	ASA, EUR	Sam Brazel	267	−13	1 stroke	Rafa Cabrera-Bello
2015	ASA, EUR	Justin Rose	263	−17	1 stroke	Lucas Bjerregaard
Hong Kong Open
2014	ASA, EUR	Scott Hend	267	−13	Playoff^[c]	Angelo Que
2013	ASA, EUR	Miguel Ángel Jiménez (4)	268	−12	Playoff^[d]	Stuart Manley   Prom Meesawat
UBS Hong Kong Open
2012	ASA, EUR	Miguel Ángel Jiménez (3)	265	−15	1 stroke	Fredrik Andersson Hed
2011	ASA, EUR	Rory McIlroy	268	−12	2 strokes	Grégory Havret
2010	ASA, EUR	Ian Poulter	258	−22	1 stroke	Simon Dyson   Matteo Manassero
2009	ASA, EUR	Grégory Bourdy	261	−19	2 strokes	Rory McIlroy
2008	ASA, EUR	Lin Wen-tang	265	−15	Playoff^[e]	Rory McIlroy   Francesco Molinari
2007	ASA, EUR	Miguel Ángel Jiménez (2)	265	−15	1 stroke	K. J. Choi   Thongchai Jaidee   Robert Karlsson
2006	ASA, EUR	José Manuel Lara	265	−15	1 stroke	Juvic Pagunsan
2005	ASA, EUR	Colin Montgomerie	271	−9	1 stroke	K. J. Choi   James Kingston   Lin Keng-chi   Edward Loar   Thammanoon Sriroj
Omega Hong Kong Open
2004	ASA, EUR	Miguel Ángel Jiménez	266	−14	1 stroke	Pádraig Harrington   James Kingston
2003	ASA, EUR	Pádraig Harrington	269	−11	1 stroke	Hennie Otto
2002	ASA, EUR	Freddie Jacobson	260	−16	2 strokes	Jorge Berendt   Henrik Nyström
2001	ASA, EUR	José María Olazábal	262	−22	1 stroke	Henrik Bjørnstad
2000	ASA	Simon Dyson	263	−21	3 strokes	Kim Felton   John Kernohan   Charlie Wi	^[15]
Perrier Hong Kong Open
1999	ASA	Patrik Sjöland	269	−11	1 stroke	Ian Woosnam	^[16]
1998	ASA	Kang Wook-soon	272	−12	2 strokes	Ed Fryatt	^[17]^[18]
Andersen Consulting Hong Kong Open
1997	ASA	Frank Nobilo	267	−17	5 strokes	Kang Wook-soon	^[19]
1996	AGC	Rodrigo Cuello	275	−5	3 strokes	Scott Hoch   Bill Longmuir	^[20]
Hong Kong Open
1995	AGC	Gary Webb	271	−13	2 strokes	Rafael Alarcón	^[21]
Kent Hong Kong Open
1994	AGC	David Frost	274	−10	Playoff^[f]	Craig McClellan	^[22]
1993	AGC	Brian Watts	274	−10	1 stroke	Chen Tze-chung	^[23]
Hutchison Telecom Hong Kong Open
1992	AGC	Tom Watson	274	−10	3 strokes	Ronan Rafferty	^[24]
1991	AGC	Bernhard Langer	269	−15	7 strokes	Choi Sang-ho   Lu Wen-teh	^[25]
Martell Hong Kong Open
1990	AGC	Ken Green	205^[g]	−8	4 strokes	Danny Mijovic   Brian Watts	^[26]
Johnnie Walker Hong Kong Open
1989	AGC	Brian Claar	274	−6	1 stroke	Mats Lanner   Gary Rusnak	^[27]
Unisys Hong Kong Open
1988	AGC	Hsieh Chin-sheng	274	−10	1 stroke	Lu Chien-soon	^[28]
United Airlines Hong Kong Open
1987	AGC	Ian Woosnam	275	−9	4 strokes	David Feherty   Sam Torrance	^[29]
Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Open
1986	AGC	Seiichi Kanai	285	+1	1 stroke	Ian Baker-Finch	^[30]
1985	AGC	Mark Aebli	270	−10	4 strokes	Chen Tze-ming	^[31]
1984	AGC	Bill Brask	268	−12	7 strokes	Greg Norman	^[32]
1983	AGC	Greg Norman (2)	134^[h]	−6	3 strokes	Mark James	^[33]
1982	AGC	Kurt Cox	276	−4	Playoff^[i]	Terry Gale   Tom Sieckmann	^[34]
1981	AGC	Chen Tze-ming	279	E	1 stroke	Graham Marsh	^[35]
1980	AGC	Kuo Chie-Hsiung	274	−5	2 strokes	Lu Liang-Huan	^[36]
1979	AGC	Greg Norman	273	−6	3 strokes	Lu Hsi-chuen   Chen Tze-ming   Hsu Chi-san	^[37]
Hong Kong Open
1978	AGC	Hsieh Yung-yo (4)	275	−4	1 stroke	Kim Seung-hack	^[38]
1977	AGC	Hsieh Min-Nan	280	E	1 stroke	Teruo Sugihara	^[39]
1976	AGC	Ho Ming-chung	279	−1	2 strokes	Hsu Sheng-san	^[40]
1975	AGC	Hsieh Yung-yo (3)	288	+8	1 stroke	Ted Ball   Gaylord Burrows   Stewart Ginn	^[41]
1974	AGC	Lu Liang-Huan (2)	280	E	Playoff^[j]	Graham Marsh	^[42]
1973	AGC	Frank Phillips (2)	278	−6	1 stroke	Ben Arda	^[43]
1972	AGC	Walter Godfrey	272	−8	2 strokes	Takashi Murakami	^[44]
1971	AGC	Orville Moody	266	−14	2 strokes	Haruo Yasuda	^[45]
1970	AGC	Isao Katsumata	274	−6	1 stroke	Haruo Yasuda	^[46]
1969	AGC	Teruo Sugihara	274	−6	2 strokes	Maurice Bembridge	^[47]
1968	AGC	Randall Vines	271	−9	1 stroke	Teruo Sugihara	^[48]
1967	FEC	Peter Thomson (3)	273	−7	Playoff^[k]	Brian Huggett	^[49]
1966	FEC	Frank Phillips	275	−5	2 strokes	Hideyo Sugimoto	^[50]
1965	FEC	Peter Thomson (2)	278	−2	1 stroke	Ross Newdick	^[51]
1964	FEC	Hsieh Yung-yo (2)	269	−15	Playoff^[l]	Alan Murray	^[52]
1963	FEC	Hsieh Yung-yo	272	−16	3 strokes	Tomoo Ishii	^[53]
1962	FEC	Len Woodward	271	−17	1 stroke	Frank Phillips   Bill Dunk   Alan Murray	^[54]
1961		Kel Nagle	261		6 strokes	Peter Thomson	^[55]
1960		Peter Thomson	272				^[56]
1959		Lu Liang-Huan	281		1 stroke	Bruce Crampton   Kel Nagle	^[57]

Source:^[58][59]

Scorecard

Hole	Name	Yards	Metres	Par
1	Trench	468	428	4
2	The Trap	149	136	3
3	Fearsome	551	504	5
4	Temptation	288	263	4
5	Table Top	192	176	3
6	The Pimple	447	409	4
7	The Narrows	380	347	4
8	Oasis	188	172	3
9	The Bend	493	451	4
10	Holland	367	336	4
11	The Paddy	466	426	4
12	Short Hole	144	132	3
13	The Long Hole	529	484	5
14	The Bungalow	395	361	4
15	The Burn	426	390	4
16	The Road Hole	411	376	4
17	The Graves	406	371	4
18	The Ultimate	410	375	4
Total		6710	6137	70

Notes

1. AGC/FEC − Asia Golf Circuit/Far East Circuit; ASA − Asian Tour; EUR − European Tour.
2. Due to 2019–2020 Hong Kong protests, the event was postponed and rescheduled and was removed from the European Tour schedule. It proceeded as a sole-sanctioned Asian Tour event.^[14]
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. Shortened to 54 holes due to rain.
8. Shortened to 36 holes 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.

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). . 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. "Golf: revived Hong Kong Open in November handed International Series spot on Asian Tour". South China Morning Post. 29 March 2023. Retrieved 7 April 2023.
14. "Hong Kong Open rescheduled for January 2020". ESPN. 6 December 2019.
15. 戴臣香港高球賽奪冠, Ta Kung Pao, page B7, 18 December 2000
16. Suttering Sjoland helds off Woosnam in gripping finale, South China Morning Post, 29 November 1999
17. 韓好手姜旭淳奪標, Hong Kong Commercial Daily, 30 November 1998
18. Final round duel puts friendship to test, South China Morning Post, 29 November 1998
19. Nobilo steadies ship, then takes Open by storm, South China Morning Post, 8 December 1997
20. Cuello shrugs off all challengers in Open win, South China Morning Post, 9 December 1996
21. Win makes Webb rethink career, South China Morning Post, 20 November 1995
22. Frost solves putting riddle in Open play-off, South China Morning Post, 28 February 1994
23. Watts stays the course for thrilling Open win, South China Morning Post, 15 February 1993
24. "International Results". The Canberra Times. 9 March 1992. p. 22. Retrieved 26 June 2020.
25. Langer tames Fanling, South China Morning Post, 11 February 1991
26. American Green wins golf Open, South China Morning Post, 26 February 1990
27. "Claar's gift for his lucky wife". The Straits Times. Singapore. 20 February 1989. p. 29. Retrieved 9 April 2020 – via National Library Board.
28. "Hsieh's title with birdie blitz". New Straits Times. Malaysia. 15 February 1988. p. 14 (27 in paper). Retrieved 21 December 2023 – via Google News Archive.
29. "Woosnam first briton to win HK Open". The Straits Times. Singapore. 2 March 1987. p. 24. Retrieved 28 March 2020 – via National Library Board.
30. "Japanese bags ace enroute to victory". The Straits Times. Singapore. 3 March 1986. p. 29. Retrieved 24 March 2020 – via National Library Board.
31. "Aebli bags biggest prize". The Straits Times. Singapore. 4 March 1985. p. 29. Retrieved 22 March 2020 – via National Library Board.
32. "Brask lands the great white shark". The Straits Times. Singapore. 27 February 1984. p. 39. Retrieved 21 March 2020 – via National Library Board.
33. "Norman puts it in his bag". The Straits Times. Singapore. 28 February 1983. p. 39. Retrieved 18 March 2020 – via National Library Board.
34. "Cox makes it after three-way playoff". The Straits Times. Singapore. 1 March 1982. p. 34. Retrieved 2 March 2020 – via National Library Board.
35. "Taiwan's Chen fires splendid 69 to triumph". The Straits Times. Singapore. 2 March 1981. p. 30. Retrieved 16 March 2020 – via National Library Board.
36. "Kuo edges out Lu to win HK golf crown". The Straits Times. Singapore. 3 March 1980. p. 27. Retrieved 9 March 2020 – via National Library Board.
37. "Norman ends the Taiwanese run". The Straits Times. Singapore. 26 February 1979. p. 26. Retrieved 4 March 2020 – via National Library Board.
38. "Hsieh's title again". The Straits Times. Singapore. 26 February 1978. p. 31. Retrieved 16 March 2020 – via National Library Board.
39. "HK open to Taiwan's Min-nam". The Straits Times. Singapore. 28 February 1977. p. 26. Retrieved 16 March 2020 – via National Library Board.
40. "Taiwan sweeps". The Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. AP. 12 April 1976. p. 18. Retrieved 3 March 2020 – via Google News Archive.
41. "Yung-yo recovers-just in time". The Straits Times. Singapore. AP. 24 February 1975. p. 21. Retrieved 17 March 2020 – via Google National Library Board.
42. "Lu bags second straigHK$150,000th title". The Straits Times. Singapore. 25 February 1974. p. 23. Retrieved 26 March 2020 – via National Library Board.
43. "Phillips clinches title in classic finish". The Straits Times. Singapore. 5 March 1973. p. 27. Retrieved 25 March 2020 – via National Library Board.
44. "Godfrey Takes Hong Kong Open Under Pressure". The Canberra Times. 3 April 1972. p. 10. Retrieved 27 February 2021.
45. "Moody fights off Yasuda's burst to win". The Straits Times. Singapore. 5 April 1971. p. 29. Retrieved 22 March 2020 – via National Library Board.
46. "Japanese wins golf". The Canberra Times. 30 March 1970. p. 10. Retrieved 27 February 2021.
47. "Vines again". The Straits Times. Singapore. 31 March 1969. p. 22. Retrieved 13 March 2020 – via National Library Board.
48. "Vines again". The Straits Times. Singapore. 25 March 1968. p. 18. Retrieved 13 March 2020 – via National Library Board.
49. "Thomson the winner for the third time". The Straits Times. Singapore. 27 March 1967. p. 18. Retrieved 12 March 2020 – via National Library Board.
50. "Phillips wins Hong Kong golf". The Canberra Times. 28 March 1966. p. 24. Retrieved 27 February 2021.
51. "Hong Kong Open to Thomson". The Canberra Times. 29 March 1965. p. 16. Retrieved 27 February 2021.
52. "Murray loses to Hsieh in play off". The Straits Times. Singapore. Reuter. 23 March 1964. p. 1. Retrieved 7 March 2020 – via National Library Board.
53. "Yung Yo is new HK Open champ". The Straits Times. Singapore. Reuter. 11 March 1963. p. 17. Retrieved 3 March 2020 – via National Library Board.
54. "Hong Kong Open To Woodward". The Canberra Times. 5 March 1962. p. 16. Retrieved 27 February 2021.
55. Nagle Wins S.C.M. Post Open Golf tournament, South China Morning Post, page 1, 13 February 1961
56. Thomson Coasts to Victory in Open, South China Morning Post, 2 February 1960
57. "Crampton and Nagle Beaten". The Age. 3 February 1959. p. 20.
58. Robinson, Spencer (1989). Festina Lente – A History of the Royal Hong Kong Golf Club. Royal Hong Kong Golf Club. p. 105.
59. "Hong Kong Open: facts & figures, past champions and trivia". South China Morning Post. 21 November 2018. Retrieved 25 February 2020.

External links

• Official website  
• Coverage on the Asian Tour's official site
• Coverage on the European Tour's official site

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