Hong Kong Open (golf)
| File:Hong Kong Open (golf) logo.png | |
| 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 | |
 Wade Ormsby | |
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
* 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
* 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
| 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 |
References
- ^ "Sense of heritage key to general manager Ian Gardner's vision for Fanling". South China Morning Post. 5 October 2015.
- ^ a b "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.
- ^ "The last Happy Valley golf survivor: Willie Woo goes down memory lane". South China Morning Post. 21 October 2015.
- ^ 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
- ^ a b c d e f Robinson, S (1989), "Festina Lente – A History of the Royal Hong Kong Golf Club", p. 85–105
- ^ Boulet thrills Open fans with final round flourish, South China Morning Post, 9 December 1996
- ^ "Hak breaks Sergio Garcia's record, makes Euro Tour cut at 14 years old". ESPN. 21 November 2008. Retrieved 21 November 2008.
- ^ "With This Win: Miguel Ángel Jiménez" (Press release). PGA European Tour. 8 December 2013. Retrieved 20 December 2013.
- ^ Chen, Bonnie (22 July 2013). "In a hole". The Standard. Archived from the original on 3 December 2013.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ 戴臣香港高球賽奪冠, Ta Kung Pao, page B7, 18 December 2000
- ^ Suttering Sjoland helds off Woosnam in gripping finale, South China Morning Post, 29 November 1999
- ^ 韓好手姜旭淳奪標, Hong Kong Commercial Daily, 30 November 1998
- ^ Final round duel puts friendship to test, South China Morning Post, 29 November 1998
- ^ Nobilo steadies ship, then takes Open by storm, South China Morning Post, 8 December 1997
- ^ Cuello shrugs off all challengers in Open win, South China Morning Post, 9 December 1996
- ^ Win makes Webb rethink career, South China Morning Post, 20 November 1995
- ^ Frost solves putting riddle in Open play-off, South China Morning Post, 28 February 1994
- ^ Watts stays the course for thrilling Open win, South China Morning Post, 15 February 1993
- ^ Public golf course plea by Open winner Watson, South China Morning Post, 9 March 1992
- ^ Nerve-jangling win for Watson, South China Morning Post, 9 March 1992
- ^ 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
- ^ Langer tames Fanling, South China Morning Post, 11 February 1991
- ^ American Green wins golf Open, South China Morning Post, 26 February 1990
- ^ Claar clinches memorable win, South China Morning Post, page 32, 20 February 1989
- ^ Hsieh leads Taiwan change, South China Morning Post, page 22, 15 February 1988
- ^ Woosnam wins by four shots, South China Morning Post, page 1, 2 March 1987
- ^ King Kanai's charge clinches Open crown, South China Morning Post, page 29, 3 March 1986
- ^ Amiable Aebli walking tall, South China Morning Post, page 33, 4 March 1985
- ^ Brask bolts home by seven shots, South China Morning Post, pate 21, 27 February 1984
- ^ Bit-hitting Norman's conquest, South China Morning Post, page 1, 28 February 1983
- ^ Cox wins Fanling thriller, South China Morning Post, page 1, 1 March 1982
- ^ Taiwan again! Dark horse Chen keeps up the Open tradition, South China Morning Post, page 24, 2 March 1981
- ^ King Kuo's crown as he pips Mr Lu, South China Morning Post, page 21, 3 March 1980
- ^ Australian clinches HK title, South China Morning Post, page 11, 4 March 1979
- ^ Hsieh's fourth HK title, South China Morning Post, page 10, 5 March 1978
- ^ Hsieh wins HK Open, South China Morning Post, page 12, 6 March 1977
- ^ Taiwanese sweep HK Open Golf, South China Morning Post, page 10, 18 April 1976
- ^ Hsieh makes it three, South China Morning Post, page 1, 24 February 1975
- ^ Lu wins Open in dramatic play-off, South China Morning Post, page 19, 25 February 1974
- ^ Tremendous climax to a gripping Open, South China Morning Post, page 15, 6 March 1973
- ^ New Hongkong golf champion, South China Morning Post, page 1, 3 April 1972
- ^ Moody wins H.K. Open, South China Morning Post, page 1, 5 April 1971
- ^ Katsumata leads the charge, South China Morning Post, page 2, 30 March 1970
- ^ First Japanese ever to win at Fanling, Bembridge second, South China Morning Post, page 2, 31 March 1969
- ^ Randall Vines clings to title as dramatic Sugihara bid fools, South China Morning Post, page 2, 25 March 1968
- ^ Thomson wins golf title in play-off, South China Morning Post, page 1, 27 March 1967
- ^ Thrilling Duel Phillips Wins HK Open Despite Back Ailment, South China Morning Post, page 1, 28 March 1966
- ^ Thomson's Dramatic "Open" Win, South China Morning Post, page 1, 29 March 1965
- ^ Hsieh Retains Golf Title, South China Morning Post, page 1, 23 March 1964
- ^ Hsieh Yung-ho Wins H.K. Open, South China Morning Post, page 1, 11 March 1963
- ^ Woodward Wins H.K. Golf Open, South China Morning Post, page 1, 5 March 1962
- ^ Nagle Wins S.C.M. Post Open Golf tournament, South China Morning Post, page 1, 13 February 1961
- ^ Thomson Coasts to Victory in Open, South China Morning Post, 2 February 1960
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