Asia’s top players will be aiming to set the record straight at next week’s UBS Hong Kong Open with an overdue “home” victory.
Kang Wook Soon of Korea was the last player from the continent to claim the title, 10 years ago, since when European players have monopolised the trophy.
“Has it been that long?” asked India’s Jeev Milkha Singh when told it had been a decade since an Asian player triumphed.
“The course doesn’t really suit Europeans or Asians. I think it is all dependent on the mindset and how the form is. Hopefully it changes this year.”
Jeev will be among the favourites when the 50th edition of the UBS Hong Kong Open is staged at the Hong Kong Golf Club in Fanling from November 20-23.
On his last appearance at the tournament two years ago he finished joint third and clinched the Asian Tour’s Order of Merit title.
This year the globe-trotting Jeev has victories in Europe and Japan and lies second in the Asian Tour’s Order of Merit standings.
“I have good memories from Hong Kong in 2006,” he said. “Fanling is an old, traditional course. You have to think a lot there. It’s a great layout and the weather is always nice.”
Thongchai Jaidee is another Asian player with reason to be confident. The Thai star has finished in the top 10 at the past three UBS Hong Kong Opens, including joint second – one shot behind champion Miguel Angel Jiménez – a year ago.
“I like the golf course,” he said. “You have to play a lot of good shots. It’s a thinking man’s course, and I like it very much. The set-up is always very challenging and I’ve always felt comfortable there.
“The Europeans use a lot of iron play, and you have to hit it straight out there. The greens are very small and you’ve got to hit your approach shots well. Last year, I enjoyed myself in Hong Kong. The greens are very good.”
Asia has come close to providing a UBS Hong Kong Open champion several times since Kang’s triumph.
Apart from Thongchai’s joint second place 12 months ago – when KJ Choi of Korea also finished on the same total – Juvic Pagunsan of the Philippines was runner-up in 2006 when he lost out to Spain’s José Manuel Lara by one shot.
In 2005, Chinese Taipei’s Lin Keng Chi, Thammanoon Srirot of Thailand and Choi were in a group of five players who finished one shot behind winner Colin Montgomerie.
The European challenge will be stronger than ever this year at the UBS Hong Kong Open, which is co-sanctioned by the European and Asian Tours.
Jiménez returns seeking his third Hong Kong title – after victories in 2004 and last year – while former champions Lara, Montgomerie and Simon Dyson are also back.
England’s Oliver Wilson, who lost out to Sergio Garcia in a playoff at last week’s HSBC Champions in Shanghai, is another man in form, as is Denmark’s S?ren Kjeldsen, winner of the Volvo Masters in Spain two weeks ago.
Graeme McDowell of Northern Ireland is a two-time winner on the European Tour this year and likes Fanling, having finished sixth on his UBS Hong Kong Open debut 12 months ago.
Likely challengers from beyond Europe’s shores include PGA Tour ace Rory Sabbatini of South Africa and New Zealand’s Michael Campbell, winner of the 2005 US Open.
But Asia will be bringing its own big guns. Apart from Jeev and Thongchai, the continent can boast Chinese No.1 Liang Wenchong, Indian duo Arjun Atwal and SSP Chowrasia and Thailand’s Chapchai Nirat – all winners on the European Tour in the past two years.
China’s Zhang Lianwei, another player who has savoured victory on the European Tour, said Asia’s top stars have every reason to be optimistic heading towards Fanling.
“I hadn’t realised an Asian hasn’t won in Hong Kong for such a long time,” he said. “It just so happens that the Europeans have enjoyed more success than us, but it is no reflection at all as our players have won the other co-sanctioned events in Asia regularly.”
Caption : Indian ace Jeev Milkha Singh will be one of the favourites to end Europe’s decade-long domination of the UBS Hong Kong Open when the 50th edition of the tournament is staged from November 20-23, 2008. Credit: Parallel Media Group
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