Three-time winner Thomson a guest of honour
When Peter Thomson first arrived in 1960 to play the Hong Kong Open, he was already a four-time British Open champion (he won a fifth Open Championship later). But despite his fame, he refused to take a cent for turning up in what was then a golfing backwater.
'I never accepted appearance fees. I even paid for my own ticket to fly to Hong Kong,' recollects Thomson. 'I considered it immoral to receive an appearance fee.'
The Australian, 78, will be the guest of honour at this year's tournament - the 49th edition. Thomson holds the honour of winning the second Hong Kong Open, in 1960, and then two more in 1965 and 1967. He then lived in a different golfing world, when players had agendas other than just 'filling their wheelbarrows'.
'In those days, tournament organisers had a hard time raising prize money and as such I was insistent that no appearance money be paid for me. I was offered, but I didn't take it, knowing how difficult it was to get sponsors to back golf,' says Thomson.
'These days, outside the regular tours, everything tends to be a circus with players getting exorbitant sums just to turn up. It is difficult to keep your integrity intact nowadays.'