A Monty win is written in the stars
Scotsman believes the omens are good after pro-am victory
The stars, many of them ageing, have lined up for the US$2.5 million UBS Hong Kong Open which gets underway today. They have also lined up for Colin Montgomerie who believes the omens are looking good for his second Fanling title.
'It's funny, the last time I won the Hong Kong Open in 2005, I won the pro-am, and I've just won the pro-am again,' said Montgomerie. 'You can see the thing written, it's in the stars now.'
He might have slipped out of the top 100 in the world for the first time in his career, but Montgomerie, ranked 118, feels he is still in with a shout of winning the landmark 50th edition of the tournament.
'It is always nice to come to a tournament that you've won before. There is a defending type of feeling to the thing. I'm quite confident, I like the golf course, I like the feel.
'I'm not the longest [hitter] on tour and, while I never was, I have control and you need control more than length or power to win here. I enjoy this course, I love this club and I love Hong Kong. So I feel comfortable here, and that helps me to relax and play good golf.'
A 144-strong field boasting a number of famous names - America's John Daly, England's Nick Faldo, Spaniards Jose Maria Olazabal and Miguel Angel Jimenez, German Bernhard Langer, New Zealander Michael Campbell and Scotland's Paul Lawrie, along with a stellar Asian crop led by India's Jeev Milkha Singh - will begin the first round at the par-70 composite course at the Hong Kong Golf Club this morning.
It is perhaps apt that this being the 50th edition, most of the big names should look back to their moments of glory in Hong Kong.
Olazabal still remembers the five-iron approach shot on the 18th which enabled him to tap in for birdie and claim a memorable victory in 2001.
'That was one of my best shots in my career,' said the two-time Masters champ. 'I had to hit it from under some tree branches, cut it and hit it over the lake. It was special.'
However, winning is the last thing on Olazabal's mind this week. He will be happy if he finishes with a reasonable score as he is struggling with rheumatoid arthritis.
'My objective is to start hitting better shots more often and hopefully be able to play four days and see how I feel when the week is over,' Olazabal, 42, said.
Englishman Faldo never won the Hong Kong Open, although he has triumphed in Fanling, winning the inaugural Johnnie Walker Open in 1990. 'Those memories are nice. I shot a 62. I remember eagling. It was a different course back then, but it's nice, short by pro-standards now, which helps me,' Faldo said.
Faldo, 51, hasn't played competitively since last year. He does not rate his chances. 'I'm struggling to get 10 rounds of golf and 10 hours of practice. You know it's been a busy year this year, obviously with my work with television and the Ryder Cup.
'But I'm glad to be back out on the golf course for a bit of fun this week. The problem is when you haven't played a lot, the arms are hot. I'm trying to get rid of the tendonitis from tennis,' Faldo said.
With two major winners struggling, no wonder Montgomerie feels the stars are aligned in his favour.
