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Nazvi Careem

This year's Hong Kong Open will be the launching pad for a new era of prosperity for the territory's oldest professional sports event, organisers vowed yesterday.

  Steve Feruerstein, president of tournament promoters Sports International, said he expected a strong field of quality golfers from the European Tour, and from Asia, to compete in the Asian Tour event from December 5-8.

  Feruerstein added that organisers were now talking with potential title sponsors, who were interested in making a long-term commitment to the tournament.

  He said the competition would not be affected by the absence of 40 golfers from the rival Omega Asian Professional Golfers' Association (APGA) Tour, who turned down invitations to play in the Hong Kong Open.

  Instead, they will take part in the APGA's Royal Classic in Thailand, which is being held during the same week as the Hong Kong Open.

  Feruerstein said: 'We have a mandate from the Hong Kong Golf Association (HKGA) to stage a tournament with integrity, with quality players and with a title sponsor. And we are confident we can deliver.

  'The HKGA did the right thing by extending the invitations to the players from the APGA, but the fact is that there are many professional golfers in Asia and we think we can attract a good field with a lot of depth.

  'We are not saying that this tournament is going to be the ultimate sporting event. What we are hoping to do is rebuild this tournament so that in a few years time, it will be up there among the best in Asia. The Hong Kong Open has so much tradition, and by working on it over the past few months, I've realised just how much respect people have for it.'   He said: 'We are looking at some of the top European Tour players: golfers who may not have won any Majors, but who are solid players, who are likely to do well in the future.'   Relations between the HKGA and the APGA became strained this year when the Hong Kong body decided not to join the fledgling Omega Tour.

 In riposte to the HKGA's snub, the APGA scheduled a rival tournament in Thailand.



Open targets quality field to help boost event's future