RECENTLY-crowned US Masters champion Bernhard Langer is being lined up for a return visit to Hongkong. The German star, whose victory at Augusta lifted him to number two in the world rankings, played in the Hongkong Open for three years in succession at the start of the 1990s. He scored a runaway triumph at Fanling in 1991 and finished third behind American Tom Watson and Northern Irishman Ronan Rafferty in 1992. Langer had been hoping to perform again in February's Kent-sponsored tournament but opted against coming to the Far East because of the impending birth of a baby girl. However, since clinching his second green jacket a fortnight ago, Langer has expressed his keeness to return to the territory for the 1994 Open. His brother and manager, Erwin, said: ''At the moment we are negotiating with the promoters (Spectrum) of the Hongkong Open. Bernhard would very much like to return to your country and play in the 1994 event.'' Langer's attachment to Hongkong goes beyond the tournament itself. Following his victory two years ago he donated a portion of his winnings to the setting up of the Bernhard Langer Junior Golf Foundation. Alistair Polson, general manager of the Golf Association of Hongkong, the tournament's organisers, said: ''Bernhard is a very popular figure in Hongkong and we would love to see him come back here next year.'' Meanwhile, Jack Nicklaus will on Thursday become the third golfing superstar to visit the People's Republic within the space of the past six weeks. During March, South African Gary Player travelled to Guangdong Province where he is building a 54-hole complex at Zhaoqing, while last week Australian Greg Norman made his first excursion into the country. The most successful player in the history of the game with 18 major titles to his name is scheduled to pay a site visit to Mission Hills Golf Club in Shenzhen on Thursday. During his stopover the 53-year-old father-of-five will view the land on which the 36 holes are currently being constructed and will also open the club's driving range which is now completed. The first 18 holes at Mission Hills are scheduled to open next year with the second 18 ready for play by 1996. Mission Hills will be the second Nicklaus course in China. The first is at the already established Zhongshan Hot Spring Golf Club. Hopes that Nicklaus would also stop off at Zhongshan, where the course will be open for play in October, have fallen through. Nicklaus has a total of 52 golf course projects in the Far East of which 11 are already open for play, 15 are under construction and 26 are under contract. Jason Kwok staged a stirring late fightback to earn Royal Hongkong a thrilling victory over hosts Shek O in the Mizuno Club Championship of Hongkong yesterday. Representing the Fanling-based club for the first time, Kwok made light of the pouring rain to secure the crucial half-point against Tim Martin-Jenkins. That left the teams tied at 41/2-41/2 with victory going to Royal Hongkong by virtue of claiming 31/2 points from the six singles contests.
