Tiger Woods was barely in his teens nine years ago when Nick Faldo, then at the peak of his golfing powers, etched his name into golf's record books as the inaugural winner of the Johnnie Walker Classic.
Sparked by a fine third round of nine-under-par 62 at the Hong Kong Golf Club, Faldo's victory was greeted with the same sense of inevitability that now occurs when Woods adds another title to his collection.
To this day, though, that imperious display by Faldo, who earlier in 1990 had won both the US Masters and British Open, still stands as a Composite Course record at Fanling and is regarded as one of the finest rounds witnessed in Asia.
As a player, he may no longer be the force that he was at the start of the decade, but it says much for Faldo's staying power that when the ninth edition of the Classic tees off in Taiwan this week he will be among the main drawcards, even if it is Woods who claims top billing.
While the contrast in the playing fortunes of Faldo and Woods has been stark during the final years of the century, the standing of the Classic as the region's premier golfing event has not wavered.
You only have to glance at the Classic's roll of honour to appreciate the quality of the golf that the tournament has produced over the years with no fewer than six Major champions having had their names inscribed on the distinctive trophy - Faldo (twice), Greg Norman, Fred Couples, Ian Woosnam, Ernie Els . . . and Woods.