https://www.scmp.com/rss/315846/feed The 2014 Hong Kong Open is the 56th edition of the event, held at  Hong Kong Golf Club, Fanling from 16 – 19 October 2014 with prize money of US$1.3 million. Ernie Els and Miguel Angel Jimenez are among the big names competing at the co-sanctioned Asian Tour / European Tour event. Spaniard Jimenez is the defending champion and seeking to win for a record fifth time. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com It didn't look like it, but Scott Hend said he felt calm during the play-off that won him the 56th Hong Kong Open at Fanling, becoming the first Australian since the great Greg Norman, in 1983, to lift the trophy. Hend, lining up for a birdie putt on the first play-off hole, pulled out at the last second. The distance to the cup was 25 feet and the pressure was on. I just wanted to slow things down. To be honest, I was more nervous at the start of the round than during the play-off Scott... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/1620057/scott-hend-becomes-first-australian-hong-kong-open-winner-1983?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/1620057/scott-hend-becomes-first-australian-hong-kong-open-winner-1983?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 19 Oct 2014 16:30:00 +0000 It's five pages of double-sided A4, headlined "Race to Dubai" - and if you're a European Tour player whose name isn't on the first two sides, this is a stressful time. Finish outside the top 110 and it's goodbye to your right to play on tour, a scrap to win it back at qualifying school. With only one event left, in Perth next week, anyone who's earned less than about €240,000 (HK$2.4 million) faces losing their livelihood. Okay, it beats digging ditches, but there were plenty "on the bubble" and... https://www.scmp.com/sport/golf/article/1620058/spare-thought-those-tourcard-strugglers?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/golf/article/1620058/spare-thought-those-tourcard-strugglers?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 19 Oct 2014 15:00:30 +0000 Well that wraps it from us after another dramatic Hong Kong Open finish. We always seem to have last-hole drama here and this time it was Scott Hend who came out triumphant. He's just been in speaking to the media, and says he's looking forward to another win next week at the Venetian Macau Open - "If I don't get too hungover celebrating tonight". The first Australian winner of this tournament since the great Greg Norman in 1983, Hend says he's full of pride to have added his name to the trophy... https://www.scmp.com/sport/golf/article/1619844/live-hong-kong-open-day-four?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/golf/article/1619844/live-hong-kong-open-day-four?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 19 Oct 2014 03:00:30 +0000 The past is inescapable at Hong Kong Golf Club, celebrating its 125th anniversary this year, but the present and future weigh on members' minds. Walking the course at the Hong Kong Open, dragonflies zipping about wide green expanses as the sun dapples through paperbark trees that members planted 100 years ago, you can forget you're in one of the most densely populated cities in the world. Part of the reason for the present protests is discontent with ridiculous house prices and rising social... https://www.scmp.com/sport/golf/article/1619635/old-site-has-stood-test-time-faces-fight-its-future?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/golf/article/1619635/old-site-has-stood-test-time-faces-fight-its-future?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 18 Oct 2014 17:15:45 +0000 Marcus Fraser spent eight months sitting on a couch nursing a sore left hand before deciding it was time to resume his career. He now finds himself in the lead entering the final day at the Hong Kong Open. Is he surprised? You bet he is. "No one is more surprised than I am to find myself in the lead," said a smiling Fraser after carding a five-under-par 65 on Saturday to add to his first two rounds of 67 for a total of 11-under and a one-shot lead going into the last day. Fraser leads fellow... https://www.scmp.com/sport/golf/article/1619638/australian-marcus-fraser-takes-one-stroke-lead-final-round-hong-kong-open?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/golf/article/1619638/australian-marcus-fraser-takes-one-stroke-lead-final-round-hong-kong-open?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 18 Oct 2014 17:00:00 +0000 Australian Marcus Fraser, playing his first tournament in eight months following surgery on a hand injury, showed no ill effects at the Hong Kong Open as he shot a six-birdie 65 to lead the tournament on -11 One shot further back is compatriot Scott Hend, who had a 67, while three players - England's Mark Foster, South Africa's Jbe Kruger and Filipino Angelo Que - are on -9. Four-time major winner Ernie Els, the overnight leader, had a difficult day, with three bogeys and a double as he... https://www.scmp.com/sport/golf/article/1619164/live-hong-kong-open-day-three?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/golf/article/1619164/live-hong-kong-open-day-three?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 18 Oct 2014 02:19:36 +0000 Four-time major winner Ernie Els gave into temptation on his 45th birthday yesterday, but it did not derail his plans to win the Hong Kong Open on his first attempt. Starting the day two shots off the pace, Els raced to a two-shot lead at the halfway mark of the US$1.3 million tournament, which will be missing the familiar figure of Miguel Angel Jimenez this weekend. The Spaniard, who had struggled with food poisoning during a poor first round of two-over 72, failed to make the cut, ending his... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/1618761/big-easy-cruises-top-fanling?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/1618761/big-easy-cruises-top-fanling?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 17 Oct 2014 16:10:25 +0000 "If we birdie the last four holes, we'll win this," said Tiger Woods to his caddie. Bang, bang, bang, bang. Job done. But Tiger didn't win - Rich Beem did. No, not the Hong Kong Open yesterday, but the US PGA Championship in 2002. Beem, who had been selling mobile phones and scraping a living as a club pro in El Paso, Texas, had decided to give the tour another go. He came almost from nowhere to hold off one of the greatest players and become a major champion. He never won another tournament. Of... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/1618759/undeniable-lightness-beem-tour?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/1618759/undeniable-lightness-beem-tour?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 17 Oct 2014 15:30:00 +0000 Ernie Els stormed into the lead on day two of the Hong Kong Open with a superb 65 on the morning of his 45th birthday, but the celebrations will be on hold for another two days. Defending champion Miguel Angel Jimenez's hopes of winning a fifth title went down the toilet as he struggled to a 70 after suffering from food poisoning and missed the cut. Els had four birdies in his first seven holes as he got off to a flier as one of the early starters, setting an imposing total of nine under par by... https://www.scmp.com/sport/golf/article/1618281/live-hong-kong-open-day-one?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/golf/article/1618281/live-hong-kong-open-day-one?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 17 Oct 2014 01:45:45 +0000 Miguel Angel Jimenez's bid for an unprecedented third straight Hong Kong Open title began on a painful and embarrassing note, as the colourful Spaniard struggled with a bad tummy that even forced him to pay a visit "into the woods at one point". Laid low by a bout of food poisoning, which had kept him up the night before the opening round, Jimenez barely managed to get around his favourite Fanling course as he finished with a two-over par 72. It was his worst round in two years. "It has not been... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/1617845/miguel-angel-jimenez-hit-stomach-bug-shoots-72-hong-kong-open?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/1617845/miguel-angel-jimenez-hit-stomach-bug-shoots-72-hong-kong-open?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 16 Oct 2014 15:42:49 +0000 Ernie Els celebrates his 45th birthday on Saturday and showed he is already wiser as he refused to dwell on the shots that got away in his first appearance at the Hong Kong Open. Yes, I did miss three makeable birdie putts and that hurt a little, but at the same time I had some good ones on the front nine which helped me Ernie Els Els might have missed three makeable birdie putts on the back nine, yet he was a happy and contented camper after the first round at Fanling, finishing two shots... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/1617926/older-and-wiser-big-easy-shrugs-narrow-misses?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/1617926/older-and-wiser-big-easy-shrugs-narrow-misses?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 16 Oct 2014 15:30:45 +0000 Timothy Tang is hoping he can kick-start his flagging professional career in the next few days, but another local player, Roderick Staunton, is at Fanling because "my boss is very understanding". Both players shot even-par 70s yesterday, but 28-year-old Tang has a lot more at stake. "I played on the Asian Tour in 2011, but have since lost my card. I'm hoping to win it back again next year and will be playing in the qualifying school. I feel I was not ready the first time around on the Asian... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/1617846/timothy-tang-eyes-fresh-kick-start-flagging-fortunes?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/1617846/timothy-tang-eyes-fresh-kick-start-flagging-fortunes?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 16 Oct 2014 15:19:28 +0000 The Hong Kong Golf Association has launched a programme to introduce the game to youngsters, making it easy and fun to learn and more accessible. Targeting primary school children aged from six to 12, the programme uses a teaching kit named "ShortGolf" to help youngsters learn the basic skills of the sport. The clubs have a weighted head made of shatter-proof plastic and a fibreglass shaft, while the ball is soft and the size of a tennis ball. Targets and mats are also used, and it can be played... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/1617844/youngsters-get-taste-game-golf-schools?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/1617844/youngsters-get-taste-game-golf-schools?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 16 Oct 2014 15:09:45 +0000 Alone and unloved, the Hong Kong Open has been unable to find a new partner since 2012 when Swiss bank UBS decided they wanted to "realign their core values more synergistically with other ventures" - or whatever corporate babble they used to say, "It's not you, it's me". It's a lonely search for a sponsorship soulmate who shares the same interests: long walks on the beach, French movies, and giving professional golfers lots of money. The tournament seems to have the looks, style, reputation,... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/1617847/hk-ticks-all-boxes-how-come-theres-no-love?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/1617847/hk-ticks-all-boxes-how-come-theres-no-love?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 16 Oct 2014 15:00:30 +0000 Indian world No.462 Randhawa Jyoti shot a superb 64 at the Hong Kong Open in Fanling to take a surprise lead after day one. He went home in five-under 31 to finish one ahead of Filipino Angelo Que, who shot his first bogey-free round of the year. Defending champion Miguel Angel Jimenez, aiming for an unprecedented fifth Hong Kong Open title, was laid low overnight by food poisoning and struggled to a two-over 72. Four-time major winner Ernie Els could have done better than a four-under 66... https://www.scmp.com/sport/golf/article/1617507/live-hong-kong-open-day-one?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/golf/article/1617507/live-hong-kong-open-day-one?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 16 Oct 2014 02:30:30 +0000 Almost two decades ago, a skinnier and hungrier Ernie Els turned up in Hong Kong with stars in his eyes and big plans to conquer the world. And he did that, going on to win four majors, the last in 2012 at the Open Championship in Britain. But the South African still has an appetite for the game and on his first visit since 1996 wants to rule at the Hong Kong Open, starting on Thursday. To do that he will have to dethrone four-time champion Miguel Angel Jimenez who will be bidding for a record... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/1617139/ernie-els-happy-be-back-where-dream-began?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/1617139/ernie-els-happy-be-back-where-dream-began?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 15 Oct 2014 14:00:30 +0000 More than 120 school children proved to be luckier than many golf fans in the city, as they had a short class with Hong Kong Open players yesterday. Former world number one Ernie Els was joined by local talent Jason Hak and the mainland's top amateur William Liu to conduct the clinic, a community event of the Hong Kong Open, at the Tuen Mun Golf Centre. Most of the children, who were from seven primary schools in Tuen Mun or Yuen Long, had no experience in the sport. But it did not take long for... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/1617140/hong-kong-children-rub-shoulders-stars-ernie-els?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/1617140/hong-kong-children-rub-shoulders-stars-ernie-els?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 15 Oct 2014 13:45:30 +0000 Miguel Angel Jimenez believes in democracy but he will shed all the trappings of egalitarianism as he takes to the Fanling course tomorrow in a bid to win a record fifth Hong Kong Open title. Long-time visitor Jimenez was quite the diplomat when asked about the predicament his favourite city was facing with the Occupy movement. "I love democracy. I come from a country which has democracy," he said. "But I cannot say who is right or who is wrong [here]. All I can say is democracy is the right... https://www.scmp.com/sport/golf/article/1616388/miguel-angel-jimenez-eyes-record-fifth-hong-kong-open-title?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/golf/article/1616388/miguel-angel-jimenez-eyes-record-fifth-hong-kong-open-title?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 14 Oct 2014 13:00:30 +0000 A week watching his peers at the Ryder Cup - rather than playing with them - has spurred Belgian Nicolas Colsaerts into action as he eagerly heads east for this week's US$1.3 million Hong Kong Open and the Asian swing of events. Colsaerts produced the greatest round by a Ryder Cup rookie in the "Miracle at Medinah" in 2012, but missed out on Europe's successful defence at Gleneagles two weeks ago. And with the wind in his sails after his second-place finish to Frenchman Alexander Levy at the... https://www.scmp.com/sport/golf/article/1615262/nicolas-colsaerts-ready-put-miguel-angel-jimenez-test-hong-kong-open?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/golf/article/1615262/nicolas-colsaerts-ready-put-miguel-angel-jimenez-test-hong-kong-open?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 12 Oct 2014 16:30:30 +0000 Lacking a title sponsor for the second year in a row, the Hong Kong Open will once again rely on the Hong Kong Golf Club for a significant portion of its US$1.3 million prize money - a paltry sum insufficient to attract the world's best players to Fanling next week, admitted a European Tour official. "It is difficult without a significant prize fund to get the leading players," said European Tour spokeswoman Vicky Jones. "While we have got a stronger field than last year, including Miguel Angel... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/1611605/golf-club-comes-rescue-hong-kong-open-again?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/1611605/golf-club-comes-rescue-hong-kong-open-again?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 07 Oct 2014 14:30:15 +0000