World stars Dustin Johnson and Justin Rose to headline transformed Hong Kong Open

The two top-10 ranked stars will play at the October event, with Rose returning after a four-year absence and Johnson making his debut

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Dustin Johnson is one of the most exciting and controversial players on the tour. Photo: EPA

Published: 7:00am, 30 Jul 2015Updated: 1:05pm, 3 Aug 2015

Big-hitting American Dustin Johnson, a man of mystery and alleged misdemeanours, will be the headline act at the US$2 million UBS Hong Kong Open in October.

When you get the chance to visit cities as exciting as Hong Kong, then it’s difficult to say no

Dustin Johnson

Organisers today revealed that world number five Johnson and world number seven Justin Rose will compete in the prestigious event, which has been transformed thanks to HK$15 million in government funds and Swiss bank UBS returning as title sponsor.

Johnson will make his first appearance at Fanling and bring with him not only a fearsome game but a bundle of curiosity after serving a self-imposed six-month exile last year to deal with “personal challenges” and a “mission of self-improvement”.

Reports alleged Johnson failed three drug tests – two for cocaine – but the PGA Tour would not confirm whether Johnson’s leave of absence was voluntary. Johnson has also been romantically linked with the wives of two fellow PGA Tour players.

Johnson will make a highly-anticipated debut at Fanling in October. Photo: AP

He has suffered brutally in his quest for a major, throwing away the US Open in 2010, “losing” the PGA Championship in the same year after unwittingly grounding his club in a hazard and incurring a penalty, and again in this year’s US Open when he three-putted from 10 feet and handed the title to Jordan Spieth.

Johnson, who won the HSBC Champions in Shanghai in 2013, also looked in control at the British Open at St Andrews two weeks ago, leading at the halfway mark, before fading badly.

But there is no denying the attraction of Johnson, who is engaged to Paulina Gretzky, daughter of NHL legend Wayne Gretzky.

World stars Dustin Johnson and Justin Rose to headline transformed Hong Kong Open

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}The two top-10 ranked stars will play at the October event, with Rose returning after a four-year absence and Johnson making his debut

The two top-10 ranked stars will play at the October event, with Rose returning after a four-year absence and Johnson making his debut