Australian Scott Barr eyes second straight title at Hong Kong PGA Championship
The 46-year-old is expected to face stiff competition from four-time winner Unho Park and American Anthony Kang
Scott Barr says he is ready for the challenge of defending his title at the 34th edition of the FTLife Hong Kong PGA Championship, which gets underway at Fanling on Wednesday.
The 46-year-old Australian, an Asian Tour regular who captured his first title with a stirring performance to deny compatriot Unho Park an unprecedented fifth straight victory last January, said he was looking forward to kicking off his 2017 campaign with a second straight victory in Hong Kong.
“After getting the monkey off my back last time around by finally dethroning Unho, I feel like I’ve got a lot to prove this week,” said Singapore-based Barr, whose best result on the Asian Tour in 2016 came at the Yeangder TPC in Taiwan where he finished in a tie for third.
“I’ve been able to have a good break after the UBS Hong Kong Open and my game is in decent shape. The field is as strong as it normally is, possibly even stronger this time, but I fancy my chances over three courses I really love playing.”
The 54-hole championship will be played in its traditional three-course format, with the New Course at the Hong Kong Golf Club hosting the first round before the players move to Eden Course, also at Fanling, on day two. Clearwater Bay Golf and Country Club will provide a fitting finale for the all-important last round.
Barr will come up against strong opposition in his quest for the record-equalling HK$500,000 title, with a full field of HKPGA pros eager to wrest the trophy away from his hands, in addition to other Asian Tour notables.