Published on September 23, 2015

Hong Kong: Asian Golf Industry Federation Golf Facility Member Hong Kong Golf Club [HKGC] has earned high praise from Scott Hend, Thongchai Jaidee and Anirban Lahiri.
The trio hold a combined 26 Asian Tour titles and are poised to contribute to a memorable week at the US$2 million UBS Hong Kong Open from October 22-25.
All three count the Composite Course at the HKGC among their favourite tracks.
Australian Hend, triumphant there last year, said: “The course is awesome and it puts many aspects of your game under pressure. The main thing is to not get ahead of yourself and you can’t be too aggressive.
“I find it very rewarding to play in front of the big crowds at the Hong Kong Golf Club. The atmosphere at UBS Hong Kong Open is always great. It’s one of the best tournaments on Tour and has a great history behind it.”
Hend, winner of six Asian Tour titles and a top-five finisher on the Order of Merit in 2014, 2013, 2009 and 2007, remembers vividly his play-off triumph over Filipino Angelo Que at Fanling last year, in particular his crucial par save on the final hole of regulation. “I managed to get that plugged ball in the greenside bunker on the 72nd hole up-and-down (for par).
“The play-off was exciting and to hole that putt and win was a tremendous feeling of relief and excitement.”
Thongchai is determined to put up a strong showing after skipping the UBS Hong Kong Open for the last two years. “The Hong Kong Golf Club is a great test of golf and I enjoy competing on such a traditional-styled course.
“The event has a lot of history where many world-class players have won it over the years. Hong Kong is also a wonderful city to visit and it would be fantastic if I can play my best golf to contend for the UBS Hong Kong Open title,” said the 45-year-old Thai.
Lahiri is also relishing the prospect of a return to the Fanling venue.
“The Hong Kong Golf Club is one of those venues where you want to go back to play every year. There’s a lot of character to the course, it’s like the Delhi Golf Club in some ways where it’s very demanding from tee to green,” said the 28-year-old, who finished tied fifth at last month’s PGA Championship, the best outing by an Indian in a Major championship.
American Dustin Johnson and England’s Justin Rose, both ranked in the world’s top-10, will headline the elite field at Fanling alongside Ryder Cup stars Victor Dubuisson of France, Graeme McDowell of Northern Ireland and American Patrick Reed. Four-time Hong Kong Open champion Miguel Angel Jimenez of Spain has also confirmed his appearance.