Hong Kong: A record number of local golfers will tee it up at an international professional golf tournament when the US$1 million World City Championship (WCC) presented by Hong Kong Golf Club debuts at Fanling from March 23-26.

Hong Kong’s newest tournament has attracted a stellar field including former Hong Kong Open winner Ian Poulter (2010) and Henrik Stenson, winner of The Open in 2016. 

Alongside the greats of the game, over 20 places have been offered to the city’s rising professional and amateur talents, including freshly minted Asian Tour players Taichi Kho and Matthew Cheung.

Kho – who, like Cheung, played his way to a Tour card through qualifying in January – said he was thrilled with the opportunity to play in front of his hometown fans across the famed Composite Course.

“To be a professional golfer from Hong Kong and to be playing in Hong Kong, it’s something that I’ve dreamed about,” said Kho, runner-up in the 2021 Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship. 

“It’s been quite a while since I’ve played in Hong Kong competitively so it’ll be nice to feel the hometown support and I hope to see as many people out here as possible. A lot of Hong Kong players will be playing so it’ll be great to feel the hometown pride and try to fly the flag high.”

Kho will be coming back to his hometown off two Asian Tour events – last week’s International Series Thailand where he finished in a tie for 34th, and this week’s The DGC Open at Delhi Golf Club.

Joining Kho and Cheung in the starting line-up will be more than a dozen rising stars of Hong Kong golf.

Among them are Leon D’Souza, Alexander Yang, Isaac Lam, Tommy Lin, Timothy Chan, Hoho Yue, Markus Lam, Kevin Wu, Isaac Lee, Jason Hak and Terrence Ng, all of whom have made their mark internationally and locally.

Seventeen-year-old amateur Isaac Lee, winner of the Hong Kong Golf Club’s Fanling Trophy, is thrilled at the opportunity to be part of a full field of 132 golfers.

“I’m very excited,” said Lee. “It’s a good opportunity for me to be able to play with a lot of top golfers from all over the world, and it’s a good stage for me to showcase myself. 

“I have watched a lot of these players over the years at the Hong Kong Golf Club, so now to be going out to play against them is a great opportunity for me, and for all the Hong Kong golfers who will play.”

As well as the honour of competing for the WCC trophy, the tournament offers players a chance to play in this year’s 151st Open Championship in July as it has been selected as one of the three Asian tournaments that make up The R&A’s Open Qualifying Series (OQS).

“It’s an incredible opportunity,” said Kho. “I think the only thing a professional golfer could ever ask for is more opportunity and for us to be given this opportunity to qualify for the most historic event in golf is truly special.”

Alongside the world-class golf, the World City Championship will serve up plenty of world-class entertainment in the spectator hub, the WCC Fanling ‘Fam’ Village, with an array of family-friendly activities across the week, from golf clinics, live music, international cuisine, a Classic Car Show on Saturday (March 25), and a STEAM kids and family area.

The World City Championship presented by Hong Kong Golf Club is an ‘M’ Mark event that helps enhance the image of Hong Kong as Asia’s sports events capital. The ‘M’ Mark awarded by the Major Sports Events Committee, symbolises an intense, spectacular and signature event in the territory sports calendar.

The Hong Kong Golf Club is a Facility Member of the Asian Golf Industry Federation.