Hong Kong SAR, China: American Talor Gooch, Indian Anirban Lahiri, Australian Matt Jones and Spanish phenom Eugenio Chacarra will join the stellar Hong Kong Open cast at the Hong Kong Golf Club (HKGC) next month.

They will line-up alongside last year’s Open Championship winner Cameron Smith, two-time Hong Kong Open victor Wade Ormsby, and local hero Taichi Kho at the Fanling venue from November 9-12.

As well as the Hong Kong Open’s prestigious history and US$2 million purse on offer, the event’s new status on The International Series – 10 elite-level tournaments sanctioned by the Asian Tour, providing a pathway to the LIV Golf League – is proving a major draw for players. 

The 31-year-old Gooch will be making his Hong Kong Open debut in what is the city’s oldest professional sporting event.

He will arrive in Asia’s world city in historic form, having won three times on LIV Golf this year – Adelaide, Singapore and Andalucía.

“I am excited to be making my debut appearance at the Hong Kong Open. I’ve heard a lot about the city and the Hong Kong Golf Club from other players, and I look forward to playing in front of the knowledgeable galleries in Fanling,” said Gooch.

After collecting his third LIV Golf title at Valderrama this summer, Gooch said: “Last year I didn’t get a win, so this year I was just focused on getting an individual win. You don’t think much past the first one until you get it. I definitely didn’t have three in mind for the season, but it’s cool to be here.”

Also confirmed for the Hong Kong Open is 36-year-old Lahiri, who is no stranger to Fanling having tied for seventh at the Hong Kong Open in 2015. He has seven Asian Tour titles to his name and was runner-up to Smith at last year’s Players Championship on the PGA Tour.

Chacarra is ranked eighth in the International Series Order of Merit standings. The Spaniard turned pro in 2022 to join the LIV Golf League and struck gold in just his fifth event, winning the LIV Golf Invitational Bangkok.

His maiden non-LIV Golf win came in The International Series at the Asian Tour’s inaugural St Andrews Bay Championships in August, when he defeated Matt Jones in a 10-hole play-off, the longest in Asian Tour history.

The 43-year-old Jones is currently ranked ninth in The International Series Order of Merit standings.

Much attention will also focus on Kho, individual gold medallist at the Hangzhou Asian Games and winner of March’s World City Championship presented by the Hong Kong Golf Club, a Facility Member of the Asian Golf Industry Federation.

As well as the on-course action, the Hong Kong Open’s Fan Village will entertain tens of thousands of visitors across the event week with a host of activities and entertainment, including DJ performances, walking bands, golf simulators and other sport games, food and beverage offerings, shopping, face painting and more.

Tickets for the Hong Kong Open 2023 are available via Ticketflap at www.ticketflap.com/hongkongopen2023.