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Hong Kong Golf Open back on as flagship sporting event is confirmed for January

South China Morning Post

發布於 2019年12月06日13:12 • SCMP Sport
  • November event was postponed due to civil unrest but will now be staged from January 9-12
  • The 61st Hong Kong Open will now be the curtain-raiser for the Asian Tour’s 2020 season
Sergio Garcia in action at last year’s Hong Kong Open. Photo: Richard Castka/Sportpixgolf.com
Sergio Garcia in action at last year’s Hong Kong Open. Photo: Richard Castka/Sportpixgolf.com

Finally, there was some good news for beleaguered sports fans in Hong Kong on Friday when, after months of events across the sporting spectrum being cancelled " often at short notice, organisers announced that the Hong Kong Golf Open has been salvaged and will go ahead in January.

It is not clear yet whether the event's new date will hinder its chances of attracting some of the stellar names, who initially signed up to compete at Fanling, with organisers saying the line-up for the January 9-12 event is still to be confirmed.

However, it is understood major winners Henrik Stenson, Patrick Reed and Francesco Molinari will be unable to compete because of prior commitments but negotiations are taking place with other leading European Tour and PGA Tour players.

The European Tour revealed it would be unable to sanction the rearranged edition because it now clashes with the South African Open but its event management team would still help run the tournament.

Keith Pelley, chief executive of the European Tour, said: "Due to our long-standing commitment to deliver a full field for the South African Open hosted by the City of Johannesburg, which will also be played from January 9-12, regretfully we are unable to sanction this edition of the Hong Kong Open.

"However, we are delighted to retain an integral role in staging one of Hong Kong's best-loved sporting events and we very much look forward to returning next November when the 62nd Hong Kong Open will kick off our 2021 European Tour season."

Aaron Rai won last year's edition of the Hong Kong Golf Open. Photo: Richard Castka/Sportpixgolf.com
Aaron Rai won last year's edition of the Hong Kong Golf Open. Photo: Richard Castka/Sportpixgolf.com

The rearranged tournament will now be sanctioned by the Asian Tour and the Hong Kong Golf Association.

"The 120-player field will once again include a number of top international golfers who will compete for Official Golf World Ranking points and a US$1 million prize purse," read a statement from the organisers.

The tournament was initially scheduled to be held between November 28 and December 1, but the organisers were forced to cancel the event in light of a marked increase in tension surrounding the protest movement that has wracked the city for more than six months.

Doubts had begun to surface about the feasibility of staging the tournament given the Open's remote location out at Fanling and concerns about transport to and from the event for spectators.

The event was subsequently postponed on November 20.

Hong Kong Golf Club has always been one of the favourite stops on the Asian Tour so last month's postponement was received with mixed emotions from our membershipCho Minn Thant, commissioner and chief executive officer of the Asian Tour

"After the disappointing postponement of last month's championship, we're delighted to be able to confirm that the 61st Hong Kong Open will be played in January," said Hong Kong Golf Club captain William Doo Jnr. "The early-year date helps ensure the participation of a number of leading international players."

Senior executives at the Hong Kong Golf Association were quick to express gratitude to the Asian Tour, which allowed the postponement and accommodated the rescheduling.

US star Patrick Reed is likely to be missing at the rescheduled Open. Photo: AFP
US star Patrick Reed is likely to be missing at the rescheduled Open. Photo: AFP

Cho Minn Thant, commissioner and chief executive officer of the Asian Tour, said: "We are pleased to announce the 61st Hong Kong Open will now be the curtain-raiser for our 2020 season. As our season-opening event, there will be an undoubtedly strong Asian Tour field with players eager to get their season off to a fast start.

"Hong Kong Golf Club has always been one of the favourite stops on the Asian Tour so last month's postponement was received with mixed emotions from our membership. We look forward to competing again on the storied fairways of Hong Kong Golf Club in cool conditions in January and expect a highly competitive tournament as always, which will set the stage for what is going to be yet another exciting 2020 season."

Copyright (c) 2019. South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved.

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