The Hong Kong Open’s status in the world of golf will be elevated to a new level this year when for the first time in
its 43-year history it will be joint-sanctioned by the The Hong Kong Open’s status in the world of golf will be elevated to a new level this year when for the first time in
its 43-year history it will be joint-sanctioned by the Davidoff Tour and European Tour.

The prestigious tournament, which will be played at the Hong Kong Golf Club from November 29 to December 2, will boast 60 players from the Davidoff Tour and 60 from the European Tour.

In addition to the event’s new Tour status, it will also benefit hugely from a US$200,000 increase in prize money. Last year the overall purse was raised to half-a-million dollars but this year it will be a record US$700,000.

A number of star players for the event, which was won last year by England’s Simon Dyson, will be announced shortly along with the event’s title sponsor.

‘This is an exciting move for the Hong Kong Open that will strengthen the quality of the field and increase exposure of the tournament internationally,’ said Eric White, President of the Hong Kong Golf Association.

‘The Hong Kong Open has regularly attracted some of the best players in the world but this year there will be a new quality in depth to the field which the tournament will not have seen before,’ added White.

Some of the biggest names in golf have won the Hong Kong Open, including Tom Watson, Greg Norman, Bernhard Langer and Ian Woosnam, and with many famous players from Europe competing this year another well known name might be added to the trophy.

While the tournament will be one of the closing events on this year’s Davidoff Tour and will play a crucial role in determining the Davidoff Tour Order of Merit winner, it will be the second leg of the 2001/2002 European Tour.

‘We can expect to see the strongest field ever assembled for the Hong Kong Open this year with a split field from Europe and Asia. This will certainly thrust the Hong Kong Open into the international sporting spotlight and is a
major step forward for the tournament to take,’ said Ramlan Harun, Executive Director, Asian PGA.

The Hong Kong Open will be the fourth and final event of the year to be joint-sanctioned between Asia and Europe. The Carlsberg Malaysian Open, Caltex Singapore Masters and BMW Asian Open in Taiwan are the others.

Ken Schofield, Executive Director of The European Tour, said: ‘We are delighted to be joining forces again with the Davidoff Tour when the Hong Kong Open becomes the second counting event towards the 2002 Volvo Order of Merit.

‘The European Tour continues to enjoy a superb relationship with the Davidoff Tour and our Members enjoy travelling to Asia to play at some of the best and most exotic locations in world golf.

‘Earlier this season we spent two weeks in Asia for the Carlsberg Malaysian Open and the Caltex Singapore Masters, both won by Vijay Singh, now an Honorary Member of The European Tour, and we look forward to returning in November for the BMW Asian Open followed by the Hong Kong Open.’

For the second successive year the tournament will be jointly promoted by the Asian PGA Tour Ltd, and CNBC Sports.

The tournament will be broadcast live on CNBC Sports in Asia and Europe and many other global networks.

The Hong Kong Golf Club has hosted the Hong Kong Open every year since 1959 and will stage the tournament on its Composite Course, which is a combination of the best holes from the New and Eden Courses.

‘The eyes of the golfing world will be trained on the Hong Kong Golf Club in the first week of December. It will be a momentous occasion for everyone at the club and one that we are eagerly anticipating,’ said Ronald Lu, Captain, Hong Kong Golf Club.

Last year Dyson finished with a four-round aggregate of 21-under-par 263 to take the title and claim the Davidoff Tour Order of Merit. Victory in Hong Kong will earn the winner a three-year exemption on the European Tour.

For further information, pleas contact:

Simon Wilson
Media Officer
Asian PGA Tour Limited
(A member of the World Sport Group)
Tel No. (852) 2330 8227
Fax No. (852) 2801 5743
swilson@asia-sport.com