The Hong Kong Open is a golf tournament which is played on the Asian Tour, and formerly on the European Tour. It was founded in 1959 and in 1962 and was one of the five tournaments that made up the inaugural Far East Circuit, later known as the Asia Golf Circuit. It remained part of the circuit until 1996, before joining the Asian Tour, then known as the Omega Tour, in 1997. It became co-sanctioned by the European Tour in 2001, as part of the 2002 season.

The Hong Kong Open was played in spring from its inception until 1994, but since 1995 has usually been played towards the end of the year, in November or December, and as a result has often fallen into the following year's European Tour season.

Since taking its place on the European Tour the event has always been held at the Hong Kong Golf Club in Sheung Shui, New Territories. The Hong Kong Golf Association, Hong Kong PGA, and Chinese PGA receive a limited number of exemptions into the tournament for their members.

History In 1958, Hong Kong Golf Club member Kim Hall wrote to Australian professional Eric Cremin to see if those players playing in the Philippine Open in 1959 would consider staying in the region to play in Hong Kong. Hall then approached Peter Plumley, secretary of South China Morning Post, who was also a golfer. Plumley then persuaded his boss to sponsor 1,000 Australian pounds in prize money in the name of South China Morning Post. Then, the first Hong Kong Open was launched in February 1959. According to Hong Kong Golf Club member Willie Woo, Kim Hall was very keen for the tournament and he talked a lot with Australian golfers, including Peter Thomson. Woo helped to get Taiwanese players through his connections.

The first tournament was hosted by Sir Robert Black, the then-Governor of Hong Kong. Around one thousand spectators joined the tournament.S.C.M Post Open Golf Competition – New Page in Sporting History of H.K., South China Morning Post, page 1 & 20, 2 February 1959 Taiwanese golfer Lu Liang-Huan won the inaugural edition of the tournament.Robinson, S (1989), "Festina Lente – A History of the Royal Hong Kong Golf Club", p. 85–105 The success of the Hong Kong Open prompted first Singapore in 1961, and then Malaysia and Japan in 1962, to introduce their own tournaments and bring about the setting up of the Far East Golf Circuit. The circuit further expanded into a regular ten-tournament tour, called the Asia Golf Circuit, that existed until the end of the twentieth century.

Despite the SCMP's original agreement to maintain 1,000 pounds sponsorship of the Hong Kong Open, it was felt that prize money would need to be increased if the best players were to be attracted. To that end the 1963 event was jointly sponsored by the SCMP and British American Tobacco, with the purse being increased to 4,000 pounds as a result.

Due to poor weather conditions during the 1966 event, the Hong Kong Golf Club lost HK$10,442 as the money put up by the sponsors was insufficient to cover expenses. As a result, the club decided that in future it could not undertake to assist financially in any way, but would continued provide the courses and the general facilities. The 1968 tournament was the first edition to be shown live on television. In 1969, the newly formed the Hong Kong Golf Association took up the task of organising the tournament. In 1971, the Hong Kong Open was on the verge of disappearing due to low spectator numbers and financial problems, but with the assistance of the Asia Pacific Golf Confederation, who were keen to retain the event on the Asia Golf Circuit, the tournament was saved.

In 1996, Hong Kong golfer Dominique Boulet finished fourth, the best result by a local golfer.Boulet thrills Open fans with final round flourish, South China Morning Post, 9 December 1996 In 2008, Florida-based Hong Kong amateur Hak Shunyat became the youngest player ever to make the cut in a European Tour event, at 14 years and 304 days, eclipsing the record set by Sergio García at the Turespaña Open Mediterrania in 1995. At the other end of the age spectrum, Miguel Ángel Jiménez became the oldest golfer ever to win on the European Tour when he won in 2012 at age , and extended his record by defending his title in 2013 at age .

In 2013, organizers and potential sponsors raised concerns over the complex becoming enmeshed in a controversial redevelopment plan for Fan Ling. The tournament was played that year without a title sponsor.

In 2020, the Hong Kong Open organizers announced that the tournament would be postponed till 2021 due to COVID-19 restrictions.

In March 2023, it was confirmed that the Hong Kong Open would return after a two-year hiatus as an Asian Tour event. The tournament would also gain International Series status.

Winners YearTour(s)WinnerScoreTo parMargin ofvictoryRunner(s)-upRef.Link Hong Kong Open2025 ASA Tom McKibbin 253 −27 7 strokes Peter Uihlein 2024 ASA Patrick Reed 258 −22 3 strokes Ben Campbell Hong Kong Open2023 ASA Ben Campbell 261 −19 1 stroke Cameron Smith 2021–22: No tournament2020 ASA, EUR Wade Ormsby (2) 263 −17 4 strokes Shane Lowry 2019: No tournamentHonma Hong Kong Open2018 ASA, EUR Aaron Rai263 −17 1 stroke Matt Fitzpatrick UBS Hong Kong Open2017 ASA, EUR Wade Ormsby269 −11 1 stroke Alexander Björk Rafa Cabrera-Bello Paul Peterson Julian Suri 2016 ASA, EUR Sam Brazel267 −13 1 stroke Rafa Cabrera-Bello 2015 ASA, EUR Justin Rose263 −17 1 stroke Lucas Bjerregaard Hong Kong Open2014 ASA, EUR Scott Hend267 −13 Playoff Angelo Que 2013 ASA, EUR Miguel Ángel Jiménez (4) 268 −12 Playoff Stuart Manley Prom Meesawat UBS Hong Kong Open2012 ASA, EUR Miguel Ángel Jiménez (3) 265 −15 1 stroke Fredrik Andersson Hed 2011 ASA, EUR Rory McIlroy268 −12 2 strokes Grégory Havret 2010 ASA, EUR Ian Poulter258 −22 1 stroke Simon Dyson Matteo Manassero 2009 ASA, EUR Grégory Bourdy261 −19 2 strokes Rory McIlroy 2008 ASA, EUR Lin Wen-tang265 −15 Playoff Rory McIlroy Francesco Molinari 2007 ASA, EUR Miguel Ángel Jiménez (2) 265 −15 1 stroke K. J. Choi Thongchai Jaidee Robert Karlsson 2006 ASA, EUR José Manuel Lara265 −15 1 stroke Juvic Pagunsan 2005 ASA, EUR Colin Montgomerie271 −9 1 stroke K. J. Choi James Kingston Lin Keng-chi Edward Loar Thammanoon Sriroj Omega Hong Kong Open2004 ASA, EUR Miguel Ángel Jiménez266 −14 1 stroke Pádraig Harrington James Kingston 2003 ASA, EUR Pádraig Harrington269 −11 1 stroke Hennie Otto 2002 ASA, EUR Freddie Jacobson260 −16 2 strokes Jorge Berendt Henrik Nyström 2001 ASA, EUR José María Olazábal262 −22 1 stroke Henrik Bjørnstad 2000 ASA Simon Dyson 263 −21 3 strokes Kim Felton John Kernohan Charlie Wi 戴臣香港高球賽奪冠, Ta Kung Pao, page B7, 18 December 2000Perrier Hong Kong Open 1999 ASA Patrik Sjöland 269 −11 1 stroke Ian Woosnam Suttering Sjoland helds off Woosnam in gripping finale, South China Morning Post, 29 November 1999 1998 ASA Kang Wook-soon 272 −12 2 strokes Ed Fryatt 韓好手姜旭淳奪標, Hong Kong Commercial Daily, 30 November 1998Final round duel puts friendship to test, South China Morning Post, 29 November 1998Andersen Consulting Hong Kong Open 1997 ASA Frank Nobilo 267 −17 5 strokes Kang Wook-soon Nobilo steadies ship, then takes Open by storm, South China Morning Post, 8 December 1997 1996 AGC Rodrigo Cuello 275 −5 3 strokes Scott Hoch Bill Longmuir Cuello shrugs off all challengers in Open win, South China Morning Post, 9 December 1996Hong Kong Open 1995 AGC Gary Webb 271 −13 2 strokes Rafael Alarcón Win makes Webb rethink career, South China Morning Post, 20 November 1995Kent Hong Kong Open 1994 AGC David Frost 274 −10 Playoff Craig McClellan Frost solves putting riddle in Open play-off, South China Morning Post, 28 February 1994 1993 AGC Brian Watts 274 −10 1 stroke Chen Tze-chung Watts stays the course for thrilling Open win, South China Morning Post, 15 February 1993Hutchison Telecom Hong Kong Open 1992 AGC Tom Watson 274 −10 3 strokes Ronan Rafferty 1991 AGC Bernhard Langer 269 −15 7 strokes Choi Sang-ho Lu Wen-teh Langer tames Fanling, South China Morning Post, 11 February 1991Martell Hong Kong Open 1990 AGC Ken Green 205 −8 4 strokes Danny Mijovic Brian Watts American Green wins golf Open, South China Morning Post, 26 February 1990Johnnie Walker Hong Kong Open 1989 AGC Brian Claar 274 −6 1 stroke Mats Lanner Gary Rusnak Unisys Hong Kong Open 1988 AGC Hsieh Chin-sheng 274 −10 1 stroke Lu Chien-soon United Airlines Hong Kong Open 1987 AGC Ian Woosnam 275 −9 4 strokes David Feherty Sam Torrance Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Open 1986 AGC Seiichi Kanai 285 +1 1 stroke Ian Baker-Finch 1985 AGC Mark Aebli 270 −10 4 strokes Chen Tze-ming 1984 AGC Bill Brask 268 −12 7 strokes Greg Norman 1983 AGC Greg Norman (2) 134 −6 3 strokes Mark James 1982 AGC Kurt Cox 276 −4 Playoff Terry Gale Tom Sieckmann 1981 AGC Chen Tze-ming 279 E 1 stroke Graham Marsh 1980 AGC Kuo Chie-Hsiung 274 −5 2 strokes Lu Liang-Huan 1979 AGC Greg Norman 273 −6 3 strokes Lu Hsi-chuen Chen Tze-ming Hsu Chi-san Hong Kong Open 1978 AGC Hsieh Yung-yo (4) 275 −4 1 stroke Kim Seung-hack 1977 AGC Hsieh Min-Nan 280 E 1 stroke Teruo Sugihara 1976 AGC Ho Ming-chung 279 −1 2 strokes Hsu Sheng-san 1975 AGC Hsieh Yung-yo (3) 288 +8 1 stroke Ted Ball Gaylord Burrows Stewart Ginn 1974 AGC Lu Liang-Huan (2) 280 E Playoff Graham Marsh 1973 AGC Frank Phillips (2) 278 −6 1 stroke Ben Arda 1972 AGC Walter Godfrey272 −8 2 strokes Takashi Murakami 1971 AGC Orville Moody 266 −14 2 strokes Haruo Yasuda 1970 AGC Isao Katsumata 274 −6 1 stroke Haruo Yasuda 1969 AGC Teruo Sugihara 274 −6 2 strokes Maurice Bembridge 1968 AGC Randall Vines 271 −9 1 stroke Teruo Sugihara 1967 FEC Peter Thomson (3) 273 −7 Playoff Brian Huggett 1966 FEC Frank Phillips 275 −5 2 strokes Hideyo Sugimoto 1965 FEC Peter Thomson (2) 278 −2 1 stroke Ross Newdick 1964 FEC Hsieh Yung-yo (2) 269 −15 Playoff Alan Murray 1963 FEC Hsieh Yung-yo 272 −16 3 strokes Tomoo Ishii 1962 FEC Len Woodward 271 −17 1 stroke Frank Phillips Bill Dunk Alan Murray 1961 Kel Nagle 261 6 strokes Peter Thomson Nagle Wins S.C.M. Post Open Golf tournament, South China Morning Post, page 1, 13 February 1961 1960 Peter Thomson 272 10 strokes Kel Nagle Thomson Coasts to Victory in Open, South China Morning Post, 2 February 1960 1959 Lu Liang-Huan 281 1 stroke Bruce Crampton Kel Nagle Source:

Scorecard

Hole NameHole by hole Guide Old Name Yards Metres Par 1 Taipo Trench 468 428 4 2 Sai Kung The Trap 149 136 3 3 Shatin Fearsome 551 504 5 4 Wong Tai Sin Temptation 288 263 4 5 Kowloon City Table Top 192 176 3 6 Kwun Tong The Pimple 436 399 4 7 Eastern The Narrows 380 347 4 8 Southern Oasis 188 172 3 9 Wan Chai The Bend 493 451 4 10 Central and Western Holland 367 336 4 11 Yau Tsim Mong The Paddy 466 426 4 12 Sham Shui Po Short Hole 144 132 3 13 Kwai Tsing The Long Hole 529 484 5 14 Tsuen Wan The Bungalow 395 361 4 15 Islands The Burn 426 390 4 16 Tuen Mun The Road Hole 411 376 4 17 Yuen Long The Graves 406 371 4 18 North The Ultimate 410 375 4 Total 6710 6137 70

See also Open golf tournament

Notes

References

External links

Coverage on the Asian Tour's official site Coverage on the European Tour's official site