A preview, stats and tips for this week's European Tour event - the Hong Kong Open at Fanling.
A preview and stats ahead of this week's European Tour event - the Hong Kong Open at Fanling
The European Tour travels to Fanling to contest one of the oldest national opens in Asian golf.
The tournament was first staged in 1959, becoming part of the European schedule 12 years ago.
Hong Kong Golf Club has been in existence since the late 1890s and, over the decades, has welcomed many of the game's greatest players to its tree-lined fairways.
Nick Faldo was a frequent visitor to the former colony, with the English knight enjoying victory here in 1990 when the club also hosted the Johnnie Walker Classic.
The course, which moved to its current location in 1911, is in a region called New Territories and just a few miles south of Hong Kong's border with China.
Since the event became part of the European Tour calendar in 2001, low-scoring has been a regular feature at Fanling where as many as 50 rounds of 63 or lower have been carded.
Defending champion Miguel Angel Jimenez arrives in the Far East chasing a fourth victory in the co-sanctioned tournament in what will be his 10th successive appearance.
PLAYERS with GOOD to REASONABLE FORM at HONG KONG GOLF CLUB
Last Eight years
Player: '05 / '06 / '07 / '08 / '09 / '10 / '11 / '12
Scott Barr: 18 / 66 / - / MC / MC / 35 / 17 / MC
Daniel Chopra: MC / 25 / 7 / MC / - / - / - / -
John Daly: - / - / - / 17 / - / 56 / 21 / MC
Robert-Jan Derksen: 38 / 54 / 15 / - / 3 / - / 11 / -
Marcus Fraser: - / - / 7 / 34 / - / 10 / 11 / 3
Gregory Havret: 30 / MC / 64 / MC / MC / 35 / 2 / 61
Miguel Angel Jimenez: 38 / 6 / Won / 24 / 18 / MC / 11 / Won
Jose Manuel Lara: 18 / Won / MC / 29 / Wd / 47 / 11 / MC
Peter Lawrie: 56 / 25 / - / - / 7 / 47 / 21 / 4
Wen-Chong Liang: 22 / 13 / 15 / 15 / 11 / MC / 17 / 22
Wen-Tang Lin: - / 31 / MC / Won / 22 / 25 / MC / 61
Juvic Pagunsan: - / 2 / 50 / 70 / 53 / 38 / 10 / 40
Jyoti Randhawa: 48 / 3 / - / 19 / 22 / MC / 29 / 22
Jeev Milkha Singh: 18 / 3 / - / 11 / 36 / 7 / MC / -
PLAYERS with POOR to MEDIOCRE FORM at HONG KONG GOLF CLUB
Last Eight years
(No Top-40 Finishes from three or more starts since 2005)
Player: '05 / '06 / '07 / '08 / '09 / '10 / '11 / '12
Richard Finch: - / - / MC / - / - / MC / - / MC
Shun Yat Jason Hak: - / - / - / 75 / 60 / - / 46 / -
Scott Hend: - / - / - / MC / MC / - / 62 / 72
Anirban Lahiri: - / - / - / - / MC / MC / 55 / -
Steven Lam: - / - / - / MC / MC / - / - / MC
Zaw Moe: - / - / - / 53 / - / - / MC / 66
Chinnarat Phadungsil: MC / MC / MC / 63 / 48 / 55 / MC / 54
Digvijay Singh: - / - / - / MC / MC / MC / MC / Wd
James Stewart: MC / 48 / MC / MC / - / - / - / MC
Timothy Tang: - / - / - / - / - / MC / MC / 72
Anthony Wall: MC / - / MC / 63 / - / - / 51 / MC
Steve Webster: - / - / - / MC / - / MC / - / 54
Woon Man Wong: - / MC / MC / - / MC / MC / MC / MC
TOP-25 Finishers in HONG KONG in 2012 (Not Already Listed Above)
Fredrik Andersson: (2nd)
Lian-Wei Zhang: (T-15th)
James Morrison: (T-19th)
Gi-Whan Kim: (T-22nd)
LOWEST 15 STROKE AVERAGES at HONG KONG GOLF CLUB
(Last Four Years 2009/12)
Average (Rounds)
67.25: Marcus Fraser (12)
67.38: Robert-Jan Derksen (8)
68.00: Miguel Angel Jimenez (14)
68.06: Peter Lawrie (16)
68.10: Jeev Milkha Singh (10)
68.70: Marcus Both (10)
68.75: David Drysdale (8)
68.75: Pariya Junhasavasdikul (12)
68.75: Chapchai Nirat (8)
68.93: Mardan Mamat (14)
69.00: Wen-Chong Liang (14)
69.06: Juvic Pagunsan (16)
69.07: Gregory Havret (14)
69.21: Jyoti Randhawa (14)
69.29: Wen-Tang Lin (14)
Min. No. of Rounds = 8
LOWEST ROUNDS in HONG KONG
(Since tournament became part of the European Tour schedule in December 2001)
60: Ian Poulter (2010)
61: Henrik Bjornstad (2002)
61: Simon Yates (2006)
61: Anthony Knag (2010)
61: Gareth Maybin (2010)
62: 17 times
63: 28 times
Hong Kong: Par 70; 6,730 yards
Winning Totals (Last Three Years):
2012: 265 (Miguel Angel Jimenez)
2011: 268 (Rory McIlroy)
2010: 258 (Ian Poulter)
Note: Only once as a co-sanctioned event has the winner's four round total been higher than 269.
Conclusion:
China's Wen-Chong Liang has racked up 10 finishes between 11th and 26th at this venue but most punters are wary of him this week after he pulled out of last week's event in Indonesia with a wrist injury.
However, he revealed on Wednesday morning that the pain had eased significantly.
"I had to withdraw from the second round in Indonesia as it was really painful. But it's better now as I've got some much-needed rest and I should be on my way back to recovery."
"It has been a good season so far for me and I'm looking forward to end the year with a bang. The Hong Kong Open has always been one of the key highlights in my schedule each year and hopefully I can do well at the Hong Kong Golf Club this week."
In the last couple of months he's scored a win on the Asian PGA Tour as well as a second and two fourths so his game is in fine nick.
Back him outright at 40s and also in the first round leader market at 50s as he's made several fast starts here (first after day one in 2008, third in 2006).
Also have a little play on India's Anirban Lahiri at 50s.
In his last six starts he's banked two second places and a sixth in Indonesia last time out.
He's had had three starts in this event (admittedly without much success) but he knows the course well now and should be able to show his best this year.
Conclusion
1pt e.w. Wen-Chong Liang at 40/1 (1/4 1,2,3,4,5)
1pt e.w. Wen-Chong Liang to be first round leader at 50/1 (1/4 1,2,3,4,5)
1pt e.w. Anirban Lahiri at 50/1 (1/4 1,2,3,4,5)
