Miguel Jimenez hunts fourth Hong Kong title
6 Dec 2013 4:16 AM IST
The Spanish veteran is gunning for a record-equalling fourth title but will be up against Chinese teenager Guan Tianlang, 34 years his junior. The Guangzhou schoolboy, now 15, turned heads at this year’s US Masters when he made the cut, a feat he is confident of replicating at the cornerstone Asian event, which remains without a title sponsor. Rory McIlroy, Padraig Harrington and Colin Montgomerie are among the Open’s previous distinguished winners. But Jimenez, who won third time in 2012 at a record age of 48 years and 318 days, is the only man from the world’s top 50 competing this year.
Amateur Guan, who in April, at the age of 14 years, five months and 18 days, became the youngest golfer to make the weekend at a major tournament, is quietly confident of stopping him. ‘I’m going to enjoy the week and shoot some low scores,’ he said. Italian Ryder Cup player Edoardo Molinari, Denmark’s Thorbjorn Olesen and India’s Gaganjeet Bhullar will also fancy their chances at the event, co-sanctioned by the Asian Tour. Until last year the Hong Kong Open occupied an important end-of-season date on the golfing calendar as players scrambled for points in the race to finish top of the European money list.
But now it counts towards next year’s money list and clashes with two other events. Tour administrators are considering switching the competition’s dates to try to entice back top players but the lack of a title sponsor has hit the prize fund and appearance money, prompting worries over its future. There are even concerns about its traditional home, with some lawmakers calling for apartments to be built on the colonial-era Fanling course to ease a housing shortage.
Amateur Guan, who in April, at the age of 14 years, five months and 18 days, became the youngest golfer to make the weekend at a major tournament, is quietly confident of stopping him. ‘I’m going to enjoy the week and shoot some low scores,’ he said. Italian Ryder Cup player Edoardo Molinari, Denmark’s Thorbjorn Olesen and India’s Gaganjeet Bhullar will also fancy their chances at the event, co-sanctioned by the Asian Tour. Until last year the Hong Kong Open occupied an important end-of-season date on the golfing calendar as players scrambled for points in the race to finish top of the European money list.
But now it counts towards next year’s money list and clashes with two other events. Tour administrators are considering switching the competition’s dates to try to entice back top players but the lack of a title sponsor has hit the prize fund and appearance money, prompting worries over its future. There are even concerns about its traditional home, with some lawmakers calling for apartments to be built on the colonial-era Fanling course to ease a housing shortage.
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