Hong Kong Open Tournament Preview

The European Tour continues its annual trip over to Hong Kong for the Hong Kong Open where Miguel Angel Jimenez is going for a third straight victory

Lowdown:

Can Miguel Angel Jimenez make it a hat trick of wins in Hong Kong? There is no reason that the 2012 and 2013 champions couldn’t do well again this time out.

The course is certainly not long, being a rarity these days at under 7,000 yards, but what it lacks in length it makes up for in hazards.

The course is littered with bunkers and water and it is all about course management, a reason why Jimenez has won here three times already.

Watch Miguel Angel Jimenez's unique warm-up routine

The Hong Kong Open has been going since 1959 and has always been played at the same venue, another rarity. It has a superb list of former champions including, Peter Thomson, Greg Norman, Tom Watson and Colin Montgomerie.

With plenty of the Tour’s top names in England playing the Volvo World Match Play Championship there will be a host of non-tour winners hoping that they can get their name etched on the trophy.

Venue: Hong Kong GC, Fanling, Hong Kong Date: October 16-19 Course stats: par 70, 6,699 yards Purse: $1,300,000 (winner €171,843) Defending Champion: Miguel Angel Jimenez (-12  play-off)

TV Coverage: Thursday 16 – Sky Sports 4 from 5am Friday 17 – Sky Sports 4 from 5am Saturday 18 – Sky Sports 4 from 6am Sunday 19 – Sky Sports 4 from 5am

Player Watch:

Nicolas Colsaerts – The Belgian seems to be in good form and was of course so very close to shooting a 59 last Friday. There could be more fireworks this week on a course where his length will leave him.

Adrian Otaegui – The young Spaniard has been on our radar for a couple of years and looks to finally be finding his feet on Tour with a good performance in Portugal last week. H is 116^th on the Race to Dubai currently and needs a good week to make his card for next season.

Ernie Els –  The South African has only played once in the last month but is the only Major winner in the field. Will be interesting to see how he goes on a course that could suit his game.

Key hole: 18th. At 410 yards, it’s not imposing on the card but, with water, trees, heavy bunkering plus an elusive green, par is a very decent score.