[Hong Kong, 20 October 2026]: Golf fever is truly sweeping across Hong Kong as the world’s biggest stars descend into the city for the 65th edition of the Link Hong Kong Open (LHKO).
Ahead of tee off on Thursday, the 2010 Open champion Louis Oosthuizen, two-time Asian Tour winner Travis Smyth, and hometown hero Taichi Kho attended the media launch at The Peak in the presence of officiating guests from Link Asset Management Limited, Executive Director & Chief Financial Officer, Mr Ng Kok Siong; Hong Kong Golf Club Captain Mr Bryant Lu; Vice President of Golf Association of Hong Kong China Mr. Albert Leong; Asian Tour CEO and Commissioner Mr Cho Minn Thant; and Mr Raymond Tam, Executive Director, Corporate Affairs, The Hong Kong Jockey Club.
In a career spanning a quarter of a decade, Oosthuizen won the Open Championship in 2010 and has been a runner-up in the other Majors. With 16 tour titles to his name, the South African reached his highest world ranking of fourth in 2013.
Playing in the Link Hong Kong Open for the third time, Oosthuizen first competed in Hong Kong in 2008 and returned last year to finish in an impressive tied-third place.
The South African said: “I’m coming off an injury, so this is my first one back really, but I’m glad that I’m here. It’s a golf course I really enjoy. It’s a place I really enjoy as well. I’m coming back and just looking forward to the week. Having a ball today and I’m playing tomorrow, so I’m looking forward to the week and just looking forward to playing golf again.”
Competing at the Hong Kong Open for the fourth time, Australian golfer Smyth has four titles to his name including two wins this season. Currently second on the 2026 Asian Tour Order of Merit rankings, the 31-year-old is excited to be competing at the Asian Tour’s flagship event for the first time in six years.
“I love the course. I love the way that you can’t really overpower it. It calls for a lot of strategy, a lot of patience and discipline, so I love that aspect of it. It is similar to Australia in some ways, especially the course that I grew up playing in Sydney, I love the course so the goal is definitely to win.
“It’s a dream of mine to play the Masters. I’ve never been there, and I’ve always said to people that go there to watch the Masters that I’ll never go until I actually play. I really want to go. I guess I have to win here so I can go play,’ said the in-form Smyth.
Hong Kong number one Kho is no stranger to the Hong Kong Golf Club. An Ambassador for the club, he tasted his first tour victory on home soil in Fanling when he captured the 2023 World City Championship, becoming the first player from the city to win on the Asian Tour.
The 25-year-old has enjoyed a solid 2026, winning a second title in Morocco, beating golfing legend Bubba Watson, a week after a second-place finish at the Japan Golf Tour Championship.
The Hong Kong Open and the Hong Kong Golf Club at Fanling have served as a critical catalyst for the development of Kho over the years by offering invaluable elite tournament experience right on his home course. Earning early entry into the open as the youngest amateur in 2017 provided Kho a “level up” in his learning curve, allowing him to observe the meticulous preparation and skill of international pros firsthand. This year, as he enters his seventh LHKO, he will continue to receive passionate support from his local fans.
Kho said: “It’s been a pretty interesting year for me because I kind of started out not in the best of places, and I feel like I kind of lost sight of my game. I’m really proud of how I was able to rediscover my own game and rediscover what makes me good and I think learning that side of myself makes this year more special, because I’ve been able to go through some adversity, which is kind of like an entry fee to professional golf. It’s been a special year not so much because of the results, but because of the amount of ownership and the learning I’ve taken in my game.
Kho is looking forward to greeting the considerable galleries that await him this week in Fanling: “Hong Kong is home for me. So who doesn’t love being at home? I’ve been lucky enough to be at the Hong Kong Open press conference for the last four years, and for this year to be at The Peak is really special, it’s my first time ever taking the Peak Tram up here as well, believe it or not,” said the local favourite Kho.
The Hong Kong Open is the city’s oldest professional sporting event – joining only one other club worldwide as hosts of the same tournament for over six decades, the other being Augusta National Golf Club and the US Masters.
LHKO is continuing to break new grounds with the inclusion of world number one golfer with disability, the 28-year-old Kipp Popert from England, who will make his second appearance at the prestigious tournament.
His historic appearance in 2024 and return this week align with the organiser and partners’ vision – “Open for All” – that golf really is accessible to all.
Fans can look forward to another world class field in action at LHKO 2026 as former world number one Lee Westwood has also confirmed to challenge for the coveted title.
Also in the field are one of the sport’s most compelling comeback stories Anthony Kim, South African Branden Grace who has recorded top-10 finishes in three of the four Majors and 14-time tour winner Dean Burmester, as well as two of America’s finest golfers – Harold Varner III and Andy Ogletree, the 2023 Asian Tour Order of Merit champion – have also confirmed for this year’s event.
Hong Kong, China also has an impressive group of established professionals in the field – alongside Taichi Kho – including Hong Kong Open Qualifying winner Michael Regan Wong, a Club Pro at HKGC. Wong is joined by fellow Hong Kong pro Jason Hak, and a crop of promising amateurs including the historic 2026 Asia-Pacific Men’s Amateur Golf Team Championship winning side of Markus Lam, Jeffrey Shen and Ethan Tian.
The Link Hong Kong Open 2026 champion will earn an automatic invitation to compete at the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club and a direct starting spot as part of The Open Qualifying Series at St Andrews in 2027.
Mr. Bryant Lu, Hong Kong Golf Club Captain, said, “The 65th edition of this tournament, Hong Kong’s oldest professional sporting event, promises to be a really special week. The field is exceptional and the course is in fabulous condition. We look forward to welcoming fans from Hong Kong, the wider Greater Bay Area and beyond to Fanling for four days of excitement. As a Club, we can’t wait to get started.”
Mr Ng Kok Siong, Link Asset Management Limited, Executive Director & Chief Financial Officer, commented, “At Link, we are committed to creating vibrant communities and meaningful experiences that bring people together. The Link Hong Kong Open embodies these values through the power of sport, inspiring people across generations and connecting fans, players, and the wider community. As we enter the third year of our partnership, we are proud to support an event that only showcases world-class golf, but also creates opportunities for people to connect, participate and share memorable experiences both on and off the course.”
With its history and international prestige, the tournament has been playing an integral role in showcasing Hong Kong as a top global events destination and sport tourism hub for over six decades. This year, as Official Community Partner of LHKO, the Hong Kong Jockey Club will host an array of community outreach programmes pre and during the tournament.
Admission to the opening rounds of the Link Hong Kong Open 2026 on Thursday and Friday, 22 and 23 October, is free for the public.
In keeping with the tournament and title sponsor’s vision to take golf to all communities of Hong Kong, ticket prices for the Link Hong Kong Open 2026 have been frozen at current prices since 2023.
The Link Hong Kong Open 2026 is proud of being an “M” Mark event that helps enhance the image of Hong Kong as Asia’s sports event capital. The “M” Mark awarded by the Major Sports Events Committee, symbolising intense, spectacular and signature event in the territory sports calendar.
Daily prices for Saturday and Sunday, 24 and 25 October, are HKD200 per day or HKD300 for a weekend pass. Weekend passes are also free for spectators 18 and under.
For more information please visit: www.thehongkongopen.com