US Open champion Rory McIlroy will bring his Major talents to bear upon the 2011 UBS Hong Kong Open after the Northern Irishman confirmed his return to the Hong Kong Golf Club at Fanling from December 1-4.
Fresh from his devastating performance at Congressional Country Club that saw the 22 year old win the first Major of his career by an astonishing eight-shot margin, McIlroy was quick to confirm his return to Hong Kong, one of his favourite cities in the world, as he looks to lift a title that has been tantalisingly close over the last two years.
McIlroy finished in sixth position behind his Ryder Cup team mate Ian Poulter last year and 12 months previously agonisingly missed out after a sudden-death play-off defeat to Chinese Taipei’s Lin Wen-tang.
Now, with the US Open trophy in his locker, McIlroy will travel to Hong Kong hoping to take care of unfinished business in the penultimate event on the 2011 Race to Dubai.
“I’m really looking forward to coming back to Hong Kong for the UBS Hong Kong Open,” said McIlroy. “It will be very special to be announced on the first tee as the US Open Champion and hopefully I can bring some of that Congressional form to Hong Kong and give the fans a great show.
“The UBS Hong Kong Open is one of my favourite tournaments on The European Tour. It is such an amazing city with a very special energy and every time I go there I just love the place. It is one of the most fun tournaments on the Schedule and the players are looked after brilliantly that week.”
Kathryn Shih, CEO, UBS Wealth Management, Asia Pacific, said: “We are delighted to announce Rory’s return to Hong Kong for this year’s UBS Hong Kong Open. As he has shown throughout his young yet remarkable career, Rory is as fine an ambassador as you will find in sport.
“Not only that, but he has now proven that he can win on the toughest stage of them all after his US Open win. He is an outstanding professional and a wonderful role model so we are naturally thrilled that he has chosen to return to the UBS Hong Kong Open.”
The Honourable Jeffrey Lam, Chairman of the Mega Events Fund, said: “The Mega Events Fund is very pleased to hear that Rory McIlroy will be joining us in December for the UBS Hong Kong Open. Rory’s play in the US Open last week was quite something to witness and to have a player of his class confirmed to play at the UBS Hong Kong Open is great news for the tournament and the city.”
ENDS
About the UBS Hong Kong Open
The Hong Kong Open is Hong Kong’s oldest professional sporting event. Beginning in 1959, the Hong Kong Open became part of The European Tour International Schedule in the 2002 season and has a rich history of winners including nine different Major Champions who have amassed 25 Major titles between them. UBS, the diversified global financial services company, has been title sponsor of the event since 2005 during which time it has overseen a substantial rise in the tournament’s prize money. Under the stewardship of UBS, the total prize fund has increased every year from US$1.2 million in the 2006 season to the US$2.5 millionfigure which was on offer at the Fanling venue six months ago.
This year, the UBS Hong Kong Open is supported by the Mega Event Fund of the Hong Kong Government. The Mega Events Fund was set up in 2009 to support mega arts, cultural and sports events to be staged in Hong Kong.
About UBS
UBS draws on its 150-year heritage to serve private, institutional and corporate clients worldwide, as well as retail clients in Switzerland. We combine our wealth management, investment banking and asset management businesses with our Swiss operations to deliver superior financial solutions and manage CHF 2.2 trillion in invested assets.
UBS is present in all major financial centers worldwide. It has offices in over 50 countries, with about 37% of its employees working in the Americas, 37% in Switzerland, 16% in the rest of Europe and 10% in Asia Pacific. UBS employs about 64,000 people around the world. Its shares are listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange and the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE).
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