Kim Hall writes to Australian professional Eric Cremin to see if those players playing in the Philippine Open in 1959 would consider staying in the region to play in Hong Kong. Hall manages to secure $1000 in prize money sponsored by the South China Morning Post.

The Inaugural Hong Kong Open is staged with Taiwanese player Lu Liang Huan taking the title. He would later become known around the globe as “Mr Lu” after challenging Lee Trevino before eventually coming second at the Open Championship in 1971.

Australian legend Peter Thomson wins the first of his three Hong Kong Open Titles.

Mr Lu regains the Hong Kong Open title 15 years after his first victory.

Greg Norman wins his first Hong Kong Open title. He would win his second in 1983.

Hong Kong Open moves from its February date to the end of the year. Langer takes advantage of the more clement weather to secure victory.

Multiple Major Winner Tom Watson adds the Hong Kong Open to his impressive collection of titles.

The European Tour sanction the Hong Kong Open for the first time heralding a new era for the Championship. Jose Maria Olazabal takes the title.

UBS become Title Sponsor of the Hong Kong Open. Colin Montgomerie marks the occasion with a victory on his first appearance in the Championship.

On the occasion of the Championship’s 50th anniversary, Lin Wen-tang claimed a sensational victory after an action-packed play-off with rising star Rory McIlroy and Francesco Molinari of Italy. Lin and McIlroy pulled off a succession miraculous recoveries before the Chinese Taipei player edged the young Ulsterman on the third extra hole with a stunning pitch to within inches for a cast-iron birdie.

Rory McIlroy finally earned his first – and so far only – UBS Hong Kong Open title after holing out from a greenside bunker on the 18th to secure a two-shot triumph. McIlroy, who said he had never been so excited on a golf course, would soon go on to become the world’s number one-ranked player.

Miguel Angel Jimenez defended his title in style to enter the record books yet again. His win meant he matched that the achievement of Hsieh Yung-yo, who also has four Hong Kong Open victories to his credit.

Justin Rose became the 11th major champion to win the UBS Hong Kong Open after an enthralling final-day duel with Lucas Bjerregaard of Denmark. The Englishman, a former US Open winner, would go on to win the Olympic gold medal in Rio the following year on golf’s return to the Summer Games for the first time in more than a century.

Australian Sam Brazel produced a stunning approach shot to the final hole to set up the brilliant birdie which defeated Rafa Cabrera Bello by one shot and secured his first European Tour title. Brazel was visibly emotional as he lifted the trophy, crediting a new set of clubs with helping get him over the line. The tournament saw a record 46,728 visitors make their way to the Hong Kong Golf Club to enjoy the action and soak up the atmosphere.

2018 sees the Hong Kong Open reach yet another major milestone as Hong Kong’s longest standing professional sporting event celebrates 60 years. With a new title sponsor in leading golf equipment manufacturer Honma and yet another star-studded field set to descend on the Hong Kong Golf Club in late November, the tournament, regarded by many as the most prestigious in Asia, is showing no sign of age.