(Nov 8, 2011, Hong Kong, China) Three-time Major Champion Padraig Harrington will join European Ryder Cup Captains past and present, Colin Montgomerie and José María Olazábal, as former winners in the field for the UBS Hong Kong Open from December 1-4.
Former Open and US PGA Champion Harrington will be looking for a strong performance at Hong Kong Golf Club, in Fanling, as he tries to seal a place in the field for the season-ending Dubai World Championship presented by DP World.
The Irishman is currently 71st in The Race to Dubai and needs to force his way into the top 60 to ensure his spot in the 2011 finale, which takes place the week after the UBS Hong Kong Open.
Harrington, who is chasing a first European Tour victory since the 2008 US PGA Championship, claimed the UBS Hong Kong Open title in 2004 and he will hope to become only the second player after Spaniard Miguel Angel Jimenéz (2005 and 2008) to win the event twice.
That will also be the target for Montgomerie and Olazábal, who have both enjoyed previous success at Hong Kong Golf Club.
Montgomerie, who led Europe to Ryder Cup glory against the United States at The Celtic Manor Resort last year, won the UBS Hong Kong Open in 2006, claiming his 30th of 31 victories on The European Tour.
Prior to that Olazábal was crowned champion in 2002, the first year the event was co-sanctioned by The European Tour and the Asian Tour. The Spaniard, who has won 23 times on The European Tour including the Masters Tournament in 1994 and 1999, will also have the chance to keep an eye on some of the players vying to make his 2012 Ryder Cup Team, including Rory McIlroy, Ian Poulter and Justin Rose who have all confirmed their participation in the $2,750,000 event.
Poulter is the defending champion after claiming the tenth European Tour of his career last November when he finished one shot clear of Matteo Manassero and Simon Dyson.
The Englishman’s 22 under par total included a stunning ten under par second round 60, as he picked up his second victory of the 2010 season following the WGC-Accenture Match Play.
Tickets to see Harrington, Montgomerie, Olazábal, Poulter and the rest of the world-class field are now available through www.europeantourtickets.com, www.cityline.com, any Parsons Music branch or via the Cityline hotline: +852 2111 5333.
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 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$2.75 million figure which was on offer at the Fanling venue in December.
The UBS Hong Kong Open is co-sanctioned by the Asian Tour, European Tour and the Hong Kong Golf Association.
About the Mega Events Fund
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.
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 66,000 people around the world. Its shares are listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange and the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE).
Released on behalf of UBS Hong Kong Open 2011
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