October 22, 2007 – UBS Hong Kong Open drawcard Mike Weir will head to the territory on a high after claiming a dramatic PGA Tour triumph at the weekend.
The Canadian star won the Fry’s Electronics Open at Scottsdale, Arizona by a single shot from Australian Mark Hensby.
It was the eighth PGA Tour victory of Weir’s career and cements his status as one of the favourites when the UBS Hong Kong Open is staged at the Hong Kong Golf Club in Fanling on November 15-18.
Weir’s latest success comes three weeks after he defeated world No.1 Tiger Woods in their singles match at the Presidents Cup and shows he is starting to find top form after remodelling his swing.
“I’ve put a lot of hard work in,” said the 2003 Masters champion. “Over the last eight or nine months, it has started to feel better all the time. For the last month or so, it has been feeling really good and to get a win here [in Scottsdale] is great.”
Weir will be one of six PGA Tour stars on view at Fanling, the others being two-time US Open champion Retief Goosen, world No.9 KJ Choi, Stuart Appleby, Arron Oberholser and Trevor Immelman.
Reigning Hong Kong champion José Manuel Lara of Spain will be returning to defend his title while Chinese No.1 and Asian Tour UBS Order of Merit leader Liang Wenchong has also confirmed he will be taking part.
“Mike Weir’s victory is great news for the UBS Hong Kong Open,” said Martin Capstick of tournament promoter Parallel Media Group.
“It is further proof that we are assembling the strongest field in the event’s long and illustrious history.
“In addition to Weir’s success, KJ Choi has won twice on the PGA Tour in 2007 while Retief Goosen and Liang Wenchong have both won European Tour events this year.”
Weir, Appleby, Oberholser and Immelman will all be playing in Hong Kong for the first time.
The UBS Hong Kong Open is again jointly sanctioned by the European and Asian Tours and more star players will be announced in the coming weeks.
The Open was first staged in 1959 – making it the territory’s oldest professional sporting event – and has been held every year at the Hong Kong Golf Club.