Still in the chasing pack on the last day of the Ballantine’s Championship on South Korea’s Jeju island, the ask proved too much for our Ernie Els as Aussie Marcus Fraser took the title in rather blustery conditions.

Marcus Fraser stayed calm amid the blustery conditions at the Ballantine’s Championship yesterday (25 April) to claim the biggest title of his career.

The 31-year-old Australian carded a three-under-par 69 at Pinx Golf Club on the Korean holiday island of Jeju to win the €2.2 million showpiece by four strokes.

Fraser remained clear of the chasing pack – which included world No.7 Ernie Els – and kept his composure on the back nine to become the first wire-to-wire winner on the European Tour this year.

He finished on 12-under 204 for the tournament, which was reduced to 54 holes after play was held up for six hours on the first day due to fog.

Australia’s Brett Rumford (71) and Northern Ireland’s Gareth Maybin (72) were second on eight-under.

Fraser’s only previous European Tour success came seven years ago at the BMW Russian Open, a dual ranking event with the Challenge Tour, and he admitted it had been a long and frustrating wait for his next win.

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“Unbelievable, I can’t describe it,” said an emotional Fraser. “I just don’t know how I did that today. I’ve had so many chances to win in the last seven years, so to go out there and play like I did today and this week, it’s a big relief.”

Fraser, who collected the winner’s cheque for €367,500, admitted leading from the first day of the Ballantine’s Championship had increased the pressure.

“I don’t know if I have anything left in me to go a fourth round, but I don’t care,” he said. “I’ve worked very hard the last few years to be in a position where I should be winning golf tournaments, so it’s a huge reward.”

Fraser had dropped only one shot in the tournament before playing safe and laying up at the par-four 18th, where he tapped in for a bogey.

“At no point did I think I had it. I knew roughly what was going on but never got ahead of myself,” he said. “And on the last I just concentrated on getting on the fairway, and there was no way I was going to risk going for the green from there.”

Since his 2003 victory, Fraser’s best performance had been finishing runner-up in the Australian Masters at the start of the 2009 season.

Until the Ballantine’s Championship, his best finish this season was joint 11th at the Omega Dubai Desert Classic.

Rumford, meanwhile, was happy with his week’s work. “I just missed a truckload of putts early today, and in rounds one and two, so I’ll be working on my putting for the upcoming tournaments,” he said.

“But it was really tough out there, any missed shots and the wind was really throwing the ball about. Even so, I’m really happy for Marcus, it’s his second win on tour and no one is more deserving. He’s a great guy.”

Maybin also struggled on the greens. “I missed a couple of short putts, so I’ll go back and work on that,” he said. “But it’s been a pretty good week. I didn’t come in here with a whole lot of form, so to finish second is a great result any time.”

Teenager Noh Seung Yul flew the flag for Korea with a sparkling 68 to finish equal fourth on seven-under with England’s Oliver Fisher, who carded a 71.

Defending champion Thongchai Jaidee of Thailand, who started the day just one shot behind Fraser, returned a disappointing 75 to finish equal 10th on five-under.

Three-time Major winner South AfricanErnie Els also finished on five-under after a difficult day. The Big Easy started the final round just two shots off the pace but, after closing the gap to one early in his round, fell away on the back nine and returned a 74.

Marcus Fraser with the Ballantine’s Championship spoils (Pic: Paul Lakatos/Parallel Media Group)

If there’s one player Howzit-HongKong.com would like to see tee off at the Hong Kong Open, it’s The Big Easy. 

For now, we have to be content that Ernie Els will be teeing off at the Ballantine’s Championship in nearby Korea tomorrow, Thursday (22 April) at Pinx Golf Club on the Korean holiday island of Jeju.

The Championship will also feature top Asian players like Korea’s YE Yang, Thailand’s Thongchai Jaydee as well as 2008 winner Greame McDowell.

Follow all the action from the 2010 Ballantine’s Championship on the official website here

 When the big guy eventually doos  (oops!) does get here, hopefully we’ll catch him uttering his now-famous:

Only Ernie Els can get away with saying THAT in public!

After a week off, Ernie Els is refreshed and raring to go at the Ballantine’s Championship in Korea.

The world No.7 chose to spend a few days relaxing at the family home in West Palm Beach, Florida, after playing in the Masters two weeks ago and says he can feel the benefit.

Els will tee off at the Ballantine’s Championship in Korea tomorrow (Pic: Paul Lakatos/Parallel Media)

“I didn’t do anything,” he revealed. “I went home Sunday night after the Masters and I was home all week. The weather was great, I was in the pool with the kids, did the school run in the morning and afternoon.

“I didn’t touch a club until I came here on Monday. I did a company day Monday, I practised yesterday and played today [Wednesday]. So I feel ready to go now.”

The South African superstar returned to his best form in March with wins at the WGC-CA Championship and Arnold Palmer Invitational to take his career total of PGA Tour victories to 18.

“Obviously, I’ve had a pretty good start to the season. I’ve played mostly in the US, I haven’t travelled too much this year, and I think it’s helped my game,” he reflected.

“The win in Miami [the WGC-CA Championship] was big for me, I got a lot of confidence back, and then Bay Hill [the Arnold Palmer Invitational] was a run-on from that.

“Maybe I should have taken the week off before the Masters as I was a bit jaded there, but I still had a top 20.

“My reason for playing so much was to try and get form in March, and it came rapidly! And then I couldn’t pull out of tournaments, that would have been unfair. So yes, the season’s been going well this year.”

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Els – with three Major victories in his career – is one of the leading contenders in the Ballantine’s Championship, which tees off tomorrow Thursday (22 April) at Pinx Golf Club on the Korean holiday island of Jeju.

Other stars in the field include Asia’s first Major champion, YE Yang, three-time PGA Tour winner Anthony Kim and Henrik Stenson, who has six European Tour titles to his name.

Els finished joint fourth at last year’s Ballantine’s Championship, two shots behind eventual playoff winner Thongchai Jaidee, in a tournament played in unusually cold and windy weather.

“I had a good tournament last year,” he said. “So many people could have won it. My putt on 18 just missed and I missed one on 17 as well.

“But I had a very nice week, I enjoyed it, except for maybe the weather! It was very tough last year, hopefully this year it’s a little better.

“It’s a golf course where, if the weather conditions are nice, you can really make a lot of birdies. It lends itself to attacking golf. But if the weather isn’t good, like last year, then it’s just a question of trying to play safe.”

Els said playing in different weather conditions was one of the attractions of the European Tour and a major difference compared to the PGA Tour.

“The European Tour now is really a world tour,” he said. “You play in a lot of different conditions, I think that’s the biggest difference.

“In the US in March, you play the Florida Swing, so it’s very similar, the greens and stuff, so you can get into a flow a little bit more.

“But the European Tour is the best training ground in the world, because you play different conditions against different players and different cultures. You learn a lot more about your game on the European Tour.”

The strong field at the Ballantine’s Championship also includes the tournament’s first two winners – Graeme McDowell, who triumphed in 2008, and Thongchai.

The €2.2 million showpiece is once again co-sanctioned by the European Tour, Asian Tour and Korea PGA.

On this website’s homepage, I write of how I often meet fellow-South Africans around Hong Kong and how easy it is to recognise our countrymen and women in this cosmopolitan city.  Funny enough, I probably meet most Saffas in the party-district of Wan Chai.  Regular readers of this Blog will know that I hang out at Delaney’s Irish Bar because we often meet there to watch rugby (they have a satellite dish that picks up Supersport).  Whenever I cover a major Hong Kong sports event, Wan Chai is often where after-work drinks are to be had.

So it was, late one night during the 2009 UBS Hong Kong Golf Open.  A friend and I literally bumped into a Saffa coming out of, shall I say, one of the popular ladies establishments in Lockhard Road.  He recognised us because we were speaking Afrikaans and the connection was immediately made.  The next day I followed that guy for the first couple of rounds at the Fanling golf course where he was playing.

James Kamte is a real stand-up bloke and a good golfer, though not in Hong Kong last year.

Here are some of the pics I took of “The Cobra” on the second hole at the Hong Kong Country Club:

Jason Dasey wrote this article about James Kamte in today’s Sunday Morning Post:

Late last year, we reported on the Hong Kong-leg of the World Corporate Golf Challenge (WCGC) to be hosted by the Discovery Bay Golf Club on Friday March 5, 2010.  The winner of this leg will represent Hong Kong at the finals of the WCGC to be played back home at the stunning Fancourt & OuBaai Golf Clubs between 3-8 May 2010.

Today we can proudly add that South African golfing-legend-turned-winemaker David Frost has decided to contribute to the success of the Hong Kong-leg of the World Corporate Golf Challenge by supplying the tournament with his exclusive range of wines.

The South African great – winner of more than 20 titles worldwide – has combined his golf career with a hugely successful wine producing business in his homeland.

In addition, to aid the development of the game in under-privileged communities, Frost donates R1 of every bottle sold to the Raymond Ackerman Golf Academy.

 PGA player David Frost enjoying the fruits of his (other) labour (Pic: David Frost)

Now his Hong Kong importer, WINE2U.com.hk has been unveiled as the Official Wine Supplier of the WCGC Hong Kong.  “We are very proud to present exclusively to the World Corporate Golf Challenge Hong Kong the range of David Frost wines, a natural connection between the game of golf, business and fine wines,” said Ruth Sellers, of WINE2U. 

Frost grew up on his family’s wine farm near Stellenbosch and it was through earning pocket money picking grapes that he bought his first set of golf clubs. He went on to enjoy a stellar career, collecting 10 US PGA Tour titles and winning the 1994 Hong Kong Open. 

He and his brother Michel bought a 300-acre wine farm near Paarl in 1994 and began producing the David Frost Signature Series, with each vintage named after a famous golfer. 

The WCGC Hong Kong will be held on Friday, 5 March at Discovery Bay Golf Club. Twenty teams – comprising four players who each have a maximum handicap of 24 – will take part. 

The winning team will earn an all-expenses-paid trip to the WCGC World Final in South Africa from 3-8 May during which they will also be given a guided tour of Frost’s wine estate. 

Companies wishing to register a team – only one member of the team needs to be a full-time employee of the company – should call Amy Broomhead on 3579 8110 or email amy@laxtonmarketing.com.

Contact the aptly-named Ruth Sellers at Wine2U.com.hk  for David Frost’s signature range of wines like the great Shiraz below:

One always hears about company executives bragging about ”doing deals on the golf course.”  Well, this time around it gets serious… really serious.  Or as they say back home: SERI-AAAAS!

Howzit-HongKong recently learned that, in the crowded world of international golf, there is a World Corporate Golf Challenge that pits the best of the best executives from companies all over the world for the honour of representing their company and region at the biggy… the finals of the World Corporate Golf Challenge at the Fancourt Links in South Africa nogal!

For your information:

The Links at Fancourt was added to the Fancourt estate in 2000, and is an awe-inspiring example of magnificent design and golf-course construction, about which designer Gary Player says: “Links golf is how the game originated and at The Links we take golfers back to the roots of golf – and they can play a ‘British Open’ all of their own!” 

South Africa’s other famous international golfer, Ernie “The Big Easy” Els has a home close by, while George also plays host to the South African leg of the International Rugby Board’s World Sevens Rugby Series in December every year.

The winners of the Hong Kong edition of the World Corporate Golf Challenge will travel to the magnificent George region to play golf, and represent Hong Kong at the finest course in South Africa.

So all you golf-loving business executives out there in the SAR, here’s your chance to represent your company – and Hong Kong – on the world stage.

The territory is to host a leg of the World Corporate Golf Challenge – the prestigious inter-companies tournament that each year sees thousands of businessmen around the globe transfer their boardroom battles to the fairways.

The fantastic prize on offer to the winners of the Hong Kong event is an all-expenses paid trip to play in the World Final in South Africa next May.

Twenty teams – comprising four players who each have a maximum handicap of 24 – will contest the WCGC Hong Kong on Friday, 5 March 2010 at the Discovery Bay Golf Club on Lantau Island.

“Corporate golfers in Hong Kong have been crying out for a meaningful and high-profile tournament that carries a real incentive to play well,” said Simon Wait, project director of event organisers Two Up Front.

“This goes way beyond your typical corporate golf event. As well as enjoying an ultra-competitive tournament at one of the most picturesque courses in Asia, the teams will be playing for a fantastic prize – the chance to represent Hong Kong in a world tournament at an exotic location.

“Initial interest from the corporate sector is very strong and we are expecting a rush of entries from companies keen to claim bragging rights on the golf course.

“Moreover, this will be an annual event for the Hong Kong business community to look forward to and, as word spreads, we expect it to become even more popular, especially as the World Final is regularly moved to a new location.”

Previous World Finals have been held in Jamaica, Mauritius, Malaysia and Spain.

The 2010 World Final – featuring teams from more than 20 countries and territories – will take place at the beautiful Fancourt and Oubaai Golf Clubs in South Africa’s spectacular Garden Route region from 3-8 May 2010.

The WCGC Hong Kong already has its first sponsor – organisers have reached agreement with HK Golfer to be the Official Golf Magazine of the tournament.

Hong Kong-based sports PR and publishing specialists Two Up Front have secured a long-term licence to host the Hong Kong leg from the WCGC’s parent company in Spain.

They are co-organising the tournament with event management company Laxton Marketing Consultants, who have offices in Hong Kong, Singapore and Dubai. The two firms have previously worked together on other high profile sporting events, including the HKFC IP Global International Soccer Sevens and the Hong Kong Tens rugby tournament.

Companies requiring information about sponsorship opportunities or wishing to register a team in the WCGC Hong Kong should call Amy Broomhead on 3579 8110 or email amy@laxtonmarketing.com.

Make the boss proud and enter.

New champion Grégory Bourdy ended up soaked in champagne, but organisers of last week’s UBS Hong Kong Open also had plenty of reasons to celebrate. 

Grégory Bourdy hugs his caddy after winning the UBS Hong Kong Open as his fellow French players and supporters, led by Raphaël Jacquelin, spray him with champagne. (Pic: Paul Lakatos/UBS Hong Kong Open)

The best field in the tournament’s history, four days of thrilling golf, the first ever French winner and intriguing subplots involving the European Tour’s Race To Dubai and Asian Tour’s Order of Merit – it was a week to savour. 

Fans lucky enough to be at the Hong Kong Golf Club in Fanling saw an impeccable display from the ice-cool Bourdy, who expertly negotiated the tight par-70 layout with rounds of 64, 67, 63 and 67 for a winning total of 19-under-par 261. 

He was especially impressive on the final day when brilliant Northern Irish youngster Rory McIlroy, backed by a huge following, applied some serious pressure on the back nine.  So assured was Bourdy that, when he calmly parred the final hole, his winning two-shot margin marked the first time since 2002 that the champion had won by more than a single stroke. 

“We didn’t get the heart-stopping finish that UBS Hong Kong Open fans have grown used to, but it was still a wonderful finale,” said Martin Capstick, managing director of event promoters Parallel Media Group.  “It is a long time since a player has strung together four absolutely immaculate rounds like that at Fanling. Bourdy hardly made a mistake all week and he was a truly deserving winner.” 

While Bourdy’s fellow French players and supporters ran on to the green to spray him in champagne, Fanling was also acclaiming its people’s champion in McIlroy. 

Rory McIlroy speaks to the media after concluding his 2009 challenge (Pic: Mike Jansen)

The Northern Irish youngster – now runner-up two years in a row – lit up the tournament with some incredible shot-making and was threatening to pull off an amazing comeback until a momentum-stopping bogey at the 17th ended his charge.  “With his displays the past two years, the Hong Kong fans have taken McIlroy to their hearts and he has said many times that he adores coming here – he likes the city and he loves the course,” said Capstick. 

“He is a charismatic player and has a great rapport with the fans. We are obviously hopeful he will return because it is clearly a tournament he enjoys very much.” 

McIlroy at least had the consolation of overtaking Lee Westwood at the top of the Race To Dubai standings, his season earnings of €2,538,449 giving him a lead of €128,173 over his English rival.  The Race To Dubai – in which only the top 60 qualified for this week’s season-ending Dubai World Championship – spiced up the final day at Fanling with players scrambling to book their place. 

Lee Westwood speaks to the media before Round 1 (Pic: Mike Jansen)

Bourdy’s victory moved him up to 47 and secured his spot, but Dutchman Robert-Jan Derksen, who needed to finish first or second, ended up joint third and just missed out. 

Liang Wenchong’s 11th place in the UBS Hong Kong Open moved the Chinese star from 60 to 57 and confirmed his trip to the Middle East but 11th was not quite good enough for Northern Ireland’s Darren Clarke, who found himself marooned at 61 on the money list. 

“The Race To Dubai certainly gave the UBS Hong Kong Open an added dimension as even those golfers well down the field still had something to play for,” said Capstick.  “It turned the global spotlight on Hong Kong even more than usual and that can only be good for the tournament.” 

A significant day for the Asian Tour as well saw Thai icon Thongchai Jaidee clinch an unprecedented third Order of Merit crown ahead of Liang.  “It was another hugely successful UBS Hong Kong Open and our sincere thanks go to the sponsors, the Hong Kong Golf Club, the Hong Kong Golf Association and all the officials and volunteers who helped make it happen,” said Capstick. 

“We also offer our sincere gratitude to the fans, who again turned up in fantastic numbers and, as always, behaved impeccably.  “The challenge, as ever, is to improve the event for next year. The work has already started.”

2009 UBS HK Open Champions Gregory Bourdy with the tournament spoils (Pic: Mike Jansen)

See you in Fanling in 2010!

Grégory Bourdy held off a hard charging Rory McIlroy to win the UBS Hong Kong Open by two shots on Sunday (15 November). 

The Frenchman carded a polished three-under-par 67 at the Hong Kong Golf Club in Fanling to finish on 19-under 261 for the tournament.  Northern Irish youngster McIlroy showed flashes of his prodigious talent in compiling a 64, but fell just short in the US$2.5 million showpiece for the second year in a row. 

“It’s great, I had a fantastic week,” said a champagne-soaked Bourdy, 27. “It’s my best golf week, best golf day today. I played very consistent. I missed a few putts at the start of the round but I stayed confident.

“It’s my mother’s birthday today so I dedicate this to her. My girlfriend Anabelle is here also and everything went right.”

“I was relaxed today and all week. I was so confident. I tried to enjoy all my shots, all my rounds and did it. I missed just a few shots this week. I can’t believe it was so nice to play like this.”

 A triumphant Bourdy poses with the UBS HK Open trophy in the fading Fanling light (Pic: Mike Jansen)

Bourdy, the overnight leader by two shots, was unflappable down the stretch, picking up birdies at the 10th and 13th and calmly playing the final five holes to par. 

McIlroy, 20, roared on by the galleries, did his best to put Bourdy under pressure and closed the gap to one shot with consecutive birdies at the 15th and 16th.  But a three-putt bogey at the 17th took the wind out of his sails and Bourdy arrived at Fanling’s notoriously difficult final hole with a two-shot cushion. 

Bourdy collected the winner’s cheque for US$416,660 and enjoyed the bonus of leaping into the top 60 on the European Tour’s Race To Dubai, thereby qualifying for next week’s season-ending Dubai World Championship, “I wanted to stay focused on my game, play shot by shot, and I knew if I was three or four-under it would be OK to win the tournament,” said Bourdy.

“I didn’t look at the leaderboard until the 18th so I didn’t know Rory played well. I was three-under after 14 holes and it was nice to finish with a par on the 18th as it’s a tough hole. 

Unfortunately for the Frenchman, there was little time to soak up the Hong Kong adoration and celebrate his victory as he immediately jetted out of the SAR to Dubai for next week’s Dubai World Championship. 

“Dubai was the target before I played here. I knew if I won I’d go to Dubai but first was to play well today and win the UBS Hong Kong Open. I’ve played well, won and I’m going to Dubai, so I have everything.”

The victory was Bourdy’s third European Tour title after victories in the 2007 Mallorca Classic and the Open de Portugal last year. 

 A disappointed McIlroy speaks to the media after his final round at FanLing (Pic: Mike Jansen)

McIlroy – joint runner-up in the UBS Hong Kong Open a year ago after losing a three-way playoff to Chinese Taipei’s Lin Wen Tang – was forced to settle for second best again. 

But he could take consolation in the fact that he overtook Lee Westwood at the top of the Race To Dubai standings.  World No.17 McIlroy, who earned US$277,770 for his second place, refused to be too downhearted and paid tribute to the winner.

“I played lovely, really, really well,” he said. “I thought I needed a low one and went out with the mindset that if I went lower than 65 then I might have a chance, but Grégory obviously played very well. 

“If I’d birdied one of the last two holes I might have given myself a chance, so that’s the way it goes. I’m a bit disappointed at the moment but I have the consolation of going back to the top of the Race To Dubai. 

“There’s a lot that can go on next week but my goal this week was to win the UBS Hong Kong Open and I’ve come up just short again, for the second year in a row. But I gave it my best shot and that’s all I can do.”

Of the 3 South African contenders who made the cut, Charl Schwartzel finished highest at 10 under.  He was followed by Rory Sabbatini one shot back at 9 under, while Andrew McLardy concluded the 2009 UBS Hong Kong Open at 7 under par.

(Hong Kong Vryday 13 November 2009)

Vir baie mense is Vrydag die 13de ‘n dag van kwade dade en gebeure.  Vir Suid Afrika se Charl Schwartzel was dit net een ding: ‘n gesamentlike 9-onder voorlopers-posisie aan die einde van die tweede rondte van die UBS Hong Kong Open in FanLing.  Schwartzel deel die plek met China se Liang Wenchong, die Hollander Robert-Jan Derksen en Frankryk se Grégory Bourdy.

Schwartzel hoop dat sy suksesvolle tweede rondte in Hong Kong hom in ‘n goeie posisie sal plaas op die leiersbord vir die Europese Toer se Race to Dubai.  Die Suid Afrikaner is tans nommer 24 op die Toer se inkomste-lys na hy reeds €938,019 hierdie seisoen gewen het.  Sou hy in Hong Kong wen, sal hy, op nommer 15, sterk geplaas wees vir die laaste toernooi van die seisoen in Dubai.

“Ek kan seker nie meer die Race to Dubai wen nie, maar 2 oorwinnings sal die voorlopers sekerlik lekker skrik maak.”  het hy gese na afloop van Vrydag se spel.

“Ek is reg waar ‘n speler wil wees na twee rondtes,” Se hy verder.  “Ek speel tans goed en as ek so kan volhou, stuur hierdie toernooi op ‘n opwindende finaal af.”

Die vier voorlopers, insluitende Schwartzel is een hou voor nog ‘n Suid Afrikaner Rory Sabbatini asook Thailand se Chinnarat Phadungsil.

Na harde reen aan die einde van Dag 1, het Hong Kong vanoggend ietwat laer temperature ondervind.  Die son het egter in die namiddag kop uitgesteek en volgens Schwartzel het dit die speel-oppervlak en kondisies verbeter.  

Hy verduidelik: “Dit was koud vir die spelers in die oggend en die bal het nie te ver deur die lug getrek nie.  Ek het vroeg in my rondte met ‘n trui aan gespeel so ek dink die na-middag spelers was baie beter af (in terme van die weer).”

Na afloop van die WGC-HSBC Champions Toernooi  in Shanghai, China is Charl Schwartzel (71) tans Nommer 5 op die Suid Afrikaanse ranglys, een plek na Rory Sabbatini (61).  Hulle onderskeie posisies op die wereld-ranglys is tussen hakies.

South Africa’s Charl Schwartzel drives at the par-four 15th hole during the second round of the UBS Hong Kong Open on Friday, 13 November 2009. (Picture: Parallel Media Group)

South Africa’s 4th and 5th ranked players Rory Sabbatini and Charl Schwartzel remains at the top of the leaderboard after round 1 of the 2009 UBS Hong Kong Open.  Both players carded a five under 65 at Fanling in Hong Kong’s New Territories.

The top twenty players in South Africa was recently listed after the WGC-HSBC Champions event in Shanghai, China.  World number sixteen Ernie Els top the list followed by Retief Goosen and Tim Clarke.

Honours even between Westwood and McIlroy

Lee Westwood and Rory McIlroy remained locked in their Race To Dubai battle when they carded matching four-under-par 66s on the opening day of the UBS Hong Kong Open on Thursday (12 November). 

The duo’s efforts left them four shots off the lead in the US$2.5 million showpiece being held at the Hong Kong Golf Club in Fanling.

World No.4 Westwood mixed six birdies with two bogeys on his debut in the tournament. 

“It was good,” said the English ace. “The only green I missed was the last hole I played and that is a tough hole, No.9. I wouldn’t say I flushed it but I had enough control to hit 17 out of 18 greens.  “I had a lot of chances but found the greens very puzzling. I think I’m at a real disadvantage having only played the course once before [in the pro-am].

“It’s alright learning a course tee to green – it’s pretty obvious how you play tee to green – but on the greens, it’s such an advantage having played a few tournaments round here. So to start with four-under 66, I’m delighted.

“The only two bogeys I made were three putts and I had a load of chances.”

Asked what was so tough about the greens, Westwood replied: “The grain. It really does affect the ball, as much as anywhere. Sometimes it breaks up the hill.  “After about six or seven holes I called my caddie in and he had more of an idea. We gradually got it right and I eventually holed a couple.” 

As for the Race To Dubai, Westwood said he was trying not to think about it while playing this week. “I’m trying to win the UBS Hong Kong Open and that’s all,” he insisted.

Westwood leads the Race To Dubai with season earnings of €2,404,579 – a lead of €52,320 over McIlroy with just two tournaments remaining, Hong Kong and next week’s Dubai World Championship. 

McIlroy – joint runner-up in the UBS Hong Kong Open last year – had five birdies and a lone bogey as he kept pace with his rival. 

“There are 54 holes left so it doesn’t matter until Sunday,” the Northern Irish youngster said of his battle with Westwood. “We’re both playing pretty well to be in the positions we’re in so I’m not surprised Lee is up there. 

“I’ve just got to keep doing it. I’m not sure if three more 66s will be good enough so I might need to go a little better over the next three days.”

McIlroy admitted that playing in his third straight UBS Hong Kong Open could give him an advantage over Westwood.  “It’s just a question of getting used to the grain,” he said. “I don’t struggle too much. You just have to look to see which way the grass is going and then guess how much the grass is going to affect a putt. There’s no exact science to it.” 

Thailand’s Udorn Duangdecha leads the tournament after carding a superb eight-under 62.

Lee Westwood hands his ball to his caddy during the first round of the UBS Hong Kong Open on Thursday, 12 November 2009. Westwood carded a four-under-par 66. (Pic: Paul Lakatos/UBS Hong Kong Open)

Rory Sabbatini is aiming to make all the right moves in this week’s UBS Hong Kong Open after likening the tournament course to chess. 

“It’s a very traditional course with everything out there in front of you,” the South African star said of the tight par-70 layout at the Hong Kong Golf Club in Fanling. 

“You know exactly what’s ahead. It’s a course which requires you to put it in all the right spots.  “It’s like a game of chess where you have to get in the right position all the way round the golf course. Ultimately you have to putt well to give yourself a good chance.”

Sabbatini is making his second successive appearance in the UBS Hong Kong Open, which teed off at 06:50 (local time) this morning. 

“Last year was my first trip to Asia and it was a very entertaining one which I enjoyed very much,” he said. 

“The tournament here at the UBS is a very historic one with a lot of tradition and history behind it and it’s a pleasure to be here.”   

He agreed that golf in Asia is going through boom times. “I think the whole world realises Asia is becoming more important in every regard. Especially in China, golf is exploding into their culture, it’s very exciting.  “It’s great to see the knowledge of golf expand and it’s now been included in the Olympics so that’s even more exciting. It’s something to keep your eye on.” 

Although he claimed his fifth career PGA Tour title at the HP Byron Nelson Championship in Texas last May, Sabbatini feels his season could have been better.  “I’d say even though I won it’s been a disappointing year. I felt I was striking the ball well and doing all the right things but not getting the ball in the hole. 

“Ultimately, golf is a game where you have to get the ball in the hole so I was doing things backwards.  “But I learnt a lot about my ability on the course and the way I hit the ball so I’m very excited about next year.”

Sabbatini played an expanded schedule in 2009 but is keeping an open mind about next year. “This is my first year being a member of the European Tour and I have enjoyed it,” he said. 

“Next year I can’t make any predictions on my schedule. I play full time on the PGA Tour so that is my first priority and then in regards to the European Tour, it depends on the schedule.  “This week, I just want to go out and put in a good performance.”

Sabbatini is one of a contingent of eight South Africans competing at this year’s UBS Hong Kong Open.  Joining him at Fanling is fellow-South Africans James Kamte, Andrew McLardy, Hendrik Buhrmann, Charles Schwartzel, Jbe Kruger, Anton Haig and Keith Horne.

Rory Sabbatini follows his drive at the part-four seventh hole on Wednesday, 11 November 2009, during the pro-am tournament at the UBS Hong Kong Open. (Pic: Parallel Media Group)