Some things seemingly never change at the UBS Hong Kong Open. Regardless of the time of day, getting a table on the Fanling terrace is always dicey, the big-name players who fail to make an impact on the leader board are quick to blame their scoring on the "grainy greens" and Jason Hak – Hong Kong's own teenage amateur talent – makes the cut.
Seventeen-year-old Hak has now played in three Opens and has made the weekend action on each occasion. And the way he has gone about it has been eerily similar too.
In 2008 when, at the age of 14 – 14! – the Tsim Sha Tsui-born, Florida-raised Hak became the youngest player in European Tour history to make the cut, he put in a solid first day showing. The second round proved to be a bit more of a chore; the youngster making some early mistakes before finishing with a flourish to make it on the number. Talk about accomplishments. That year will forever be remembered for Lin Wen Tang and Rory McIlroy going head to head in that most amazing of play-offs, but Hak's role in the tournament was more than just a cameo.
2009 was essentially the same, with Hak proving he was no one-hit wonder by rallying with a birdie barrage over the closing stretch on day two to once again be left as the only Hong Kong player to play all four rounds.
This time around [Hak couldn't participate in 2010 because of Asian Games commitments], the amateur opened up with a brilliant 69 in difficult conditions to put himself among the leaders before getting off to an ignominious start on day two. Bogeying the par-five 12th – his third hole of the day – Hak left his Hong Kong supporters on tenterhooks as he slipped down the standings through "some silly mistakes."
Standing at one-over par after bogeys at his 13th and 14th holes and with the cut line hovering at two-over, Hak knew he had to play the remainder of his round in level par to make sure of his weekend status. A bogey at the par-three seventh would have flustered most players but the youngster responded magnificently. Getting up-and-down from a greenside bunker at the treacherous eighth – this lengthy par-four is consistently ranked the hardest hole on the Composite Course – a composed Hak rifled his tee shot down the closing ninth hole fairway, pitched on and sank the 15-footer for a much needed birdie. He had done it. Phew!
"I put myself in a horrible position," admitted Hak, who was playing on a sponsor's invitation from UBS and ended up finishing alongside Colin Montgomerie in a share of 46th. "But I grinded it out. I've been hitting the ball well, I just made some careless errors but it's a relief to have made it again."
But while Hak's Hong Kong Open heroics have continued in a similar fashion, Hak the individual has changed. Back in his record-setting days of 2008, Hak was an unknown quantity, a shy, bespectacled young man whose English was far from fluent. His fine play and focused demeanor were clear signs of a building confidence in his game, but it was a confidence that remained solely on the course. Off it, Hak – understandably enough, it should be said – was circumspect. He really couldn't understand the media attention his achievements drew, and while he answered the avalanche of questions that came his way honestly and without hyperbole, it was certainly not a situation that he revelled in. You could tell he'd rather be hitting balls on the range than explaining yet again what it meant for him to be playing with – and outscoring, in some cases – some of the world's best players. Yes, he said, he was excited – but he did a brilliant job of hiding it.
Fast forward a little over three years and Hak returned to the tournament as a star – well, if not a star, then certainly an ambassador of sorts. In the buildup Hak attended the event's press conference launch and posed for publicity snaps alongside the likes of Rory McIlroy, Justin Rose, Padraig Harrington and Ian Poulter. Hak also took part in a charity event that saw him and Ryder Cup stars Miguel Angel Jimenez, Ross Fisher and Peter Hanson smack balls from the Tsim Sha Tsui waterfront at targets floating in the harbour. Whether or not any of this impacted his own preparations for the event is difficult to say, but Hak clearly didn't mind: he was loving the attention.
"I only have amazing memories of playing the UBS Hong Kong Open," Hak said. "I'm very thankful to UBS and the Hong Kong Golf Association for giving me the opportunity to play again. I love this tournament and I love this golf course."
The Hak of today – doubtless thanks to his American education and the passing of adolescence – is confident, articulate and happy to speak his mind. The glasses have been replaced by contact lenses and he has a new-found swagger, which was much in evidence throughout much of the week, as he high-fived supporters and local media alike. But perhaps Hak's most important attribute is his intelligence.
After his final round – and after being mobbed by legions of young fans, all desperate to get hold of an autographed Titleist – Hak listened politely to questions surrounding his future and responded with a maturity that was heartening to hear. He understands that he's an exceptional golfer, but he also knows the road to becoming a truly successful tour star is one that has tripped up more than a fair share of supremely gifted players, which is why he prefers to concentrate on his studies – at least for the time being.
"For me right now playing golf, the first thing is I really enjoy it and love it. Money-wise, maybe I’ll have to think about that more when it becomes my job, but right now my job is to have fun and do well in school," said Hak, who would have earned close to €20,000 for his three Hong Kong Open appearances had he been a professional.
To that end, Hak, who has enjoyed a brilliant season on the American Junior Golf Association circuit, which he currently leads, has committed himself to attending Georgia Tech University in the autumn. Georgia Tech is one of the premier golfing colleges in the States, and Hak will be following in the footsteps of the legendary amateur Bobby Jones, David Duval, Stewart Cink and Matt Kuchar, who all studied there.
"I'm really looking forward to going," said Hak. "I'm sure I'll learn a lot – not just about my golf game but also about myself."
Hak will certainly have some big expectations to meet when he tees it up in Atlanta, and he knows what he needs to do in order to tackle the twin challenges of representing his college and fulfilling his potential as Hong Kong's greatest-ever golfing export.
“Skill-wise I need to improve some, to get up and down [more often], to make some more putts," said Hak. "From the mindset and the mental side I need to get more mature and handle myself better on the course.”
We have seen Hak grow and mature plenty in recent times, and it will be exciting to see how he fares against the cream of the American collegiate system, which has long been the breeding ground of the PGA Tour stars of tomorrow. Whatever happens, however, Hak knows where his loyalties lie.
"I'm going to continue to represent Hong Kong as much as possible," said Hak. "I live in the States but I have a Hong Kong passport and Hong Kong is home. That's for sure."
We've enjoyed watching you Jason – now go and make us proud all over again.
