HONG KONG, September 8, 2011 (AFP) - Ian Poulter will defend his UBS Hong Kong Open crown in December keen to repeat last year's scintillating showing but aware serious challengers await, including one of golf's youngest stars.
Poulter, who carded a breathtaking 10-under-par 60 in the second round on his way to victory, said he his eagerly anticipating the co-sanctioned European and Asian Tour event in one of his favourite cities.
"It was a pretty easy decision to return to Hong Kong," said the Ryder Cup hero, who took the Hong Kong title after making 22 under par overall.
"I love the city, the buzz around the whole place makes it exciting to be there and the golf tournament is a good extension of that," said the world number 18.
"We play on a great course that you can really make a score on if you play well and that helps to create excitement for the fans."
Poulter will be all too familiar with the threat posed by a strong field, including teenager Matteo Manassero, who finished a stroke behind the Englishman last year after a brilliant final-round 62 at the Fanling course.
This time the 18-year-old Italian, the youngest winner in European Tour history after his 2010 victory in the Castello Masters, is hoping to go one better.
"You have to use your imagination on so many shots if you want to make a good score there," Manassero, who won his second Tour title in Malaysia in April, said of Fanling.
"And if you play the right way you can make a great score."
Before his Hong Kong reunion on December 1-4, Poulter is scheduled to play for England in the golf World Cup in China's Hainan Island from November 24 to 27.
He will partner Justin Rose, who he played with at the 2008 Ryder Cup, after compatriots Luke Donald, Lee Westwood and Paul Casey turned down the event.
After Hong Kong, Poulter and Manassero will play in the Australian Masters in Melbourne, joining a prestigious field led by current world number one Donald.