Milestones of the Hong Kong Open

2001

Voted as one of the best shots ever at a European Tour event, José Maria Olazábal’s raking a five-iron from the trees on the last hole to set up an easy tap-in birdie provided one of the most exciting climaxes at a Hong Kong Open in living memory. Having trailed Adam Scott and Norway’s Henrik Bjornstad for much of the final round, the Spaniard paved the way for victory following a spectacular birdie-birdie-birdie finish. Speaking afterwards, Olazábal said: “You don’t finish with three birdies knowing you have to do it. I pulled it off with a bit of luck and one well executed shot.”

2005

The first Hong Kong Open in the UBS sponsorship era started as it had finished with Omega the year before – with another final-hole collapse by South African James Kingston. With the spectators expecting him to get up and down from a relatively straightforward position off the front of the 18th green (and therefore extend the tournament into extra holes), Kingston semi-duffed his chip to 10 feet and then missed the putt. A huge groan reverberated around Fanling and Monty was crowned the winner.

A teary-eyed Kingston told the assembled press: “I just messed up again for the second straight year. It’s obviously disappointing with the way I finished but that’s golf. I was just so nervous.”