2001
Olly's Stroke of Genius
The first time the Hong Kong Open was sanctioned by the European Tour proved to be an absolute belter of a tournament, one that will be remembered for one of the finest shots ever played in the championship's history.
Having trailed Australian phenom Adam Scott and Norway's Henrik Bjornstad for most of the final round, two-time Masters champion and Ryder Cup hero Jose Maria Olazabal produced a remarkable come-from-behind victory courtesy of a brilliant birdie-birdie-birdie finish.
But it was his second shot to the 18th that will forever be etched in the memories of those who saw it.
Flaring his drive into the trees that hug the right side of the fairway, Olazabal found his ball lying in a bare lie not far from some tree roots. Thinking (correctly) that a par wouldn't be good enough, the Spaniard went for gold and somehow managed to conjure a low raking 5-iron that stayed under the branches, carried the pond and bunker fronting the green, and popped gently on to the green, finishing just inches from the cup for a winning birdie.
Speaking afterwards, Olazabal said: "You don't finish with three birdies knowing you have to do it. I pulled it off with a little bit of luck and one well-executed shot."
